Updated: Feb. 24, 2023
Learn how this ordinary pantry staple can save your tresses from further damage, add shine and cleanse your scalp.
Baking soda serves many useful purposes, from allowing bread dough to rise to cleaning just about everything in your house. However, washing hair with baking soda, a natural chemical compound, can be a cost-efficient shampoo substitute for those who have an oily scalp. Get squeaky clean with this all-natural beauty hack.
What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
How Does Baking Soda Get Rid of Buildup in Hair?
Baking soda helps get rid of unwanted buildup in hair by helping to exfoliate your scalp. Buildup from hair products, dirt from the environment and overactive oil glands make some people want to shampoo more often, which isn’t completely necessary. Many shampoos on the market contain harmful chemicals that dry out our hair, making it less shiny, smooth and manageable.
How to Wash Your Hair With Baking Soda
Here’s What You Need:
Step 1: Make a paste
In an empty shampoo bottle or small mason jar, mix the baking soda and water. For a pleasant scent and additional benefits, add a few drops of lavender or tea tree pure essential oil. Shake well until a semi-viscous paste is formed.
Pro tip: To avoid having to make a paste before each shower, whip up a large batch to keep in your bathroom. The proportions are one part baking soda to three parts water, so you can make as much or as little as needed.
Step 2: Apply to your locks
Step in the shower and apply the baking soda paste to dry or wet hair. Start at the roots and work the paste all the way through the ends.
Step 3: Rinse and dry
Let the mixture sit for one to three minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Towel-dry your hair, then style as usual.
Pro tip: Keep your hair care routine all-natural by replacing your usual conditioner with apple cider vinegar.
Is It Bad to Wash Your Hair with Baking Soda?
Though so many people swear by washing their hair with baking soda, it isn’t the perfect remedy for all hair types. Baking soda is naturally abrasive (hence why it’s used to thoroughly scrub kitchenware, countertops, etc.), so it can make some people’s hair and scalps dry over time. Therefore, this method is most effective for people with oily hair. If you have dry hair, it’s recommended to use a creamy conditioner after rinsing out the baking soda to moisturize your strands.
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FAQs
Baking soda helps get rid of unwanted buildup in hair by helping to exfoliate your scalp. Buildup from hair products, dirt from the environment and overactive oil glands make some people want to shampoo more often, which isn't completely necessary.
Is it good to wash hair with baking soda? ›
The bottom line. Baking soda as shampoo has more risks than benefits for long-term use. While some people report loving this natural method, an equal number of people say baking soda has damaged their hair. Overall, research does not support baking soda as a shampoo replacement.
What is the disadvantage of using baking soda on hair? ›
While baking soda has been said to soften hair, make it shiny and remove excess oil, some people have complained that it causes dryness, frizziness, irritation and hair breakage. This is because baking soda has a pH value of 9, whereas the average pH level of hair and scalp is between 3 and 5.
How to remove hair build up with baking soda? ›
Baking soda is another household item that can help clean your hair. Mix two parts baking soda with one part water in a large bowl, then apply the paste to your hair in a thick layer. Leave the paste to soak into your hair for up to half an hour, then rinse, shampoo, and condition as usual.
What happens when you add baking soda to your grey hair? ›
What happens if I add baking soda to my gray hair? Gray hair can be affected detrimentally when baking soda is added to it, as the natural oils will become stripped and cause breakage of dry hair due to excessive dryness and brittleness.
Do you put baking soda on wet or dry hair? ›
Do you apply baking soda to wet or dry hair? When washing your hair with baking soda, you can apply the baking soda and water mixture to either dry or wet hair. Start at the roots and work into the hair until reaching the ends.
What does baking soda and vinegar do to your hair? ›
"Apple cider vinegar will help seal the hair cuticle to defrizz hair and give it shine," explains Denniston. "[It] will also rebalance the scalp's pH after using baking soda, helping the scalp stay moisturized and protected." Like baking soda, however, apple cider vinegar may irritate some skin types.
What does vinegar do to hair? ›
It promotes shine.
“ACV removes buildup and closes the hairs cuticles, which makes hair more light reflective and shiny,” Haygood explains. “The cleansing capabilities of apple cider vinegar not only get our hair and scalp super squeaky-clean,” Bennett says. “They help restore luster and shine to dull locks too.”
Does baking soda cause hair breakage? ›
Over time, baking soda can strip the natural oil from the hair, lead to breakage, and make the hair fragile. People with very oily hair may see some benefits from using baking soda, but it should only be used for a brief time and with caution.
Can soda damage your hair? ›
The mild acidity in the soda can actually damage the hair follicle and the keratin in your hair. It might make it seem fuller, but that's because the hair is damaged. It's the same effect as over-drying or over-processing and may actually lead to hair loss.
Some of the risks of using baking soda to get rid of hair are as follows: Redness, itching, burning, and inflammation are just some of the symptoms of skin irritation caused by baking soda.
Does baking soda stop hair growth? ›
"Using baking soda in moderation can clean the scalp and hair, exfoliate the scalp, and reduce semi-permanent hair dye. It will not change the rate of hair growth, which is important to acknowledge because there is misinformation on the beneficial claims that baking soda has on the hair."
Does Dawn dish soap remove buildup in hair? ›
Removes Major Buildup
“So when it comes to that, I like to use Dawn dish detergent to help.” She goes on to say that she's had a more effective experience using the household product to cut hair grease than even Dr. Bronner's heavy-duty, all-in-one soaps.
What does vinegar do to gray hair? ›
Apple Cider Vinegar has been used to cleanse and treat the scalp and hair follicles from gray, silver and white hair from hair loss, dull hair, irritation, dryness and the overproduction of sebum. This ingredient will allow nutrients and moisturizers to penetrate the scalp and hair better.
How to reverse gray hair? ›
Although more research is required, it is widely accepted that without these stem cells (which cease to function with age), no amount of treatment will restore hair's original color, nor is there any effective treatment to repigment hair at this stage.
What does baking soda do to your face? ›
Washing Your Face With Baking Soda
Baking soda can help remove oils when used in a facial wash and can be a beneficial part of your overall skin care routine. After using baking soda in a facial wash, make sure to follow up with a moisturizer to add hydration to your skin.
Does baking soda remove hard water from hair? ›
The addition of baking soda can help counteract the buildup from hard water minerals. There are a few simple ways to add some baking soda to shampoo regimen: sprinkle a bit of baking soda on your damp hair and then lather up.
Does baking soda help an itchy scalp? ›
Baking Soda:
Its antibacterial and antifungal properties help you calm the inflammation and fight itch. It also balances your scalp's ph level. The best part is that it's easy to make and easy to apply.
