An Introduction to Final Rinsing the Hair

So, you're done washing your hair and ready to leave the shower. You've rinsed out the shampoo/hair cleansing product you are using, but did you final rinse?

You: What the heck is 'final rinse'?

Me: I'm so pleased you asked!

Not All That New - Except Maybe the Name

In days of yore, ladies with a longing for lovely locks finished their hair washing routine by rinsing the hair with rainwater, rosewater (if they were rich) or vinegar water. The purpose – according to beauty tips of the day – was to 'remove dullness from the hair'.

Back then, hair cleansing products were quite a bit harsher than the many shampoos we have available on the market today. This is perhaps one reason it was more common to wash the hair less frequently than we do today – like every 4-6 weeks.

Final Rinse vs Hair Conditioner

Even though it's not quite fair to compare a final rinse to a modern commercial hair conditioner, there are similarities. Both products are designed to leave the hair silky soft and manageable.

But while a commercial hair conditioner is generally designed to coat the hairs, a final rinse is designed to rebalance the pH of the scalp (and provide a soft feel without coating the hairs).

Wait a Minute. When Did My Scalp Lose its Balance?

This happens as soon as you wash - or even wet the hair.

Here's why:

• Average pH of skin and scalp: 4.5 - 5.0

• pH of water: 7.0

• Average pH of shampoos: 5.5 - 8.0

The pH of skin and scalp are somewhat lower than water and shampoos, so it is impossible to leave the pH balance of the skin and hair unchanged as soon as you introduce water.

Enter the Final Rinse

A final rinse helps restore the skin and scalp to its natural pH and not only leaves hair with a healthy glow, but also helps battle dryness and itchiness.

Now That We Know - What Do We Do?

In upcoming posts, I'm going to show you how to make your own final rinses. Not only are there a multitude of possibilities, but final rinses are pretty budget-friendly as well. You may even find your hair no longer needs your regular conditioner after you've made your own creation.

Do Tell

Do you use a final rinse in your hair? What is your favourite kind?

The book below contains formulas for all natural final rinses. Click the picture to learn more.

Make Your Own Preservative Free Natural Cosmetics With 21 Ingredients

How to Wash Your Hair With Rhassoul Clay

If you're a green beauty purist, you may prefer making all your own personal care products using minimally processed ingredients. And even though it means full control over every ingredient and process, going the purist route can sometimes be laborious, fiddly, and time consuming.

But not today.

Today, we're going to make a purist-friendly, environmentally-friendly, instant hair wash that is suitable for all hair types.

You: All hair types, Lise?? From thin, straight fly-away hair to super curly 4c hair?

Me: Yup.

Although this may sound impossible, I have yet to hear from anyone who has tried this and didn't find it effective for their hair - regardless of hair type. If you do give this a try, I’d love to hear your feedback.

Here's the coolest (and most purist) part of this whole exercise: you only need one ingredient.

Rhassoul Clay

This is also known as Moroccan Lava Clay, Ghassoul, and Moroccan Soap Clay.

There's a reason it has earned the name 'soap clay'. Not only will this rather boring-looking brown substance cleanse your hair and scalp effectively, it's recommended to help prevent dandruff. And if you have a tendency to itchy scalp after using a normal shampoo, prepare for non-itchy scalp bliss.

Are you ready to give it a try?

Tools and ingredient

1. Rhassoul clay (in powder form! The chunks shown above may look great but they are fiddly to work with)

2. Scale

3. Small bottle (50-60 ml) for short to medium long hair

4. Large bottle (75-100 ml) for long, thick hair

Tip: A dispenser cap will make application easy. Check the cap pictured at the top of this post.

Extra things you might want

• Your own label (cuz you're awesome at making instant hair wash and want to show it off)

How Much Rhassoul

Depending on your hair type, the amount needed for a single application ranges from about 5-6 grams (approximately a teaspoon) to about 20 grams (approximately 2 tablespoons).

For short, fine hair, 5-6 grams does the job.

If your hair is thick, super-curly, and long, you'll probably be needing the max amount – about 20 grams.

The specific amount that works best for your hair will come down to a bit of trial and error.

Method

1. Place a piece of non-stick paper on the scale

2. Weigh the necessary portion of rhassoul for a single application

3. Transfer the rhassoul to your empty bottle

4. Apply your own label (if you so desire)

You now have a ready-to-go handy dandy hair wash in a bottle. All you need to do is add water when you want to wash your hair.

Mixing For Use

1. Add water to the bottle until it is 4/5 full.

2. Shake vigorously to disperse the rhassoul.

3. Your hair wash is ready to use.

Tip: Do not add water until immediately before use as there is no preservative!

How to Wash Your Hair With the Mixture

1. Wet hair

2. Apply the rhassoul mixture directly to the scalp

3. Work the mixture around the scalp and to the tips of the hair

4. Let sit for a minute or 2

5. Rinse thoroughly

6. Dry and set hair as usual

Note: The liquid will feel a little 'slippery' on the scalp and will not make any suds. Even though it doesn't lather, it will cleanse both hair and scalp.

Tips

• This hair cleanser can take a bit longer to rinse out than 'normal' shampoo, so don't rush when rinsing.

• Depending on your hair type, you may find your hair has no need of conditioner.

• For extra soft and shiny hair, add a splash of vinegar to the water when preparing the mixture for use.

• Allow the bottle(s) and lid(s) to dry completely before next use.

Enjoy!

Where to Get Rhassoul Clay

Aroma Zone (France)

Mountain Rose Herbs (USA)

New Directions (Australia)

The Soap Kitchen (UK)

Soap and More (Canada)

Skin Dewi (Jakarta)

Do Tell

Feel free to share your experiences with this hair wash by dropping a comment below and remember to include your hair type.

If you prefer making shampoo bars, there’s a book in a shop to show you how. Click the picture below to learn more.

Make Your Own Naturally Balanced Shampoo Bars