Being one who has never been satisfied with my hair care regimen, I have tried
numerous remedies that can be used at home. Every time I open my kitchen cabinet,
I am tempted to believe that I am rummaging for a beauty product that could get me
glowing.
Other choices include coconut oil (natural oils), honey and apple cider vinegar to
mention but a few. However, one particular ingredient turned out to be a surprising
and somewhat regretful addition to my hair care journey: sodium bicarb- one of the most common products that we use in the household is baking soda.
The Promises and the Reality
I recall going through a series of articles on this potential magic product for hair and hearing numerous friends relate amazing success stories in using baking soda on their hair. The idea was tempting – an organic component for use in clarifying shampoo billed to provide hair with a thorough wash while leaving it smooth and silky. These are the promises that encouraged me to try it hoping to be a miracle working product.
Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda which is famed in the cleaning department was suggested for deep cleansing which includes use on hair. I believed it would be a perfect idea in order to remove the buildup of various products and give my hair a break. Which you can imagine was a perfect fit for me since it also has exfoliation properties for the dry scalp.
The Harsh Truth
However, my first post was more of an upbeat call to pay attention. This is because after a couple of uses, I noticed the following; Although baking soda for hair is exceptionally good at removing buildup, it also left much more than that to be desired. I realized that the soft fluffy, squeaky-clean feel that I had expected from my hair was nowhere to be found; indeed my hair appeared dull and it was brittle to the touch.
The Science Behind My Experience
In Mentors, I read something which explained my rather regrettable outcomes later on. Several hairstylists including Steven Picciano said that the crystals on baking soda are exceptionally sharp and abrasive. They can even abrade the cuticle of the hair which will result in frizz, less lustre, and breakage. Further, baking soda has apH of about 8 and the hair and scalp need to have a natural pH of around 4 which is more on the acidic side 5-5. 5. This drastic difference can cause tremendous differences in dryness and scaling of the scalp irritation as confirmed by haired Brado Sonna a hairstylist.
Fairly high pH levels of the baking soda swell up hair strands and cuticles, making sure that water brings along problematic substances bottoming out hair’s structure. This not only makes the hair weaker but also may cause the static and friction between the fibres to enhance making the hair frizz and break.
Who Might Benefit — But with Caution
My Safe Experiment
Decide though that something has to work no matter how, I tried to pursue a conventional approach then. I then took one part baking soda and two parts water to give me this paste. Applying some of this to my scalp and my hair I let it remain on my hair for five minutes before washing it off. As expected, my hair felt rather on the dry side afterwards so I proceeded to use a moisture-rich shampoo and conditioner. To my amazement, this strategy did improve oil control on my skin, yet further cemented the fact that baking soda would be too irritating to my skin if used frequently.
Key Takeaways
This is one explanation that gave me the realization about baking soda that even products from natural sources have to be looked at with healthy scepticism. The nature of baking soda is rather harsh as it is corrosive and highly alkaline, therefore it washing your hair with baking soda is not good, particularly for dry or sensitive hair. Although it can benefit oily hair typesin the short run when applied extremely rarely, there are safer and more effective commercial shampoos.
In other words, the fact that an ingredient is natural does not in itself qualify it for a certain context. Hair care is a very intimate and personalized area and it is therefore very important that one is to choose the right products or treatments that suit their hair types best.
Final Thoughts
Coming to my baking soda hair treatment experiment, I think in the rush of trying to get anything done quickly and easily, people tend to consider less the fact about how exactly it is working and what are further effects of it. As effective as baking soda can be in the short term to treat very specific conditions, there are any number of other natural and clinically proven products that will provide the associated benefits without also providing the associated risks.
As much as you might feel the urge to test baking soda, do it sparingly and make sure to condition your hair after the treatment. But, maybe, it is better to start with stabilizing, less risky options. Your hair, as well as a future version of yourself, will believe that you are taking that approach on purpose.
FAQs
What are some common home remedies mentioned for hair care?
Common home remedies for hair care mentioned include coconut oil, honey, and apple cider vinegar.
What were the effects of using baking soda on hair?
The effects of using baking soda included hair becoming dull, brittle, and prone to frizz and breakage due to its abrasive properties and high pH levels.
Why is baking soda potentially damaging to hair?
Baking soda is potentially damaging because its high pH level of around 8 contrasts with the hair’s natural pH of 4-5.5, leading to dryness, scaling, and irritation of the scalp, as well as frizz and breakage of hair strands.
Who might benefit from using baking soda on their hair, and how often should it be used?
People with extremely greasy hair might benefit from using baking soda, but it should be used sparingly—at most once a month and at least once a week. It is not recommended for dry, damaged, or chemically processed hair.
