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After already introducing you to my rye flour hair wash, today I want to show you a second natural alternative to conventional shampoo:

lava clay.

It also won me over — and in some ways, I actually find it even easier to use than rye flour.

What I especially like is the simplicity:

Powder.
Water.

That is all you need to begin with.

If you have a sensitive scalp, want to use as few haircare products as possible, or are simply curious about a different way of washing your hair, lava clay might be interesting for you.

But what exactly is it?

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What Is Lava Clay, Exactly?

The name can be a little misleading at first, because lava clay has nothing to do with volcanic lava.
It is also known as rhassoul or ghassoul and is made from natural clay minerals.
Its traditional use has a long history, especially in North Africa, where it has been used for centuries to cleanse the skin and hair.

The term “lava clay” is linked to the word lavare — to wash.
The powder is mixed with water, where it swells into a soft, slightly gel-like paste.
And that paste is then used for cleansing.

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How Does Lava Clay Clean Without Shampoo?

This is one of the things I like most about lava clay.
It does not need the kind of lather we associate with conventional shampoo in order to clean the hair.
The fine clay particles can bind excess oil and dirt to their surface.

When you rinse the clay out, those impurities are washed away with it.
So the cleansing process works differently from a conventional shampoo.

And that also means:

No foam does not automatically mean no cleansing.

What Is in Lava Clay?

As a natural clay, lava clay contains a range of mineral components.

These include:

silicon, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and potassium

For me, however, the main advantage of lava clay lies in its simple and gentle cleansing action.

Lava Clay and Sensitive Scalps

Especially with sensitive scalps, I find minimalist products appealing.
The fewer added fragrances and care ingredients they contain, the easier it can sometimes
be to work out what your skin actually tolerates.

For me, my scalp feels pleasantly clean after using lava clay, and I like that it does not leave behind
the strongly stripped feeling I know from some shampoos.

Of course, every scalp reacts differently.

If your scalp is severely inflamed, weeping, painful, or persistently itchy, I would not keep experimenting with different home remedies. In that case, it is better to have the cause properly assessed.

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Can Lava Clay Also Be Used as a Shower Gel?

Yes. I also use it on the body from time to time.
Of course, it feels different from using a foaming shower gel.
You simply spread the mixed clay over damp skin and then rinse it off thoroughly.

Personally, my skin feels clean and comfortable afterwards.
I also do not notice any strong lingering smell.

That simplicity is exactly what gives the whole thing a small spa-like feeling for me.
Just without ten different bottles in the bathroom.

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LLava Clay Shampoo — How I Do It

For my scalp, I need roughly:

Ingredients

2 tbsp lava clay
a little lukewarm water

If you have very thick or long hair, or if you also want to use the mixture on your body, you can simply prepare a little more.

Preparation

1. Put the Lava Clay into a Bowl

Add about two tablespoons of lava clay to a small ceramic or glass bowl.

2. Add the Water Slowly

Do not add too much water at once.

I prefer to add small amounts gradually and stir the mixture in between.

3. Find the Right Consistency

You should end up with a creamy to slightly gel-like paste.

It should spread easily over the scalp without being too runny.

How to Use It

• Wet your hair and scalp thoroughly.
• Apply the lava clay mixture mainly to the roots.
• I focus mostly on my scalp and massage the mixture in gently.
• I do not work it heavily through the lengths of my hair.
• Leave the lava clay on briefly.
• Then rinse very thoroughly with lukewarm water.

And this is where one of its biggest advantages lies for me:

I find lava clay much easier to rinse out of my hair than wholemeal rye flour.

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The Biggest Drawback: the Price

As much as I enjoy using lava clay:

It is considerably more expensive than a bag of wholemeal rye flour.
Especially if you use it not only on your scalp but also regularly on your whole body, a pack can run out fairly quickly.

For hair washing alone, however, it lasts quite a while.
That is why, for me, lava clay is more of an occasional treat.

I especially like using it during periods when I consciously want to simplify my care routine and keep everything a little more minimal.

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Which Lava Clay Do I Use?

I have tried several different products.
Personally, I have had good results with the classic brown lava clay from Logona.
For me, it is easy to mix and easy to rinse out again.

I have also tried white lava clay.
White lava clay mainly contains kaolin and is often sold as an especially fine and gentle option.
For my hair, however, the result was not ideal.

My roots sometimes still felt greasy, and my hair felt a little sticky.

A mixture of:

½ white lava clay
½ brown lava clay

worked better for me.

But because I found the white version much less practical overall, I usually stick with the classic brown lava clay.
That is only my personal experience, though — other hair types may react very differently.

Why I Use an Acidic Rinse Afterwards

After washing my hair, I like to use an acidic rinse.

It usually consists of nothing more than water and a small amount of vinegar or another mild acid.

Especially in areas with harder tap water, minerals can build up on the surface of the hair. Studies on hard water and hair do not agree on every detail, but they do show that mineral deposits can be measurable.

A lower pH can also have a beneficial effect on the hair surface and may, among other things, reduce friction between individual hair fibres.

I especially like the rinse because afterwards my hair feels:

• smoother
• softer
• and easier to comb

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Sacidic Rinse — My Recipe

Ingredients

1 litre cool or lukewarm water
1–2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

That is all you need.

How to Use It

1. Before washing your hair, pour about one litre of water into a bottle or jug.
2. Add one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
3. Wash your hair as usual with lava clay.
4. Slowly pour the acidic rinse over your scalp and the lengths of your hair.
5. I leave it in my hair afterwards and do not rinse it out again with water.

For me, the vinegar smell disappears as the hair dries.

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What Can You Use Instead of Apple Cider Vinegar?

You can also make an acidic rinse with other mild acids.

For example:

diluted lemon juice or a very small amount of citric acid.

I would be rather careful with the amount, though.
More acidic does not automatically mean better.

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What About Dyed Hair?

With chemically dyed hair, I would generally be a little more careful with homemade acidic rinses.
How hair colour reacts can depend on the dye, the hair structure, and the concentration of the mixture.

Some people recommend balsamic vinegar, but I would test it first on a coloured strand.
Otherwise, it may be better to use a product specifically designed for colour-treated hair.

With plant-based hair colour, the acidic rinse has worked well for me — but even then, I would test it cautiously at first.

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Do I Have to Use an Acidic Rinse at All?

No.

If your hair already looks and feels good after using lava clay, you can simply leave it out.

For me, it is a nice additional step.
But it is not essential.

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Lava Clay or Rye Flour — Which Is Better?

I would not declare either one the winner.

For me, rye flour is:
cheaper and incredibly economical.

Lava clay is:
easier to mix and easier to rinse out.

That is why I use both, depending on what I feel like and what suits the situation.

If you are just starting out with alternative hair washing, you can simply try both and see which one your scalp responds to better.
Because that is what really matters in the end.

Not which home remedy is currently being called the “best” online.

But:

What works for your hair?

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My Conclusion

For me, lava clay is one of those wonderfully simple care products.

A natural clay mineral.
A little water.
A bowl.

And from that, you get a hair wash that works surprisingly well for me.

What I especially like is how uncomplicated it is and how few ingredients I need.
Rye flour remains the more affordable option for me.

But when I want a particularly simple and pleasant hair wash, I am happy to reach for lava clay.
And that is exactly why it belongs in my little collection of helping angels.

Sometimes good care does not need more ingredients — but fewer.