Whether to save money, avoid chemicals, live a more natural lifestyle or simply to help 'difficult' hair, a number of people are investigating natural methods of haircare. Some choose water-only hair washing, while others opt for herbal haircare or conditioner-only washing. One option which uses common household ingredients is those staples of natural living, baking soda and vinegar, to clean and condition the hair.
Before You Wash Your Hair
Washing your hair with this method requires baking soda, vinegar and at least one container such as a jug. To avoid hopping in and out of the shower, some people like to keep vinegar in a squeezy bottle in the shower. The baking soda can be tipped into the jug before getting into the shower: the paste is mixed in this jug with water from the showerhead, after which the jug is rinsed and used to mix and pour the vinegar mixture.
Hair should always be detangled before washing.
How To Wash Hair With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda with enough water to form a paste. Rub this mixture thoroughly into your (thoroughly wetted) roots and scalp, massaging well. It is not usually necessary to clean the length and ends of your hair – runoff from the baking soda mixture will be enough to get rid of any dirt and grease. Rinse out carefully, making sure you don't get any of the paste in your eyes.
To rinse your hair, dilute 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (or another kind of vinegar) in one cup of water. If you like, dip the length of your hair in the mixture and swish it round; then carefully pour the mixture over your scalp, making sure it coats as much hair and scalp as possible. Some people like to repeat this process with another batch of the mixture. The vinegar rinse can be left in or rinsed out – some people to end their shower with a blast of cold water to seal the cuticles of the hair, making it sleek and shiny, while others find that leaving the vinegar mixture on irritates their skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar or Other Vinegars
Proponents of natural haircare often prefer to use organic apple cider vinegar which contains 'the mother', a mixture of dead yeast and bacteria which forms a kind of foam on top of the vinegar. White vinegar and even lemon juice can substitute for apple cider vinegar, bearing in mind that a more acidic solution may be irritating to some. Vinegars which dry 'sticky', such as balsamic vinegar, should not be used.
Adapting the Baking Soda and Vinegar Hair Washing Method
The beauty of natural hair care is that it is not static. Many people who wash their hair with baking soda and vinegar use less soda and more vinegar if their hair feels dry or tangly, and more soda/less vinegar if their hair feels greasy or lank. Others prefer to sprinkle baking soda directly onto the scalp, rather than making a paste.
Baking soda is a fairly harsh cleanser, and can be used occasionally to 'clarify' hair to eliminate buildup from commercial shampoos and conditioners. Some people use baking soda only every other wash, or reduce the quantity used down to a pinch or two, in order to prevent overdrying. A little experimentation will show whether baking soda and vinegar works for you as a regular method of haircare or an occasional treatment. This method can also be combined with other forms of natural haircare, such as oiling the hair prior to washing and using herbal rinses.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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