Have you ever felt like your hair needs a little boost? Maybe it feels a bit dry or looks a bit greasy? If you’re looking for an easy and natural way to improve the look and feel of your hair, consider using baking soda.
What does baking soda do to your hair? If you want to know all about baking soda, and the many hair benefits, keep on reading…
What Is Baking Soda?
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline powder that is naturally alkaline with a pH of 8.1. This means it falls under the base category on the pH scale and can neutralize acidic substances.
The alkalinity of baking soda plays a significant role in its functionality. When mixed with an acid such as vinegar, lemon juice, or even sourdough starter in cooking, it produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles which cause dough to rise.
That’s why you find this humble ingredient playing star roles in recipes for fluffy pancakes and airy biscuits.
But the science behind baking soda extends beyond the culinary world. Known as a leavening agent in cooking circles, this versatile substance also boasts impressive cleaning capabilities due to its mild abrasive nature and ability to break down grease and dirt effectively.
In terms of hair care, think about this: our scalp has a natural pH level of around 5.5 which falls under slightly acidic on the pH scale.
Given that baking soda is highly alkaline (remember that 8.1 we mentioned?), using it on your hair can disrupt the pH balance, leading to possible dryness and damage over time if not balanced out properly.
What Does Baking Soda Do To Your Hair?
When applied to one’s tresses, this common household ingredient can act as a clarifying agent, eliminating product buildup and excess oil.
Baking soda for hair is a natural alternative to commercial hair care products that are often laden with harsh chemicals.
Its mildly abrasive nature and alkaline pH work together to break down the oils on your scalp and hair shafts.
The effects of baking soda on your hair include:
- Deep Cleansing: It removes dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, and residual products clinging to your strands.
- Restores pH Balance: Your scalp has an ideal acidic pH balance which is sometimes disrupted by certain hairstyling products. Baking soda helps restore this balance.
- Fights Dandruff: By exfoliating the scalp gently, it helps in reducing dandruff caused by overactive sebaceous glands.
- Adds Volume: If you struggle with limp or flat hair, baking soda could add volume by removing excess oil.
However, remember that using baking soda in your hair isn’t without potential drawbacks.
Overuse can dry out your strands or strip away essential natural oils, leading to brittle hair or even breakage. Always perform a patch test before fully incorporating it into your routine.
Moderation is key when using home remedies like these. While they may be beneficial in small doses or occasional use, they shouldn’t replace a balanced hair care regime designed specifically for your needs and type of hair.
What Are The Benefits Of Baking Soda?
One of the primary benefits of baking soda is its unique ability to balance pH levels in various contexts. This trait makes it an excellent addition to hair care routines for several reasons.
Now you might be wondering: what does baking soda do to your hair?
Well, firstly, its alkaline nature helps balance out any acidity on your scalp that could be causing dandruff or itchiness.
When used occasionally as a clarifying agent, it works wonders in removing buildup from heavy styling products or environmental pollutants, leaving your locks feeling lighter and more manageable.
These properties may also contribute indirectly towards promoting healthier hair growth – by maintaining a clean and balanced scalp environment where follicles are free from clogging impurities.
However, don’t mistake baking soda for a miracle cure for baldness; while there’s no concrete scientific evidence linking baking soda directly to hair growth stimulation yet, many believe that cleaner scalps foster better conditions for natural growth.
Can You Use Baking Soda On Hair As Shampoo?
Baking soda as a shampoo isn’t a new concept, but it’s recently seen a resurgence in popularity due to its natural cleansing properties and the shift towards more sustainable, chemical-free hair care routines.
Using baking soda for hair can provide several benefits. First, it’s an excellent exfoliant that helps remove buildup from products and oils, leaving your scalp clean and revitalized.
Its alkaline nature balances your scalp’s pH level, which contributes to healthier hair growth. Moreover, if you’re struggling with excess oil or greasy hair, baking soda can be particularly effective – thanks to its oil-absorbing capabilities.
However, moderation is key when using this home remedy because excessive use may lead to dryness or irritation due to its high pH levels.
To create your homemade shampoo mixture, combine one part baking soda with three parts water. Apply this solution to wet hair starting from the roots, then gradually move towards the ends.
Rinsing thoroughly afterward ensures no residue remains on your strands. For best results, follow up with an acidic rinse like apple cider vinegar to restore the acid mantle of your scalp disrupted by the alkaline baking soda.
Benefits Of Using Baking Soda On Different Hair Types
Regardless of your hair type, you’ll find that incorporating baking soda into your routine can offer some surprising benefits.
You may be wondering what does baking soda do to your hair? The answer is quite simple: it can serve as a powerful cleansing agent, capable of removing product buildup and excess oils.
This is true for all hair types, from straight to curly, thin to thick. The benefits of using baking soda on different hair types are largely due to its mild abrasive nature and ability to absorb oils.
For those with oily or greasy strands, this means less washing and more days between shampoos.
For people with dry or damaged locks, baking soda can help remove the remnants of styling products that often cling onto the hair shaft and cause extra drying.
Baking soda also has a unique effect on colored hair. It helps remove color deposits left by dyes, thus making tones appear brighter and more vibrant.
However, moderation is key when using baking soda for your hair; excessive use could lead to dryness.
Beyond these functional benefits, there’s an added aesthetic appeal: it imparts an incredible shine! Baking soda smooths out the cuticle layer of individual strands which allows light to reflect off them better – resulting in a radiant glow.
Is Baking Soda Good For Damaged Hair?
Baking soda can work wonders on hair that has been over-processed or is suffering from heat damage. It possesses clarifying properties that can help remove buildup and residue, leaving your strands clean and refreshed.
Here’s a brief look at what baking soda do to your hair when it’s damaged:
| Benefits | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Removes Product Buildup | Baking soda acts as a natural cleanser, removing excess product build-up from your scalp and hair. |
| Balances pH Levels | Baking soda helps balance the pH level of your scalp, promoting healthier hair growth. |
| Treats Dandruff | Its antifungal properties aid in treating dandruff and other scalp conditions. |
| Adds Shine | By closing cuticles, baking soda adds shine to dull and lifeless locks. |
Overuse can lead to dryness since it strips away natural oils along with the buildup – an outcome you certainly want to avoid.
To get the most out of baking soda, without harming your hair, incorporate it into a weekly or bi-weekly routine depending on how oily or dirty your hair tends to get.
Mixing it with hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or honey can also counteract potential dryness.
Does Washing Hair With Baking Soda Strip Your Hair Color?
Baking soda has a high pH level, which can open up the cuticle of your hair and cause your color to fade more quickly than it should.
This happens because baking soda acts as a clarifying agent, removing product build-up and excess oil from your scalp and strands. In doing so, it also strips away some of the dye molecules that give your hair its vibrant hue.
Moreover, using baking soda frequently can lead to dryness and breakage due to its alkaline nature.
It disrupts the natural acid mantle of our scalp, causing it to become too alkaline, which leads to dryness and damage over time.
Remember that maintaining healthy moisture levels is essential for preserving not just the health but also the color of treated tresses.
The effect that baking soda has on colored hair may vary based on several factors, including how often you use it, how long you leave it in, and what type of dye was used on your mane.
However, if preserving your hue is paramount for you then limiting or completely avoiding washing hair with baking soda would be prudent.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Using Baking Soda on Your Hair?
Using baking soda on your hair isn’t without risks. It can disrupt your scalp’s pH balance, leading to dryness, itchiness, and irritation.
Over time, it may damage the cuticle of your hair shaft, causing frizziness, breakage or split ends.
Its abrasive nature can strip off natural oils, making your hair dull and lifeless.
If you’ve colored your hair, baking soda could potentially fade the dye faster than intended. Therefore, use it sparingly and with caution.
How Frequently Should I Use Baking Soda on My Hair?
You should use baking soda on your hair sparingly. It’s potent and can strip your hair of its natural oils if used too often.
A good rule of thumb is to limit its usage to once every two weeks, especially if you have dry or colored hair.
Always follow up with a deep conditioning treatment to restore moisture. Remember, everyone’s hair reacts differently, so monitor your hair’s response and adjust the frequency accordingly.
Can Baking Soda Help with Hair Growth?
Baking soda can’t directly stimulate hair growth. However, it helps cleanse your scalp, removing excess sebum and dead skin cells, creating a healthier environment for hair to grow.
It opens up the cuticles of your hair strands, allowing more nutrients to penetrate deeper and nourish them from within.
But remember, overuse can lead to dryness or damage. Thus, moderation is key in using baking soda for your hair care routine.
Can Baking Soda Be Mixed with Other Natural Ingredients for Hair Care?
Absolutely, you can mix baking soda with other natural ingredients to enhance your hair care routine.
For instance, combining it with apple cider vinegar creates a clarifying shampoo that helps remove buildup. Mixing it with coconut oil forms a nourishing mask that strengthens and moisturizes your hair.
Remember to use these mixes sparingly though, as overuse of baking soda can potentially strip your hair of its natural oils and cause dryness or damage.
Is It Safe to Use Baking Soda on Natural or Curly Hair?
It’s important to know that using baking soda for hair cleansing many not be suitable for everyone. For individuals with natural or curly hair, baking soda might dry out your hair and affect its natural curl pattern.
Therefore, extra caution should be exercised, and hydration should be prioritized when using baking soda on these hair types.
What Is the Science Behind Baking Soda and How Does It Affect Hair Health?
Baking soda has a pH level of about 9, which is far more alkaline than the scalp’s natural pH level of 4.5 to 5.5.
This alkaline nature can open up the hair cuticle, leading to frizziness and potential damage. It can irritate the scalp, disrupt hair’s natural oils, and even interfere with hair coloration or hair dye.
Can Baking Soda Help Combat Oily Hair?
Yes, baking soda may help combat oily hair. This is due to its alkaline nature, which can effectively cut through the grease and clean your hair.
However, its frequent use can strip your scalp of its natural oils leading to excess oil production – or in the worst case – to hair loss.
Can I Use Baking Soda as A Shampoo Replacement?
Using baking soda as a shampoo replacement can provide a deep cleanse by removing excess oil and product buildup.
However, it should not replace your commercial shampoo completely due to potential risks and damage it may cause to the hair and scalp over time.
If you are considering using baking soda as a cleanser, it’s important to restrict its use to no more than once per fortnight, followed by a hydrating hair mask or conditioner.
What Are the Effects of Using Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar on My Hair?
When using the method of washing your hair with baking, following it up with apple cider vinegar may help to restore some of your hair’s acidity, close the hair cuticle, and mitigate some of the damage done by baking soda.
Apple cider vinegar can also help detangle your hair and enhance its shine. However, this method should be used sparingly to avoid potential hair and scalp damage.
Will Using Baking Soda for Hair Affect My Gray Hair?
Baking soda may affect color-treated hair or natural gray hair. It’s powerful enough to remove or alter the hair color and may also make your gray hair look somewhat yellowish due to its high alkaline level.
How Do I Apply Baking Soda Into My Hair?
To apply baking soda to your hair, mix about one tablespoon of baking soda with water until you get a paste. Apply this to your wet hair, starting from the roots and working your way to the ends.
Leave it on your hair for about 15 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Remember to follow with a conditioner or hair mask to hydrate your hair.
Can Baking Soda Cause Hair Loss?
While there is no concrete scientific evidence that directly links the use of baking soda to hair loss, it’s usage can cause dry, brittle hair, scalp irritation, and damage to hair fibers.
These factors could potentially lead to hair breakage and thinning. More research is needed to conclusively ascertain if baking soda can directly cause hair loss.
Summary
Baking soda can be an effective and natural way to improve the look and feel of your hair. Its alkaline pH, mild abrasive nature, and oil-absorbing capabilities help remove product buildup, regulate scalp’s pH level, fight dandruff, add volume and shine, in the place of hair products.
However, moderation is key when using this home remedy as excessive use may lead to dry hair or irritation due to its high pH levels.
To create an effective homemade shampoo mixture with baking soda, combine one part baking soda with three parts water while for conditioning purposes – mix it with ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or coconut oil.
All products featured on Gemma Etc. are PR samples or gifted items, unless otherwise indicated. This post may contain affiliate links. If you wish to find out more, please see my Disclaimer within my navigation bar.