Redditors and curly girl communities alike swear by using baking soda (followed by apple cider vinegar) to help reset your scalp's pH—which purportedly promotes hair growth, removes product buildup, and even softens hair strands. It is also found in some of our favorite dry shampoos.
Remember, baking soda has a very high pH, which opens the hair cuticle. "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."
Adding apple cider vinegar to your hair care routine "will help keep your scalp healthy by warding off bacteria and keeping a balanced pH level," said Dr. Jaliman, adding that "this will stimulate hair growth. ACV gently exfoliates the scalp which in turn will promote hair growth and healthier hair."
The combination of baking soda and apple cider vinegar can prove to be a boon if you want your scalp to be dandruff-free.
However, although baking soda won't make your hair grow any better, it might have some effect on your scalp and hair as a clarifying agent. Temporarily, these clarifying effects can help cleanse away product buildup and excess oil or prep the hair for chemical services by cleansing the surface of your hair strands.
Another woman stated that after three years of using baking soda as a shampoo substitute, she noticed her hair had become brittle and weak. She discovered that the high alkalinity of baking soda, which is not pH-balanced, mixed with the acidity of the apple cider vinegar, caused the damage.
The frequency of application will depend on your hair type, but don't overdo it: It can cause brassiness and damage in high doses. Those with a hypersensitive scalp or any type of skin abrasions or disorders should avoid using apple cider vinegar, as it has the potential to further irritate vulnerable skin.
You should never apply apple cider vinegar directly to your hair. As we mentioned above, it has a highly acidic pH that undiluted could cause irritation, itchiness or burn the sensitive skin of the scalp. The best and safest way to use this ingredient is by diluting it with water to make a hair rinse.
If your hair tends to be dry, you may want to use the rinse less often; if your hair and scalp are more on the oily side, you may want to do it more frequently. Generally speaking, though, you'll want to rinse your hair with an apple cider vinegar solution a couple times a week.
Go along with your normal shampoo routine and rinse your hair. Then slowly pour the ACV hair wash onto your head in an attempt to evenly distribute it. Leave it in your hair for about 2-3 minutes to soak in. Finally, thoroughly rinse to remove from your hair and you're done!
One of the biggest benefits of using baking soda in your hair is that it removes buildup: According to Guanche, "Some benefits of using baking soda for the hair include leaving it clean, shiny, and soft because the baking soda helps remove buildup of oils, soaps, and any remnants of hair care products.
To lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, mix the two ingredients into a paste, and spread it evenly throughout your hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how dark your hair is, and then rinse it out with cold water.
The Simplest Routine to Follow:
Mix three tablespoons of five percent ACV with 1 3/4 cups of water. Dr. Harth notes If you have oily hair or struggle with dandruff, you can use four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Massage the mixture into the scalp and leave it in for up to five minutes.
Growing long hair past your 50s is not only possible, but it is also probable. You should not be forced to cut your hair because of breakage, dryness, or other age-related damage. As we understand aging and its impact on hair, products can be developed to counter its effects.
Apple cider vinegar's acids and enzymes work to destroy those bacteria and prevent them from contributing to hair weakness and loss. Using an apple cider vinegar rinse can also help exfoliate the scalp, removing dead skin cells and promoting hair growth.
Baking soda has a pH of 9, which is far higher than that of the scalp. Using a product with such a high pH may harm the hair. Over time, baking soda can strip the natural oil from the hair, lead to breakage, and make the hair fragile.
Don't overdo it. Think of the baking soda/ACV method as a special treatment for your scalp. It's quite sufficient to do it just a few (1 – 3) times a year.
“Tighter curls tend to deal with more dryness since sebum has a harder time traveling down the hair shaft, so using baking soda can strip the oils and cause further dryness,” Ogboru says. As a rule for any texture, limit your baking soda hair-apy to once a week or once every two weeks for extra dry or textured strands.
On average, hair grows about half an inch per month. So, in two weeks, you can expect your hair to grow about one-quarter of an inch or half a centimetre every two weeks.
To use in the shower, wet your hair completely, turn off the water, and gently apply the baking soda mixture from root to tip. Let sit for one minute before rinsing it out with water. Finish with an apple cider vinegar rinse to try to restore the pH balance of your hair and scalp and to add shine to your strands.
Apple cider vinegar also helps remove buildup, but because of its natural acidity, it can help close the hair cuticles in the process, which means it helps seal in your hair color and moisture for shinier strands!