Baking Soda for Hair: Benefits, Uses, Safety

Oct 15, 2024

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Using baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, on hair is becoming an increasingly popular trend, especially among people concerned with scalp issues like dandruff, excess oil, or product buildup. Sometimes, baking soda is even used to remove mud accumulated from mud runs or other extreme outdoor sports.

Meanwhile, other people who subscribe to the "no poo" method believe you don't need shampoos with synthetic ingredients to clean hair. They believe that, not only do these chemicals potentially contaminate ground water, but also that "unnatural" ingredients in shampoo aren't necessary and actually damage hair rather than improve its health.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a salt composed of a sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion. It appears as a white powder, and it's naturally alkaline. According to historians, this compound appeared 4 million years ago when salt lakes evaporated and formed trona deposits. Trona is a rock that can be processed into baking soda. The world’s largest accumulation of trona is in Wyoming. This reserve produces millions of tons of baking soda for export.

Baking soda is primarily used as a leavening agent in baked goods like breads, cakes, cookies, and muffins. It is activated when combined with a liquid and an acidic ingredient. Baking soda also is used in dental health and sometimes to calm an upset stomach or reduce acid reflux. It is even used to clean some surfaces in the home or to keep areas smelling fresh.

There is very limited research that baking soda can help treat dandruff, absorb oil, and restore shine to your hair. But, there is anecdotal evidence that it may have a few benefits for hair and scalp health. Here is to know so far about the use of baking soda for hair.

Research shows that baking soda can strip hair of color, which is particularly useful for people who are unhappy with the color of their hair. Not only does baking soda have abrasive properties, but manufacturers have noted that it is an inexpensive way to fade color treated hair.

Dry shampoo has become a popular way to refresh hair and absorb oil. But, commercial dry shampoos can sometimes contain synthetic ingredients. For this reason, people sometimes use baking soda to absorb oil and refresh their hair because of its drying properties.

The most popular use for baking soda is to remove oil and buildup. That said, it can be too good at its job and dry out your skin and scalp. So, make sure you use it in moderation. Before using baking soda on your scalp, perform a patch test to ensure you don't have a reaction to it.

Baking soda has a crystalline consistency which gives it a naturally abrasive quality. Because of this it may act as an exfoliant for the scalp and help slough off dead skin cells. It may even tame an inflamed or itchy scalp, just like it does with poison ivy, bug bites, and insect stings. Likewise, its high pH or natural alkalinity is able to clarify the scalp and hair—without a lather or suds.

Baking soda has a high pH and is an alkaline substance. Meanwhile, your scalp is slightly acidic and your hair shaft is acidic. If the pH of your scalp gets disrupted, baking soda could help restore pH because it's alkaline. That said, there is no actual research to support this theory.

There are a number of ways to use baking soda for your hair. Depending on your goals, you can either use baking soda alone or with shampoo.

To use baking soda to wash away excess oil and product buildup, you can use 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with water until the gritty texture disappears. Once the mixture is ready, massage it into your scalp very gently, keeping in mind that it will not lather up. Plus, too much scrubbing could dry your skin or strip your hair.

Once you're done, you can rinse your hair as normal under the shower. If you have oily hair, there is no need for a conditioner. Your hair may produce enough oil so that extra moisture is not needed. If you have dry hair, you may want to use a little apple cider vinegar to your hair after you have rinsed out the baking soda and rinse again. Some believe apple cider vinegar will leave your hair moisturized.

You also can consider adding an essential oil to your mixture as well. For instance, some oils not only help soothe a dry itchy scalp, but they also can be moisturizing and add shine.

Here are some oils to consider:

If you like the idea of having a lather when washing your hair, you may want to mix baking soda with shampoo. According to the popular baking soda manufacturer Arm & Hammer, you can mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of shampoo and then apply it to your scalp and lather it up. Once you are finished gently massaging your scalp, you can rinse under the shower as normal.

The company also notes that you should not use the mixture on color-treated hair because it will remove some of the hair dye and lighten the hair considerably. That said, some people choose to use this method when they want to lighten hair that has been dyed too dark. It's an inexpensive way to strip color from the hair shaft.

Using baking soda on your hair is not without risks, especially if you use it frequently. Not only can it over-dry your hair, but its crystalline texture can also damage your hair strands. Keep in mind that baking soda is often used to scrub away stubborn stains, so using it on your hair may cause split ends and breakage.

Additionally, baking soda has a high pH, while your scalp and hair shaft each have a low pH. Research has shown that products with a high pH level like baking soda can:

Overall, baking soda is not something you should use on a regular basis, especially if you have dry hair. Occasionally using baking soda to cleanse your hair or to remove excess oil or product buildup is likely OK, though, you should talk to a dermatologist to be sure.

If baking soda is not something you want to try on your hair, there are other things you can use to address common hair health issues like dandruff, dry scalp, and product buildup. Here are some other products to consider when it comes to caring for your hair.

Baking soda, officially known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white powder that is naturally alkaline. For this reason, people have started using it for everything from exfoliating their scalp to cleansing away dirt, oil, and product buildup. But it's not without risks. Using baking soda on your scalp and hair can strip your hair, irritate your scalp, and lead to frizz.

If you're considering using baking soda on your scalp, do a patch test first. It's also a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider to ensure this cleansing method is right for you.

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