Baking soda shampoo - does it make your hair grow like magic? Trend check

Baking soda shampoo - does it make your hair grow like magic? Trend check

Baking soda is a well-known natural cleaning agent commonly used around the home. Have you heard of baking soda shampoo? This affordable, homemade concoction has become popular among those who follow the "no poo" movement, ditching commercial shampoos in favor of natural or no alternatives. As with many fads, it's important to look at the science behind anecdotal evidence. Is baking soda shampoo really a panacea to accelerate hair growth and cleanse the scalp? Let's find out.

The baking soda shampoo trend

To avoid potentially harmful, harsh chemicals, many people cut out commercially made shampoo and conditioner products. In addition to wanting to make hair care easier, “no poo” supporters cite saving money and limiting the use of synthetics as added benefits. Because of baking soda's cleaning power, users of the homemade shampoo rave about squeaky-clean hair, more volume, and a fresh scalp.

General washing hair with baking soda is easy. Most recipes involve mixing baking soda with water, massaging it into the scalp, and then rinsing with apple cider vinegar. For some hair types, it is also recommended to add small amounts of natural oil (such as coconut) after washing.

The effects of PH levels on hair

Although many baking shampoo users swear by this method, there is no scientific evidence that it is beneficial over traditional shampoo. In fact, science shows the opposite: baking soda is a powerful cleanser that can actually strip your hair. This has to do with the pH of your scalp and what you put on it.

Baking soda has a very high alkaline pH of 9. However, the pH of the scalp is 5.5. The pH of the hair shaft is 3.67. Because of these differences, cleaning with baking soda can increase the electrical charge on the surface of the hair and cause dreaded frizz. While this higher pH can remove buildup, increasing the pH of the hair shafts also allows more water in. In this way, keratin molecules are disrupted and the likelihood of breakage and weakness increases.

High pH baking soda can not only eliminate product buildup, but it can also remove natural oils in your hair. Many baking soda shampoo recipes recommend using apple cider vinegar to rebalance the pH levels of the scalp and hair. The problem is that the pH of apple cider vinegar is quite low, around 3.075. Since it is lower than the pH of your actual scalp, there is no guarantee that the balance will be restored.

Can baking soda make hair grow?

Another claim by baking soda shampoo lovers is that the method aids hair growth and regrowth. The problem with this claim is that hair growth is primarily an internal process. Diet, protein intake and vitamin levels are key factors in hair health, all of which start in the body. While scalp massage and essential oils can stimulate hair follicles, there is no evidence that baking soda causes hair to grow.

In fact, baking soda can irritate the scalp and cause breakages that would limit growth. Since baking soda is made up of tiny salt crystals, the abrasive quality can damage the strands. This shampoo method can hurt your hair more than it helps.

So if you're really trying to reduce scalp buildup, hair care experts recommend clarifying shampoos formulated for the task. Many shampoos are now made without harsh ingredients and added with natural oils and conditioners. This ensures that you have clean hair, avoid potentially harmful synthetic ingredients, and don't have to worry about irritating your scalp. If you decide to go with the baking soda shampoo trend, watch for signs of breakage and don't overdo it. In this case, less is definitely more.

Sources: 

• https://www.curlcentric.com/baking-soda/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158629/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/what-makes-hair-grow
• https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/baking-soda-hair