Contents:
- Medical Video: PROS and CONS of using BAKING SODA on your natural hair
- Is it safe to use baking soda for hair?
- Are there benefits of baking soda for hair?
- The risk that might occur when using baking soda for hair
- Hair becomes dry
- Hair becomes damaged
- Scalp irritation
Medical Video: PROS and CONS of using BAKING SODA on your natural hair
Baking soda is usually used as a cake baking ingredient. However, not only to make cakes, baking soda also has benefits for beauty, such as whitening teeth, making nails more shiny, and smoothing the heel or the bottom of the foot. What if using baking soda for hair? Is it safe and useful too? Check out the reviews here.
Is it safe to use baking soda for hair?
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate which has a pH of about 9, which is considered a strong alkaline base. While the pH of the scalp and other skin is around 5.5.
Research shows that using products with a pH higher than 5.5 can damage the scalp.
Products with a higher pH level can also increase friction between hair fibers. This can damage hair fibers and cause frizz.
Baking soda can open the hair cuticle which causes a lot of water to absorb. Moisture is good for hair, but if too much absorption can reduce hair moisture.
Are there benefits of baking soda for hair?
Using baking soda for hair can make it clean, shiny and soft. Baking soda dissolved in water helps remove buildup of oil, soap, and other ingredients in hair care products.
By removing this buildup, baking soda can make your hair clean, shiny and soft. Baking soda can also be a product of exfoliating the scalp, so it can help remove dry skin from the scalp.
People who are worried about the chemical content in shampoo, or avoiding the shampoo because of the cost, may prefer baking soda as an alternative.
Some people rinse their hair with apple vinegar after washing it with baking soda. Baking soda has a high pH, and rinsing with apple vinegar is an attempt to restore the natural pH balance of the scalp.
This method can be tried every day, or also once a week. Some people who shampoo with baking soda report good results. However, there is no scientific evidence to support it.
The risk that might occur when using baking soda for hair
Baking soda has an abrasive composition (natural or synthetic ingredients that are relatively hard to sharpen or rub other, softer ingredients). Baking soda can be used as a good cleanser for stoves and sinks stainless steel. However, small crystals of baking soda may be too hard for hair.
Baking soda is also far more basic than the shampoo sold on the market. In addition, it also has a higher pH level than the scalp.
The risks of using baking soda in hair include:
Hair becomes dry
Baking soda can remove hair from natural oils, which can cause dryness.
Everyone has a different amount of oil in their hair. Although too much oil can make hair look greasy, but oil is needed to keep the scalp healthy.
Removing all oil can make hair look dull. Natural conditioner containing coconut or argan oil can help restore moisture.
Hair becomes damaged
Baking soda is a type of salt and consists of small, abrasive crystals. Fine hair, and these tiny crystals can tear hair fibers, which cause the ends of the hair to dry, and branch off.
Scalp irritation
Baking soda can also irritate the scalp. Therefore, baking soda is not recommended for people with dry scalp or have certain skin conditions such as eczema.
