Baking soda can seem like a cheap and easy alternative to your regular shampoo but using baking soda on your hair can strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to dry, brittle hair. It can also be irritating to the scalp and cause dandruff or dry, flaky skin.
Now don’t get us wrong, baking soda can certainly have its benefits when it comes to hair care. It’s great at removing excess oil and dirt, and it can even help to soothe an itchy scalp. But it’s not exactly the gentlest product out there, and it’s definitely not suitable for use on all hair types.
Potential hair problems that can occur if you choose to use baking soda:
Dryness:
Baking soda can strip the natural oils from the hair, leading to dry and brittle hair.
Breakage:
The harshness of baking soda can cause the hair to break and snap off, leading to thinning hair and split ends.
Damage to the scalp:
Baking soda can cause irritation and inflammation on the scalp, leading to flakiness and dandruff.
Fading of color-treated hair:
Baking soda can strip the color from chemically treated hair, leading to faded and uneven coloring.
Inability to style hair:
Baking soda can make the hair stiff and difficult to style, leading to a lack of flexibility and movement in the hair.
Damage to hair cuticles:
The harshness of baking soda can damage hair cuticles, leading to rough and unmanageable hair.
If you choose to use baking soda on your hair, it's important to use it sparingly and follow up with a deep conditioning treatment to help moisturize and repair the hair. Baking soda can be used as a natural alternative to commercial hair products, but it can also be harsh on the hair and scalp if not used properly.
It's also a good idea to do a patch test on a small section of hair before using it all over your head to make sure you don't have an adverse reaction.
So, while baking soda may be famous in the hair care world, it’s important to use it sparingly and with caution. And if you’re not sure whether it’s right for you, it’s always a good idea to consult with a trichologist first. So, be careful and choose wisely!
