There's one big reason why the pros don't recommend using dish soap on your hair, and it has to do with the product's pH levels. "[Dawn dish detergent] can range in pH between seven and nine, which our hair doesn't usually like," cosmetic chemist Javon Ford noted in an Instagram video discussing the hack.
Washing your hair with Dawn dish soap is not recommended for regular use. While it can effectively remove oil and product buildup due to its strong degreasing properties, it is also quite harsh and can strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness, brittleness, and potential damage over time.
Dish Soap
Fortunately, if you go through the effort of using this drying soap on your dyed hair, it can help remove unwanted color. You'll need to do many washes to fade it out, but it is a step in the right direction if you want to remove a color.
The most preferable soap for hair wash is a mild, natural soap bar like Castile soap, which is gentle on the scalp and free from harsh chemicals.
If yours is short to medium length, use one teaspoon of baking soda and vinegar in one cup of water. If your hair doesn't seem clean enough once it's dried, use more soda next time. You can also use white vinegar; its smell dissipates quicker than ACV, but neither lingers after rinsing and drying.
Sadly, using body wash to shampoo your hair isn't something we would recommend, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, shampoo and body wash are two entirely different products, formulated with different jobs in mind.
If you washed your hair with just soap, it would definitely remove all of the oil and dirt, but it would also leave your hair dull, dry, brittle, frizzy and hard to style. Thus, commercial shampoos that use SLS to clean your hair must then repair the damage they've done.
Sulphate-rich shampoos are ideal for stripping hair since they help to release the colour - especially with dark or vibrant colours. These include clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo.
Soap and baking soda are a perfect duo as they both fulfill different jobs. Soap is special in the sense that it is both hydrophilic (attracts water) and hydrophobic (repels water, can bind itself with oil). It can attach itself to dirt and grease and dislodge particles, which are then rinsed away with water.
Dawn dish soap was introduced in 1973 by the Procter and Gamble company. Specifically, it was invented by a man named Paul Andrecola, then 26, and who would also invent Febreze and later become the founder of Inventek.
Use It as a Clarifying Shampoo Substitute
First, let's get this straight: replacing your regular shampoo with Dawn is definitely not recommended. However, some people swear by using a very small amount of the dish soap a couple of times a year to get rid of stubborn buildup that conventional shampoos can't touch.
It can cause tangles: When soap gets into the hair, it can cause the strands to tangle together. This can make combing and brushing difficult and can lead to breakage. It aggravates the skin: Soap can strip away the natural oils that protect the skin, causing it to become dry, irritated, and even inflamed.
Summary. Baking soda as part of your hair care routine might allow you to replace commercial shampoos. People report that baking soda dissolved in water can remove excess oil and buildup in hair, restore pH levels, treat dryness and dandruff, and lighten dyed hair.
1/4 cup Castile soap (we used Dr. Bronner's Peppermint) 1/4 cup coconut milk, (from a carton) 1/2 tsp jojoba oil (can use olive oil if you don't have on hand, but may create a more oily feel)
Baking soda is your friend
Like many natural cleaners, the recipe isn't static; it can be tweaked to suit your needs. The standard amount for hair care is one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water.
Can you use Dawn dish soap as a shampoo? Yes, it's clarifying, but it should be considered a last resort and should be done so sparingly. It can also strip color from your hair.
Despite the rave reviews of some vloggers, most hair professionals do not recommend the water only hair washing method. “Sebum is naturally quite waxy (and smelly), and water alone may not be able to remove the buildup which can be problematic for people with scalp conditions or a predisposition to scalp conditions.
Lavender, mint, and yarrow were some of the most commonly used botanicals in these homemade shampoos. Lavender, with its calming aroma and antiseptic properties, was revered for its ability to cleanse and refresh the scalp.
Options included rocks, leaves, grass, moss, animal fur, corn cobs, coconut husks, sticks, sand, and sea shells. Water and snow were also used to wash and clean. The material used depended on various factors, such as socioeconomic status, weather conditions, social customs, and location.
The no-poo (or “no shampoo”) method is a hair-cleansing technique that removes shampoo from the equation, says Yadav. Instead of using shampoo, followers of the practice use alternatives such as apple cider vinegar, a cleansing conditioner, or just plain water.