Moroccan Red Clay Benefits

Morroco is a beautiful African country situated in the Northern region. It is known for its vast natural resources and minerals. One popular component of Morocco that has garnered global sales is their red clay, otherwise known as “rhassoul clay”. It has a brownish-red color. It can only be found in the Atlas mountains of Morroco, and it contains numerous healing properties. Research shows that its unique mineral composition can be very beneficial for your hair and skin. 

Rhassoul Clay Benefits For Hair

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Your skin on your scalp contains sebum secretion. When this secretion is imbalanced, it can cause flakiness and irritation on your scalp. Dead skin cells also need to be properly exfoliated. That is where rhassoul clay can come into action. It can clear out your dead skin cells, which in turn creates space for your natural hair to grow. It also balances out the sebum secretion so dandruff can be fought off. 

Rhassoul clay contains saponin contents. This content is commonly used in shampoos. It can also be singled out as a shampoo alternative. Plant materials also contain this natural cleansing agent. To create your own shampoo, just mix ghassoul clay with rose water until it becomes a paste. Add essential oils such as coconut oil and lavender oil. Continue to mix. Massage it into your wet hair and scalp, and then rinse it off. You will feel surprised as to how clean, soft, and healthy your hair feels. 

Moroccan red clay is more well known for its use as a hair clay mask. It is a natural conditioner that will leave your hair feeling soft and silky. A component of sand that is called silica is in this clay. Silica is an exfoliant, and it can give your hair sheen.

Curly hair can make detangling a challenge. But with minerals such as sulfite and magnesium, rhassoul clay can make your hair more manageable. You deserve natural remedies that are not full of damaging toxins.

Rhassoul Hair Mask Recipe

To make a rhassoul hair mask that is unique to your hair texture, you will need these ingredients:

  1. Rhassoul clay powder
  2. Water
  3. Honey
  4. Rosewater
  5. Essential oils

Steps you should take:

  1. How thick you want your hair mask to be is up to you. On average rhassoul clay needs 2 tbsp. of warm water for every 1 tbsp.of clay powder. For 1 clay mask, you will need about 1 to 2 tablespoons of clay.
  2. Mix the warm water in. Make sure to get any lumps out so that it develops into a paste. Using a wooden spoon and bowl is best.
  3. Divide your hair into sections. Apply the mask generously starting at the roots of your hair and working your way to the ends. Wearing gloves is important during this process. The rich texture makes it hard to get off of your skin. Make sure your scalp is well covered as well.
  4. Let the mask permeate your hair. Put a cap on and keep the mask for 20 to 40 minutes. If you have some clay mask over, you can transform it into a face mask.
  5. Now it’s time to rinse it out. When rinsing your hair out you should make sure you are in the shower. Its thick texture makes it hard to get out of your clothes. Take your time to wash it all out. Once you are done, you don’t need to shampoo or condition. The clay mask serves as a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner.

Rhassoul Clay Benefits For Skin

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Our skin can easily capture a lot of toxins and waste in the air. We live in a world where chemicals from manufacturing take a toll on our health. Human greed has placed capitalism over our livelihood. So keeping our skin detoxified is up to us.

Clays have detoxifying effects because they contain ions. Clogged pores can cause acne and breakouts. Morrocan red clay brings out the impurities and pollution from the pores in your skin. 

When our skin has excessive oil, it can create pimples and blackheads. Moroccan clay soaks up the extra oil, leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

Eczema and psoriasis have inflammatory effects on your skin. This can negatively impact the appearance of your skin. It gives you a look of discoloration. This might give the impression to others that you don’t wash your skin well when in actuality you might be suffering from a skin disorder. Mix rhassoul clay with some coconut milk and apply it to the affected areas. Leave it on to dry, and then wash it off to get some soothing relief.

Loose pores contribute to loose skin. This can cause premature wrinkling. Moroccan clay has natural astringent properties that can tighten your pores leaving your skin healthier and vibrant. 

Rhassoul Skin Mask Recipe

A rhassoul skin mask is similar to a hair mask. The main difference is that less red clay is needed. It is simple to make and you can add your personal favorite essential oils to make it unique.

Ingredients:

  • One tablespoon of Rhassoul clay powder
  • Two tablespoons of warm water
  • Few drops of a esssential oil

Steps to take:

  1. You need 2 tbsp. of warm water for every 1 tbsp. of clay powder. Only one tablespoon of clay powder is needed for one face mask.
  2. Mix the warm water and clay thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add in your favorite essential oils. Only a few drops will suffice.
  3. Apply the mask with your fingers and allow it to dry. It should stay on your face for about 10 minutes.
  4. Rinse it off well with warm water. 

Morrocan red clay contains aluminum and magnesium, so you should avoid using it if you have allergies to these minerals. You can purchase Moroccan red clay from most beauty and health food stores.

Rhassoul in Arabic means “to wash.” Their clay has been used by so many different cultures for thousands of years. If you are on this natural hair journey with limited funds, using this clay is a great way to go. It purifies, detoxifies, conditions, and smooths your hair and skin. You deserve to feel beautiful without overspending.

Any questions, comments, or concerns? Sound off below!

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/rhassoul-clay-2#summary

https://www.lagzira.com/blogs/lagzira-london-blog/10-benefits-of-moroccan-clay-powder-ghassoul-for-skin-and-hair

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Featurism: A Growing Epidemic

Featured Image Credit: Raviyah Singh

Every time I scroll down my social media feed, I notice a pattern of which type of advertisements are shown to me. I usually search for other freelance writers of color so I can learn and grow from them. I guess Facebook and Instagram examines my data input. Their ads cater to my likes and dislikes. Chocolate models often pop up marketing various hair/beauty products. And although I love me some chocolate, I am often disappointed to see that the variety displayed lacks Afrocentric features.

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Image Credit: Raviyahsingh.weebly.com

What Is Featurism?

Featurism is “a prejudice towards individuals with certain features and a preference towards those with features that correlate with a set beauty standard.” Although colorism and featurism are closely linked, they need to be put in separate categories. If you watch fashion runways, you will quickly notice that although dark-skinned models are featured, the ones that are used more possess European features.

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Image Credit: Youtube

African models that are not biracial usually have bigger noses, and bigger lips. Those who have tighter coils, larger noses, and larger hips, are most likely to be excluded from mainstream fashion projects.

Self-hatred within the Black/African community is very real. And at times it can start with our facial features.

Back in the day when exclusive commercials in the United States where geared towards people of color, they would exaggerate our features. This has led to many older brands being pulled off the shelf. For example, Aunt Jemima’s pancake syrup. Quaker decided to remove the image and title after being flooded with customer’s complaints of its racist past.

auntjemima
Image Credit: Lovebscott.com

And featurism does not just end with black people. In Asia, going under the knife to have a double-eyelid surgery is popular. Many Asians do this so they can appear to have bigger eyes. Larger eyes conform more to Eurocentric features.

asian woman with tattoos
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Why Is Featurism So Problematic?

When you receive a lot of praise and likes online, but not in real life, you start to wonder: Is my version of black really beautiful?

It is estimated that 40 percent of black businesses will have no choice but to shut down during this coronavirus pandemic. As a black freelance blogger, this means that this pandemic will either make me or break me. A beauty blogger’s salary can range anywhere from $100 a month to $100,000 a month. But when I see Facebook or Instagram ads of the successful bloggers who claim to be millionaires, they are 9 times out of 10 women of European descent. Are talented Africans who look more African worth less?

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We need to promote self-love even in a world of hate. While others might find this time as an opportunity to riot, steal, and kill, we need to reinforce confidence in our black Queens. That means stop showing favoritism. Don’t tell your daughter that she is more prettier than your other daughter because her nose is more thinner and her curls are looser. And don’t tell your girlfriend that you broke up with her because her butt was not big enough. Stop with the hate. Promote love.

Personally, I find beauty in all shades and all races. Microaggressions coincide with racism. When you hate your own kind, your own kind, in the long run, gets paid less. So the next time you see someone who looks nothing like what you normally see on the T.V, complement them. We can all stop this self-hatred once we see that all-natural, unalterable features are made to be treated equal.

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Image Credit: Pinterest

Sources: http://www.therotundaonline.com/opinion/we-need-to-recognize-featurism-and-its-effects/article_1c841d3c-4313-11ea-a12f-fb4b83810632.html

https://deardarkskinnedgirl.com/2020/05/04/what-is-featurism/

Colorism Is Not the Only Thing That's Problematic, So Is Featurism…

Support Liberian Face Masks

Since the coronavirus has hit Africa, there have been 47,131 cases, 1,845 deaths, and 15,796 recoveries. Liberia, a small west African country, has had its fair share of casualties. So far they have 166 confirmed cases and 18 deaths as of today, May 5, 2020. These statistics are based upon the cases that are reported. So many underserved communities in Liberia lack healthcare centers that can properly test residents.

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Image Credit: dw.com

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Ebola epidemic claimed the lives of 4,810 Liberians. Thomas Nagbe is the director of infectious diseases and epidemiology department at Liberia’s public health institute. He admits that “not all counties are adequately prepared because of inadequate resources”. He also told Aljazeera News that only 1 ventilator exists in the country. Just one. A severe symptom of this virus is shortness of breath. More ventilators are needed for people to survive.

For lives to be saved, prevention is key. So many are setting up their sewing machines and creating face masks. The face masks are not only fashionable, they are saving lives.

The Bombchel Factory

An issue that remains within the fashion industry is staying above water. Many creatives, including those who sew, have to consistently market themselves to make a profit. It is a never-ending hustle. At the Bombchel factory, women are being trained to create clothes. With the pandemic growing, face masks are being made at a fast pace. Located in the heart of Monrovia, Bombchel is working hard to create face masks for their local community and the world. They teach women how to sew, and they also hold literacy classes. Skirts that are not being sold are being transformed into bright-faced masks. Their employee team is comprised of female Ebola survivors, rape survivors, and the deaf. They are a team of survivors that are doing all they can to save lives during this pandemic. The beautiful face masks are being made out of bold African prints.

shopbombchel
Image credit: Bombchel Factory

Since April 24, 2020, the Liberian government has mandated that everyone seen outside must wear a face mask. Cloth face masks must be washed regularly. Also, social distancing must be practiced. Wash your hands as much as possible. Keep a hand sanitizer by your side. And use disinfectant wipes on every surface that you can.

Support Liberians by buying face masks from the Bombchel factory. For every face mask purchased, one will be donated to someone who cannot quarantine at home.

bombchelfactory
Image Credit: Bombchel Factory

To learn more, visit: https://www.shopbombchel.com/collections/all/products/cloth-masks

Sources:

https://www.africanews.com/2020/03/26/coronavirus-young-liberians-make-african-print-masks-for-protection-no-comment/

https://allafrica.com/stories/202004290448.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/liberia-braces-coronavirus-defunct-health-system-200403134851258.html

https://www.dw.com/en/turning-face-masks-into-a-fashion-statement-in-africa/g-53291542