People have been using rhassoul clay to cleanse and nourish their hair and skin for more than a thousand years, and now you can buy it directly from us! Also known as ghassoul, or red Moroccan clay, rhassoul is rich in silica and magnesium, and fantastic for treating dry skin and itchy skin conditions such as eczema. The name is derived from an Arabic word for wash, ghassala, as rhassoul is predominately used as a skin and hair cleanser.
You can buy rhassoul clay already diluted, but we prefer to sell it dry, as it gives you much greater flexibility, and better value for money.
Rhassoul clay for your hair
Rhassoul can be used as a shampoo, conditioner and hair mask in one. Try diluting a tablespoon of the clay in around a quarter of a cup of warm water. Mix well, massage it into your scalp and finger comb it through to the ends. Be warned, it can take longer to wash out than a regular hair mask, so don’t try this just before heading out to your Christmas party! The extra couple of minutes are well worth it though. As well as being an excellent cleanser, rhassoul clay helps to alleviate dry, itchy scalps, and tackle dandruff. It also conditions as it cleanses, leaving hair soft and more manageable. You don’t need a separate conditioner when using rhassoul clay, but if your hair does feel particularly parched, you could treat it to a few drops of argan oil.
It can take a few goes before your hair gets used to being cleansed with rhassoul clay, and if your hair is fine it may feel a bit flat to start with. Try diluting some apple cider vinegar and using it as a hair rinse. Leave it on for a couple of minutes before rinsing out. The acidity helps to neutralise the alkaline clay and make your hair shiny.
Rhassoul clay for your face
Rhassoul makes a great cleanser. Not only is it very effective at removing makeup and dirt, it really helps to draw out impurities, so can reduce blemishes and make skin look much fresher and more even. Many of the mud masks that you can buy in the shop are pretty poor imitations of the real thing in my opinion. All you need to do it dilute the clay to make a thin paste. If you have some rosewater on hand, use that rather than tap water, for extra hydration. Massage the paste into your skin and then wash out, or remove with a damp cloth. If you have time, leave it on for a few minutes, to act as a face mask. You’ll be rewarded with plumper skin, that feels much softer.
People often assume that clay is very drying, but in fact the opposite is true. Rhassoul works with your skin’s natural oils and helps to lock in moisture. Clinical studies have found that it can dramatically reduce dryness. It also acts as a natural exfoliator, so is ideal if you ever suffer from flaking skin.
Rhassoul clay for your body
If you’re indulging in a spot of pampering this Christmas, do try a rhassoul clay body pack. You’ll want to get the bathroom nice and warm first. Dilute the clay into a fine paste, then massage it into your skin, paying particular attention to any dry patches, such as elbows, knees and heels. Wrap up in a fluffy bathrobe and relax for 20 minutes, before showering off. This is a great treatment to do the day before a big night out, as it leaves skin feeling really soft and helps to get rid of any flakiness. Rhassoul doesn’t tend to stain, but you’ll probably want to get that bathrobe in the wash pretty soon, just in case.
Rhassoul clay for eczema and psoriasis
Using the clay as a thin paste can help to soothe and prevent eczema and other itchy skin complaints. You can also make a thicker paste and apply it direct to any particularly problematic areas. Cover the clay with a damp cloth or cling film so that it doesn’t dry out, and leave it for as long as you can before washing off. You should see an improvement by the following day.
Our rhassoul clay comes from the Atlas mountains in Morocco. 200g costs £6.95 and is enough for several treatments.