Washing Hair With Baking Soda: This Is How You Get Results!

We all want shiny, strong, gorgeous looking hair. In pursuit of this, we purchase all the various shampoos and conditioners that claim they will give us longer, stronger hair, more volume, fuller curls, and model-worthy locks. The unfortunate side of this is that many of these products have less than desirable ingredients that have any number of potential dangerous side effects.

The immediate solution is to purchase natural, organic shampoos and conditioners, While this may be effective at avoiding the chemicals from conventional washes, they are much harder on the wallet than many of us are willing or able to spend on hair care.

Thankfully, there is a way to avoid scrubbing conventional shampoos and their chemicals into your scalp that is cheap, easy, and effectively washes and beautifies your hair: Using baking soda!

The Problem with Conventional Shampoos

There are a number of ingredients in shampoo (and conditioner!) that we massage directly into our scalps and get absorbed into your body. These ingredients include:

• Sulfates
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Propylene glycol
• Parabens
• Formaldehyde

All of these ingredients are skin and eye irritants, dry out your scalp and hair, and many are endocrine disruptors and therefore may play a role in the development of some types of cancer.

Baking Soda for Hair

Washing your hair with baking soda may sound odd, but with some patience and proper execution, it is quite simple. When making the switch, there are a few things you want to keep in mind:

Your hair will need time to adjust. Your scalp is currently used to having to over-produce oils in response to constantly being stripped of its natural ones by shampoo. This means that for a bit, your hair may not feel as clean as you are used to. For most people, adjustment time takes anywhere from two to six weeks for your hair and oil glands to sort themselves out.

Tip: If you currently wash your hair everyday or every other day, start by simply washing your hair less often. Once you are at a point where you are only washing your hair every three or four days, then switch to baking soda. This will make the transition easier.

Your hair won’t get that “squeaky clean” feeling that you are used to. When you are washing your hair, it won’t necessarily feel as clean in the shower as you are used to. When it dries, however, it will be shiny and clean just as normal, and your scalp will be more nourished because of it.

You should only wash your hair two or three times max each week. At the start, you may feel the need to wash three times, but don’t wash too often as that will still be hard on your hair. Eventually, you will be able to only wash once a week! The point is to let your natural oils take over, and they will keep your scalp cleaner and hydrated.

The “Shampoo”

So first, you have to make your baking soda shampoo mixture. To start, you will want to use one or two tablespoons of baking soda, depending on the thickness and texture of your hair. You will eventually be able to use less (some people even work their way down to one teaspoon).

The “Conditioner”

A conditioner is just as bad as shampoo for bad ingredients. Make your own by combining one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water, preferably in a spray bottle for easier application. Though in the shower you will be able to smell the ACV, your hair will not continue to smell when it is dry.

An Easy How-To

1. Put the baking soda in a container or dish and bring into the shower with you.
2. Using water from the shower, create a thin paste.
3. Massage the paste into your scalp, do not rub into the shaft or ends of your hair. You may have to flip your hair over to get at the base and crown of your scalp better.
4. Rinse the paste out entirely.
5. Spray a light coating of apple cider on the shaft and ends of your hair and allow to sit for a couple minutes before rinsing. This will help to detangle and add shine.

The Bottom Line

There are so many questionable ingredients in both shampoo and conditioner, everyone should consider switching to more natural alternatives. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are fantastic choices because they are inexpensive and natural. Though it may take some time to adjust, your hair, scalp, and overall health will be better off because of it.