Comments on: Strip Washing with Rhassoul Clay and Alum

By: Catherine Hill

Catherine Hill — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:58:13 +0000

What an awesome site! I am in love with rhassoul and argan oil and I haven’t even tried them yet!!
I already only shower once a week, use crystal deo (although it doesn’t seem so great after reading your articles so I shall be buying one of your volcanic crystal deos), conditioner only washing for the hair. I’m like a cat when it comes to bathing, all four limbs braced against the shower frame, hissing and spitting, I have to be forced in, lol!
Really looking forward to trying suggested strip wash routine, have adult acne ever since high doses of morphine years ago for nerve pain pre-opp, wild hair with greasy roots and dry from the waist down. Maybe it’s the miracle cure I’ve been searching for . . . or not, time will tell. Will report back!
Keep up the good work, great site, gonna send a link to all my pals.
P.S. Anyone have any very quick and easy shaving suggestions for ladies legs during the week Shave a.m. – prickly by p.m. Swear I’m half cave woman )

By: contemporary bathroom mirror lights

contemporary bathroom mirror lights — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:35:02 +0000

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By: Chiropractor Hove

Chiropractor Hove — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:41:19 +0000

It was lovely to meet you at the Eco Veggie Fayre in Hove last Saturday, and I loved being reminded of the benefits of using clay.
I am most interested to try it especially to see if it gives more body to thin hair!!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:13:53 +0000

Dear Sean,
if you are a wet shaver you could try the savon noir (available in the shop on this website) It is a traditional liquid soap made of olive oil and lye and is used by both men and women for shaving and exfoliating. I have had feedback from a traditional barber in Norfolk who uses it and she says that it softens thick stubble and gives a close shave. You can get about 6 shaves per packet. I haven’t tried it for shaving yet (and of course Mr Everybody has refused to be my guinea pig this time), but if I am going to get my legs out this summer …

By: admin

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:09:01 +0000

Good question. Mr Everybody has a beard enjoys an extra ten minutes in bed!

By: Sean Joseph Healy

Sean Joseph Healy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:30:44 +0000

What does Mr. Everybody use as a shaving soap?

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:50:19 +0000

I have just emailed to thank you for introducing me to clay washing and Argan oil as it has made such an immediate improvement to my skin, particularly on my face.I have been looking for a ‘miracle cure’ for years, having been through every acne cure both topical and antibiotic known, including Roaccutane which crippled me with side effects long after I stopped using it.One tip I can offer is that when using clay solution to wash hair,it is more effective if you use a pipette or squirty bottle to direct the clay to the roots of the hair and scalp.I don’t know if using a plastic bottle adversely effects the product,but I found it less wasteful to do it this way rather than pour it directly on,especially if your hair is medium/long in length.I suppose I should use a glass bottle instead to direct the stream to the roots?

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:38:17 +0000

Hello Erica,
Thank you for your comment. By using clay, I have been able to abandon moisturizers completely. Where my skin used to be very dry, on my legs, I just spend more time massaging them with clay during the course of my washing. When I have finished washing I use oil instead of moisturizer. Normal moisturizers, especially those containing paraffin oil, or petroleum oil may impair the functioning of the skin by leaving an unnatural barrier both on the outside and underneath the skin. Seems the skin is supposed to eliminate 25% of our body toxins, especially fat soluble toxins, I don’t like the idea of trapping them inside me. A well absorbed oil does not impair the functioning of the skin.

I use argan oil for my face, neck, hands, nails and any skin which needs extra attention, and a mix of argan oil and olive oil for any other parts of my body. I encourage my customers to switch to oil, because the skin can absorb oil. I just need to apply the oil to my legs once a week after bathing as as through the week I mostly strip wash to reduce my exposure to chlorine, as well as for the energy savings.

I don’t think that moisturizers were commercialized until the 1920s, following the growth of the soap industry, and the change of bathing habits. Now daily showering or bathing, in chlorinated water has become the accepted norm. Exposed to these conditions skins often do need some help to keep them supple and comfortable, but as you are finding out, you can get a long way with clay.

One thing which I will point out, is that it is really pointless trying to moisturize or oil dead skin, because dead skin will never really soften and will look dull and possibly itch. This is why exfoliation is an important part of a skincare routine. The clay is gently exfoliating, so this may in part account for the improvement in the condition of your skin. The reduction in skin dryness and flakiness after just a single use of rhassoul clay is well attested, as are the other skin improving effects. The clay is classed as a skin emollient (softener) but I’m not sure of the mechanism. All I know is that it works!

If you like you can add a scent to the clay, by adding some essential oils, or by preparing a herbal infusion with which to hydrate the clay.

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:57:31 +0000

Hi Kathryn,
a lot of people wonder whether the clay will block the drains, but it never seems to happen. For normal washing and use on the hair very small quantities of clay are needed, and when the clay is rinsed from the hair or body with water it remains in suspension with the moving water for some time. I think that the average water consumption in UK household is something like 130 liters per day. If you think about it, this much water will surely clear away 20g or so of clay powder. I would take the precaution of not pouring oil and clay down the drain at the same time.

If you are contemplating using huge quantities, say 1 kilo for a clay detox bath, then the usual advice is to allow the clay to settle to the bottom of the bath over four hours or so, scooping out the clearish water and pouring it down another outlet, and then collecting the remaining clay slurry for disposal in landfill rubbish.

By: Erica

Erica — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:44:11 +0000

I have been using clay to shower with over the last 3 days. I must admit to using just a tiny squirt of my usual body wash, because I like the lather and smell. I have noticed for the last 2 nights that my skin is much less dry than it had ever been in my life. I have always had to use a moisturizer just to stop the itching associated with dry skin. Why? Why does clay make my skin less dry? I imagine if I dropped the body wash totally, that I soon would not need lotions or creams at all. Oh, and did I mention that the once gigantic pores on my nose have all but disappeared? Clay is wonderful.