The Benefits of Using Baking Soda for Hair Care
If you’re considering using a natural method for deep cleaning your hair, you should know about the benefits and drawbacks. As more individuals explore alternatives to the harsh chemicals present in many hair products, baking soda is growing in popularity as a natural hair care product. Unexpectedly, baking soda can be used to clear hair and is becoming more popular in the hair care sector. Can baking soda be used to clean and purify hair in addition to its many other uses, such as eliminating stains from kitchen surfaces and baking delectable treats? Is it effective at removing product buildup? If you’re interested in learning more about using baking soda for hair care and its benefits and potential risks, read on.
In This Article
The Science Behind Baking Soda
Is Baking Soda Good For Your Hair?
Washing Hair With Baking Soda: Easy DIY Recipe
Follow Up With Apple Cider Vinegar
The Correct Way To Wash Your Hair With Baking Soda
Side Effects And Risks Of Using Baking Soda For Hair
The Effects Of Baking Soda On Different Hair Types And Textures
What Research Suggests
Other Alternatives To Baking Soda For Hair
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
The Science Behind Baking Soda
Only one substance, NaHCO3, which comprises sodium and bicarbonate ions, makes up baking soda or sodium bicarbonate.
With a pH of about 9, baking soda can neutralise acids and mix with them to produce carbon dioxide gas.
Our scalp’s pH, which is naturally between 4 and 5, is moderately acidic and is considered healthful. You need to use baking soda with caution due to its high pH. Although it may be beneficial, if used incorrectly or too frequently, it can easily upset the pH equilibrium of the scalp.
Let’s look at some of the ways baking powder can help your hair before learning how to use it properly.
Is Baking Soda Good For Your Hair?
Baking soda for hair care has gained popularity among some individuals, even though there is no medical or scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Nonetheless, many people claim positive outcomes after using baking soda to wash their hair. Here are some of the benefits of using baking soda for hair care:
1. Acts As A Cleansing Agent
You might be able to remove all kinds of buildup, filth, and oil when you wash your hair with baking soda, leaving your hair immaculate. It functions almost as a clarifying conditioner. It also helps remove any product or oil buildup that has accumulated on your head over time as a result of utilising a variety of hair care products.
If you’ve just spent time in a pool, baking soda also helps remove all the damaging chlorine.
2. Works As A Scalp Scrub
Baking soda’s powdery granules help scrub away dirt and dead skin cells from the head during exfoliation.
3. Free Of All Chemical Additives
A pleasant option to commercial shampoos that are loaded with potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, silicons, artificial fragrances, and colours is using baking soda to wash your head.
4. Neutralizes Odor
A terrible odour coming from your hair can be caused by the residue left behind by perspiration, oil, and hair care products. Baking powder application aids in eliminating this hair odour.
Additionally, baking powder is very inexpensive and hassle-free. It is inexpensive (a 16-ounce package of baking soda costs less than $1), hassle-free (it takes only a few minutes to prepare), and simple to use.
Continue reading to learn how to make a homemade baking soda shampoo.
Washing Hair With Baking Soda: Easy DIY Recipe
Whenever you want to cleanse your hair with baking soda, you can create your own little mixture.
What You Need for a Baking Soda Shampoo Preparation
bread seltzer
a leftover bottle or an empty bowl
Aromatic oil for water (optional)
Steps to Take
Fill the bowl or container with one part baking soda.
The baking powder should be mixed with about four parts water.
Some essential oil droplets should be added.
Completely combine everything.
What to Do
Apply the baking soda mixture to wet-hair, working from the base to the ends.
Use gentle circular movements to massage the mixture into your scalp.
Allow the baking soda solution to settle in your hair for about a minute.
Use water to wash it off. Make sure to completely wash the baking soda out of your hair.
Baking powder can clump together when mixed with hot or warm water, so use lukewarm water instead.
Follow Up With Apple Cider Vinegar
Your hair’s cuticles are overly opened by baking soda, which weakens it by causing it to collect too much water. Consequently, rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar after washing it with baking powder (one spoonful of ACV mixed with a glass of lukewarm water).
Apple cider vinegar is said to seal the hair cuticles, lessen frizz, and add lustre. ACV can assist in stabilising the pH equilibrium of the scalp because it has an acidic pH.
Before using baking soda as shampoo, become familiar with the proper way to bathe your hair with this all-natural cleanser.
The Correct Way To Wash Your Hair With Baking Soda
You must understand that different times call for different amounts of baking soda.
Any silicones and hair products that have accumulated on your head and hair shafts must first be removed. One cup of water and one heaping tablespoon of baking soda are required for this.
Before you feel that all of the buildup has been eliminated from your hair and just sebum is visible, you may need to cleanse it in this manner 3–4 times.
Reduce the quantity of baking soda in a glass of water until you are using only 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoon. This amount won’t harm your skin; it will only target the sebum there.
There are a lot of fans of baking soda on the internet who vouch for this organic hair conditioner. However, it is important to be aware of some instances where baking soda has seriously harmed its consumers.
You can read more about the potential negative effects of using baking soda on your hair in the part below.
Side Effects And Risks Of Using Baking Soda For Hair
Your normal hair wash routine may harm your hair irreparably if you use baking soda. Baking soda may cause the following negative impacts due to the pH incompatibility with the scalp:
Dryness
The no-poo movement encourages using natural, gentle, and mild ingredients when washing your hair. Of course, using baking powder is a natural substitute. But it also functions as a powerful cleanser.
It might completely remove all the natural oils from your scalp from your hair, leaving it excessively dry and brittle. So make sure to skip this technique if your mane is already on the drier side.
Abrasion
If you rub your scalp vigorously while massaging the tiny baking soda crystals, your epidermis may become abraded. Additionally, it can tear the hair strands if you have delicate hair, which can result in hair loss and breakage.
A irritated scalp
People with sensitive scalps may experience scalp irritation and inflammation. Thus, people with dry scalp conditions like eczemai or psoriasisi are not recommended to use baking soda in hair.
Hair Breakage
Your hair can become weak if you use baking soda incorrectly or frequently because it will continue to loose moisture. It can gradually harm the hair from the inside out, causing splitting and hair loss.
Not Suitable For Color-Treated Hair
Because it penetrates deeply into the hair cuticle and removes pigment from your tresses, baking soda hair washes are not recommended for people with dyed or color-treated hair. Use of baking soda needs to be stopped right away if you experience dryness or hair irritation.
You are now aware of the harm that excessive use of baking powder can cause to your hair. But does the outcome depend on the structure of your hair? Let’s investigate.
The Effects Of Baking Soda On Different Hair Types And Textures
Baking soda is drying, so it will probably work better on individuals with extremely oily hair.
If you believe you have been using many chemical-rich hair care products for a long time and have a lot of buildup in your hair, you can also try baking powder.
By providing it texture and volume, baking soda may also be beneficial for fine and limp hair. It might even aid in maintaining hairdos.
On the other hand, if you have naturally wavy hair, it is typically not appropriate. Due to weak internal bonds, curly hair is already more prone to breakage and dropping out. Anything that dries out your hair will cause your curls to loose their definition and shape.
Consider the science data first if you’re thinking about using baking soda as shampoo.
What Research Suggests
Applying anything with a pH greater than 5.5 may harm the scalp, according to research. Additionally, the static and friction created by these items can cause the hair to frizz and tangle.
Baking soda can damage your hair because its pH is much greater than that of your scalp. Therefore, it might be a good idea to attempt some other options before washing your hair with baking soda.
Other Alternatives To Baking Soda
Before choosing a hair wash technique, the American Academy of Dermatology advises choosing a product that is suitable for your hair condition.
If you’re searching for gentler options to incorporate into your hair-washing routine, you can choose from the following:
Your hair type: curly, wavy, dense, thin, or straight
You have an oily, normal, or dry hair.
How durable is your hair?
You use hair treatments (heat styling, blowdryers, pollution exposure, etc.)
For a balanced, healthy hair wash, give the following hair care components a try.
1. Aloe Vera
It promotes the growth of new hair while being gentle on the scalp. However, the same cannot be supported by science. Most hair types can use it, and it works particularly well to calm parched, irritated scalp types. Fresh aloe vera juice from the plant itself is recommended for best outcomes.
2. Rice Water
Brown rice water contains a variety of nutrients that are good for hair maintenance. It is said to considerably enhance the appearance of your hair in addition to strengthening the strands.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the most popular products to seal moisture in your hair because it can readily penetrate the hair shaft. It benefits those with thin, brittle hair. To prevent weighed-down, oily-looking tresses, use a moderate quantity.
4. Jojoba Oil
Sebum, a substance that your scalp naturally produces, and jojoba oil are comparable. As a result, it may aid in preserving a balanced oil supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine shampoo and baking soda?
You can use baking powder and shampoo to clarify oily hair and scalp, so the answer is yes. It can aid in removing dirt, grease, and product buildup.
Are hair shafts opened by baking soda?
Yes, banking soda may aid in opening hair follicles, improving product and water uptake.
What occurs if you wash your hair with vinegar and baking soda?
The hair cuticle is opened with baking soda, and the hair cuticle is sealed by vinegar. So to keep your hair moisturised, you can first apply baking powder and then rinse with vinegar.
Can grey hair be made yellower with baking soda?
Yes, grey hair can be made white with baking powder. Baking soda’s whitening abilities aid in the treatment of discoloured hair.
Key Takeaways
1. The damaging chlorine that you get from swimming pool water can be removed from your hair using baking powder.
2. Your hair can be exfoliated with baking soda to get rid of debris and dead skin cells.
3. Baking soda can result in abrasion, dryness, scalp irritation, and breakage due to pH incompatibility with the skin. Therefore, it is inappropriate for hair that has been coloured.
