Is it okay to use baking soda for hair?

Baking soda is usually used as a baking agent. However, not only for making 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. How about using baking soda for hair? Is it safe and also useful? Check out the reviews here.

Is it safe to use baking soda for hair?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate that has a pH of around 9, which is considered a strong alkaline. 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 the friction between the hair fibers. This can damage the hair fibers and cause frizz.

Baking soda can open the hair cuticles, causing the water to be absorbed a lot. Moisture is good for hair, but too much absorption can reduce hair moisture.

Are there any 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 build-up of oil, soap, and other ingredients in hair care products.

By removing this buildup, baking soda can leave hair clean, shiny, and soft. Baking soda can also be an exfoliating product for the scalp, so it can help remove dry skin from the scalp.

People who are concerned about the chemicals in the shampoo, or avoid the shampoo because of the cost, may prefer baking soda as an alternative.

Some people rinse their hair with apple cider vinegar after washing it with baking soda. Baking soda has a high pH, ​​and rinsing with apple cider vinegar is an attempt to restore the scalp's natural pH balance.

This method can be tried every day, or also once a week. Some people who wash their hair with baking soda report great results. However, there is no scientific evidence to support it.

Risks that may occur when using baking soda for hair

Baking soda has an abrasive composition (natural or synthetic ingredients that are relatively hard for sharpening or scrubbing other softer ingredients). Baking soda can be used as a good cleaner for stoves, and sinks stainless steel . However, the tiny crystals of baking soda may be too harsh on your hair.

Baking soda is also much more alkaline than commercial shampoos. Apart from that, it also has a higher pH level than the scalp.

The risks of using baking soda on hair include:

Hair becomes dry

Baking soda removes 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, it is necessary to keep the scalp healthy.

Removing all of the oil can make hair look dull. Natural conditioners 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, causing dry, split ends of the hair.

Scalp irritation

Baking soda can also irritate the scalp. Because of this, baking soda is not recommended for people with dry scalp or have certain skin conditions such as eczema.