Long before bottled shampoo existed, people around the world developed their own ways to cleanse and care for their hair using plants, minerals, and natural oils. These practices were shaped by local environments and traditions, often combining cleansing with ritual, medicine, and beauty.

Across cultures, hair care was not simply about appearance — it was closely connected to health, spirituality, and daily life.

Below are some fascinating examples of how different civilizations traditionally washed their hair.

 

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India — Herbal Cleansing with Reetha and Shikakai

 

India is one of the earliest known regions where plant-based hair cleansing traditions developed. For thousands of years, Ayurvedic practices relied on herbs rich in natural saponins — plant compounds that create a gentle cleansing foam without stripping the scalp’s natural oils.

One of the most common traditional combinations included: 

 

• Reetha (soapnuts)

• Shikakai pods

• Amla (Indian gooseberry)

• Bhringraj (the king of hair)

 

 

These dried fruits and herbs were either ground into powder or boiled into a liquid wash used to cleanse the hair naturally. The mixture cleaned the hair while preserving its natural balance.

 

In traditional Indian hair care rooted in Ayurveda, the hair was first oiled and massaged to nourish the scalp and loosen dirt, then cleansed with gentle herbal washes made from Amla, Reetha, and Shikakai, which removed excess oil without stripping the natural balance; while these formed the basic blend, many other herbs were also used depending on need, such as Neem for scalp health, Hibiscus for conditioning, and Fenugreek for strengthening, with a small amount of oil sometimes applied afterward as a light finishing step.

 

This massage practice was known as chāmpi, a Sanskrit word that eventually gave rise to the English word “shampoo.” References to herbal hair remedies appear in ancient Sanskrit Ayurvedic texts, demonstrating that this knowledge has been preserved for thousands of years.

 

Hair care in India was traditionally considered part of holistic wellness, connecting personal hygiene with herbal medicine and daily ritual. In many regions — especially in southern India — women often gathered to bathe together, turning hair care into a social and communal activity. Ingredients like hibiscus flowers were frequently added to hair washes for shine and nourishment.

 

Today, the philosophy behind Als Je Haar Maar Goed Zit draws directly from this ancient wisdom. The use of powdered herbs mixed fresh before application follows the same principles used in traditional Ayurvedic hair care — bringing a ritual that is thousands of years old into a modern, accessible form.

 

Our bestseller is based on the 4 traditionally key ingredients that have been used for many centuries: 

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Syria and West Asia — Clay and the Origins of Natural Hair Cleansing

 

Across the Middle East and the Levant, natural hair cleansing traditions developed using mineral-rich clays and some of the earliest forms of soap.

Long before industrial shampoos existed, people relied on earth-based materials that could gently absorb oil and impurities from the scalp. These clays functioned similarly to what we would now call clarifying treatments.

The city of Aleppo in Syria became famous for producing one of the world’s oldest soaps, made from olive oil and bay laurel oil. Aleppo soap has been produced for centuries and was widely used for both skin and hair cleansing throughout the region.

 

 

Another historic cleansing material from the region is Bayloun Stone, also known as Aleppine Clay. This clay-based mineral substance was extracted from underground deposits around Aleppo and has been used for generations in public bathhouses and personal hygiene rituals.

 

Before modern shampoos existed, Bayloun clay served as a natural cleanser, conditioner, and scalp treatment throughout Syria and parts of the Levant. Its ability to purify the scalp while maintaining the hair’s natural oils made it a valued ingredient in traditional hair care.

 

Before modern shampoos existed, Bayloun clay served as a natural cleanser, conditioner, and scalp treatment throughout Syria and parts of the Levant. Its ability to purify the scalp while maintaining the hair’s natural oils made it a valued ingredient in traditional hair care.

 

The modern hair rituals created by Als Je Haar Maar Goed Zit bring these ancient practices back into everyday life — combining the herbal wisdom of Indian Ayurvedic hair cleansing with the clay traditions of Syria. The result is a simple DIY ritual where powdered herbs and clay are mixed fresh, reconnecting modern hair care with practices that have existed for centuries.

East Asia — Rice Water Hair Rituals

 

In parts of East Asia, particularly in China and Japan, rice water has long been used as a natural hair rinse. After rice was soaked or rinsed, the leftover cloudy water was collected and used to cleanse and strengthen the hair.

 

In the village of Huangluo, women of the Red Yao are famous for their exceptionally long hair, sometimes reaching over two meters. For generations, they have washed their hair using fermented rice water, which contains amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants believed to support hair strength and shine.

 

 

Similar rice rinses were also used historically in Japan as a gentle way to cleanse hair without harsh soaps, reflecting a broader tradition of using simple, natural ingredients for personal care.

South America — Soapwort and the Shampoo Ginger Plant

 

Indigenous cultures in South America relied heavily on plants containing natural saponins.

One example is soapwort, whose roots contain compounds that create a natural lather when mixed with water. Indigenous communities crushed the roots and used the foamy liquid to wash their hair.

 

 

Another fascinating plant is the shampoo ginger plant (Zingiber zerumbet). When its red flower cones are squeezed, they release a fragrant liquid that acts as a natural conditioner and cleanser. In tropical regions, people would collect this liquid directly from the plant and apply it to the hair.

 

 

These plants provided a simple yet effective natural shampoo.
In Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztecs, hair care also involved a variety of botanical ingredients. Natural cleansers like Axin and Xiuhamolli (soap plants) were used to wash the hair, while oils extracted from avocado stones helped nourish and strengthen it. To perfume the hair, women prepared scented rinses made from steeping magnolia petals, pine needles, cedar leaves, and marigolds in water. Another plant known as Copalxocotl, often called the soap-bead tree, was also used for cleansing.

 

Inspired by these ancient botanical traditions, we offer natural hydrosol sprays made from Rosemary, Calendula, and Rose hip, continuing the practice of using plant-based  infusions to gently care for and refresh the hair and scalp.

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These traditions show how cultures across the Americas developed sophisticated plant-based methods to keep the hair clean, fragrant, and healthy.

Africa — Black Soap, Clay, and Herbal Pastes

 

Across many African cultures, hair care relied on locally available plants, oils, and clays.

One well-known traditional cleanser is African black soap, made from plantain peel ash, cocoa pods, palm oil, and shea butter. This soap was often diluted and used to gently wash both hair and skin.

 

 

Other traditional practices included:

• Rhassoul clay from Morocco to cleanse and soften hair

• Aloe vera applied to soothe the scalp

• Shea butter used to nourish and protect hair

 

In Chad, women traditionally used chebe powder, a blend of herbs mixed with oils, to strengthen and protect long hair.

 

 

These practices often focused more on nourishing and protecting hair rather than stripping it.

Mongolia — Cleansing Hair with Fermented Dairy

 

Among traditional Mongols, hair care historically relied on ingredients available within their pastoral lifestyle.

 

One traditional method involved washing hair with fermented dairy products, particularly sour milk or yogurt-like liquids made from mare’s (adult female horse)  or cow’s milk. These fermented dairy washes contain natural fats and mild lactic acids that help remove dirt while leaving hair soft and conditioned.

 

 

Because Mongolian culture was historically nomadic and water could be scarce in the steppe environment, hair washing was not a daily activity. Instead, it was done occasionally using ingredients that both cleansed and nourished the hair.

This approach emphasized maintaining the hair’s natural oils rather than removing them completely.

Ancient Scandinavia — Herbal Cleansing and Lye Soap

 

In ancient Scandinavia, including among the Norse people, hair care was an important part of daily grooming. Archaeological findings show that combs, grooming tools, and washing practices were widely used.

 

 

Hair and beards were sometimes washed using early forms of soap made from animal fats and alkaline substances derived from wood ash, known as lye soap. Although strong, these mixtures helped remove oils and dirt.

People also used herbal rinses made from plants such as Nettle and Birch, which were boiled in water and applied to the hair. These plant infusions were believed to strengthen the hair and support scalp health.

 

Historical sources even suggest that Vikings were known for washing and grooming more frequently than many other European populations of the time.

Ancient Europe — Herbal Rinses and Clay Washes

In ancient Europe, hair was commonly washed with herbal infusions, early soaps, and mineral clays.

 

Greek and Roman societies often used mixtures of olive oil, herbs, and alkaline substances to clean the body and hair. Oils would first be applied to loosen dirt, then scraped away using a curved tool called a Strigil before rinsing.

 

Across northern Europe, people used herbal rinses made from plants such as:

 

• Nettle

• Rosemary

• Chamomile

 

These plants were steeped in hot water to create cleansing and conditioning rinses.

 

In parts of North Africa and southern Europe, mineral clays such as Rhassoul clay were also used to absorb oil and gently cleanse the scalp.

These early methods show that hair cleansing across Europe relied largely on natural ingredients long before commercial shampoos appeared.

A Shared Understanding Across Cultures

 

Although these traditions developed independently across continents, they share a remarkable similarity: they relied on natural ingredients that gently cleanse while supporting the scalp’s natural balance.

 

Plants rich in natural saponins, mineral clays, herbal oils, and botanical extracts all served the same purpose — maintaining clean, healthy hair using what nature provided.

 

Only in the last century did industrial shampoos replace many of these traditional practices.

 

Today, many people are rediscovering these older methods and the simplicity they offer.