I thought it would be fun to do a few updates on my most visited and pinned posts this week. (I apologize for the terrible quality photos today.)
My post about using baking soda and apple cider vinegar to clean my hair has been pinned 900 times according to pincount, making it my post pinned post of all time.
Three years ago, I first wrote about not using shampoo. Then I posted the long, detailed post. Then I answered lots of reader questions. The last time I did an update was over a year and a half ago.
Time for another update!
Am I still using baking soda to wash my hair?
Most of the time.
I purchased the Allure Beauty Box this spring and got more products than I knew what to do with, including bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Every once in a while, I use that instead of baking soda, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar to wash my hair. And when I travel, I use regular shampoo. I’m pretty flexible and my hair doesn’t freak out alternating between the two. I think the key is that it’s not used to being washed daily, so it adapts.
Am I still happy with how it works?
Yep. Honestly, I feel like it does a better job of keeping my scalp clean than shampoo does. I think it’s the tea tree oil magic.
However my hair is way too fuzzy for my liking. It’s been a lifelong problem. Perhaps I need to try a hot oil treatment. I’ve heard great things about coconut oil. (I’ve used it in the past to help with frizz, but never tried an actual treatment.)
What does your hair look like?
Uh, usually in a braid.
My hair is reaching ridiculous lengths and I usually shower then braid or twist my hair into a bun.
You can check here for other hair care tips.
Any other questions? Feel free to ask below and I’ll answer in the comments!
Hi Ashley! I stopped using shampoo at the end of March 2012, though I do get low-lights 3-4 times per year and I allow my hairdresser to use a sulfate-free shampoo and silicone-free conditioner when I color. Like your experience, I find conventional shampoo isn’t a deal-breaker if used every once in a while. I find I like day 1 hair better with shampoo, but days 2+ hair better with the BS/Vin routine. I have thick, wavy hair, too, and I find that frizz is a challenge which can avoided in a few ways:
1. wear your hair in a braid or bun once it’s about 2/3 of the way dry until totally dry. This works, though it limits styling options if you want to wear your hair down.
2. after you get out of the shower, comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb to set up your part and “neaten” your hair. Work a little natural oil (a little coconut oil, or a TINY bit of olive oil) in to the bottom inch or so. Thereafter: DO NOT TOUCH until dry. Then you can brush or finger-comb, depending on how wavy your hair is and how much you want to preserve the curl/wave.
3. Blow-dry all the way straight.
FWIW, I like distilled white vinegar better than ACV. I’ve had the best luck with lemon juice, but it does lighten your hair, which I don’t want to do right now. To “refresh” your hair in the evening (especially if it feels dry) or on day two, you can try putting some of the diluted vinegar into a spray bottle with your essential oil and spray ears down and work through. I can usually do this without insane frizz so long as I didn’t blow dry straight. If you dry straight, redry your hair after spraying.
those have to be your sister in the picture with you. Your hair is gorgeous, ever thought of donating it to an organization like locks of love? I did that earlier this year and am loving the short-haired lifesyle.
They are my sisters! :) And yes, I have thought of donating. Not sure how to go about it…
There are more detailed instructions on their website here http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html
Basically, you put your hair in a pony tail or braid (multiple if need be for thick hair ) and lop em off just above the rubberband. Needs to be at least 10 inches. Locks of love accepts donations through the mail so i just put my piggies in a padded envelope and mailed them away. Any salon should be able to handle this, some even offer a free haircut when you donate (I’m not sure of any, i totally paid for mine) Not sure how other organizations work, but this was pretty straight forward. here’s a link to my post about it, though its more for pictures than information.
http://ohshellsbells.blogspot.com/2013/04/birthday-wrap-up.html
wow- sisters for sure! right??
i hopped off the baking soda bandwagon this summer when i was training for a triathlon. i was sweating so much and swimming in chlorine, plus showering at the gym… i got out of the routine of just washing my hair a couple of times a week and it just got nasty. and it didn’t feel simple and low-maintenance anymore, which is why i tried it to begin with.
i don’t have any questions. just chiming in with my baking soda experience:) it was great while it lasted.
Yes! They are my sisters. :)
How cute are you and your sisters?! They look like you in different ways :). Also, I tried baking soda as shampoo and then ACV as conditioner for a while. Then, I got lazy and now just use Garnier Fructise Pure Clean shampoo/conditioner. I DO use Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Oil though as my hair product and overall moisturizer. The smell reminds me of home :). Maybe I’ll try baking soda and ACV again some time. We’ll see!
I am pinning both for the super helpful update and for the super helpful comments. You have awesome commenters :-)
I stopped using baking soda a few months after I started. It just didn’t work for me. I think it had a lot to do with the hard water I have. Even so it has been around 3 years I’d guess since I used shampoo. I have been using just apple cider vinegar. It seems to work great for me. I also couldn’t live without coconut oil. I have very thick, very coarse, very long hair and it really helps keep my hair tangle free, shiny, and moisturized. I use it like a leave in conditioner after washing and even apply it between washes. I wash my hair probably 2 to 3 times a month on average, a bit more frequently in the hot sweaty summer.
I am excited to try this! What properties does castor oil have that you use it in your face wash? I totally get the olive oil part…..thanks!
I tried baking soda and then apple cider vinegar for the first time last night. I had reservations because of articles/posts I’d been starting to find about baking soda having too high of an alkaline level and that it actually damages hair and that the process of doing a high alkaline wash and then low alkaline rinse (apple cider vinegar) was not good for hair. I’m curious what your take is on this or if you’ve read anything similar or haven’t experienced dryness, etc, which the articles I’ve read suggesting not to use baking soda say happens. Thanks!
Hi there I’ve been washing my hair with bicarb soda & rinsing with Apple cider vinegar with good results although my roots have started to go greasy – not sure why maybe I’m spraying too much ACV on?? I also have my hair highlighted & have noticed the blonde bits have gone quite dry?? Not sure whether to keep it up I think I would like to try some coconut oil as a treatment – what do you think? Karen
HELP! Please! I’ve been Shampoo-free since June 28, 2013(my birthday) and my hair has been in bad shape since. My hair won’t grow beautiful and long anymore because it keeps breaking. It’s so dry and so oily at the same time. I’ve tried so many things to correct the problems. Oh first, I’m washing with baking soda and water, and rinsing with apple cider vinegar and water. I’ve tried less BS and more ACV, that didn’t work. Tried more BS and less ACV, didn’t work. I’ve used coconut oil to calm down my static-y hair this winter, I guess I used too much because now I can’t remove the Coconut oil from my roots for the past 2 weeks:( It just looks oily all the time and yet still my ends are dry and my hair is still static-y. Honestly, I have No Idea how to ever get back the great hair I once had when using regular shampoo’s. BUT, I’m determined to get this right. Do you have any advice to share.
Thank you kindly,
– Liana
Oh man. That sounds stressful! If my hair was reacting so terribly to the baking soda and vinegar, I might just give it up or alternate with shampoo. I understand giving it a chance, but it sounds like you’ve done that! :)
Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it. Before I alternate, I’m going to try adding Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap to the mix. If that doesn’t work, I’ll get the best of the best All Natural, Organic, Non-GMO, Not tested on animals Shampoo and Conditioner that I can find. Phew! Wish me luck! Haha
It Worked! Three days ago I used 1/4 Tsp of Dr.Bronners Unscented Baby Mild Castile Liquid Soap, 1 Tsp Baking Soda mixed with 1 Cup water in a squirt bottle, massaged it in, then rinsed. Then 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinger with 1 Cup of water on my ends and rinsed. After 4 drops of Jojoba Oil on my split ends AND Poof, my nasty, oily scalp I once had is gone!!! I’m so happy about this I thought I’d share it. Thanks again. Have a happy hair day!
I have naturally curly hair that is coarse in back, fine in front. I went sulfate-free about 2 years ago and just tried baking soda to wash my hair a couple days ago. I used sulfate.-free conditioner afterward not vinegar. Normally, my hair is EXTREMELY snarly and tangles even as I comb. What I noticed about the BS was that my hair could be untangled with my fingers during rinsing even before applying conditioner. The BS also made my hair even curlier than normal. However, Idid read somewhere that the BS will take out my hair dye so now I am scared! Iam not ready to be gray yet!
Sincerely, Tammy
Hmmm. This is the first time I’ve seen comments from someone w/ hair possibly similar to my own.
i have very curly hair, coarse, and “tangly”. I absolutely cant brush it /comb it when dry. I use conditioner just to detangle (I dont eave it in for any length of time, I just apply and rinse immediately). Without it, I can’t get my fingers through my hair. But, after reading this, maybe ill try the baking soda and see what happens.
Would love to hear more from naturally curly and coarse hair people on their results with BS or ACV.
Well…….I realize now that baking soda must be for clarifying. Second time I used it was disastrous! My hair is dry anyway but now is much worse. Ihave gone back to sulfate-free shampoo and silicone, paraben-free conditioner. I tried L’oréal Evercurl gel, too stiff for my hair. I love Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper but it is a bit pricy, so what I always go back to is L A Looks moisture gel. However, it does build up but I know how to fix that now! Would like to try Jessicurl Curling Custard but am afraid to spend the money and then not like it. I think Ihave 3A hair but am not sure. I have long ropie curls. What is your regimen?
Probably not the person you’re looking for, but I find a diluted honey mixture to do wonders! Don’t give up on the homemade thing, or add this to your regimen. It adds gorgeous shine and calms static if you have it.
I’m about to start trying this, though I’m a bit worried as I sweat a lot right now in this Australian summer. I’ve read too that the bs can damage hair and if it’s too harsh to try a homemade honey shampoo (honey and filtered water in a runny, watery mixture instead of bs and then the same acv conditioner) just thought I’d share :)
I have made a mixture of vitamin E oil and coconut oil to leave in my hair but just read about an olive oil treatment for hair. something abut heating it up a little and leaving it in…try that for dry haired folk!
I have been using the BS/ACV for a little over 2 weeks now. Day 1 was a disaster but I blame that on the chlorine in my hair and not thoroughly washing it out. Day 2 was amazing. I have super thick, wavy and course hair. I used to wash every day because of my training (swim, bike, run) and my hair literally gets soaked with sweat; I can wring it out after. I thought for sure this method would not work for me but it has been great!! I do use it every day though because I can’t stand the thought of not washing my hair after a run. I noticed that leaving it in a bit longer, scrubbing my scalp a bit more, and rinsing thoroughly have helped. Any other athletes out there with better ideas or working mixtures?
I have noticed a lot of static lately and am not sure if I should blame this on the cold, dry, air in NY or the cleansing method. Anyone else have this problem?
My other problem is that I went through an entire bottle (1 part to 4 parts BS/water… about 1.5 cups) in a week. Is there any way to stretch this out? I have a lot of hair and I can’t always tell how much I am squeezing on, but I need enough to get the sweat off me! What else is there to make this last?
Hi Lisa! Just wanted to add a quick note about the static. I’m on day four of the baking soda method and noticed that today when brushing my hair. I’m over in CA so I don’t think my problem is weather related – but I have only been using baking soda this far. I’ve yet to incorporate the ACV, which from the sounds of it is a big part of the process. I’m going to try and start with that in the next couple of days and am hoping this solves my static issue!
You could also try putting a tiny tiny bit of coconut oil to help – just put it between your hands and rub them together then lightly put in your hair. But just a smidge!
Any ideas for thin hair that breaks easy. I shed like a dog and hate how thin my hair is.
Try 1:3 parts honey to water. Works wonders!
How often do you need to wash your hair – I heard that BS&ACV would decrease the wash frequency, which is what I found to be the most alluring part about it (I go camping a lot).
I wash it about 2 times a week – but I’ve always been like that!
I have well water and do not use a water softener. My hair has been reacting badly to the water over the past year and I mentioned it to a local hairdresser. She recommended adding about a tablespoon of baking soda to my regular shampoo a couple of times a week. I add a little water and mix it together before applying. I have been doing this for several weeks now, and have noticed a difference. My hair is shinier, smoother and has more volume. I use an off the shelf argon oil conditioner. If I blow it partly dry and add in a little mousse and it stays nice for a couple of days. (With my thin, fine hair, I was usually washing it every day for the volume, and no longer need to do that). I have not had good luck with the vinegar rinses, so I will stick with the above mentioned conditioner.
Would the baking soda make my hair color lighter ?
I have done the baking soda / Apple cider vinegar twice now. My hair is thick, coarse & gray. So far feels the same as shampoo. I did see a recommendation to only use the bs at the scalp. Otherwise it is too drying. That makes sense to me.
What are some of the best cruelty free shampoos available please? Would love to hear from you all.
I have very fine hair that tangles and breaks easily, it also gets oily quickly. In addition, I have scalp psoriasis, which I think is aggravated by washing it daily with shampoo. I have just started the bs method to wash my hair. I’m cheating a little maybe because at this time I am using a small amount of conditioner on the ends (because I’m scared of more breakage/tangles if I don’t). At this stage I’m not really keen on the vinegar.
I am hoping that my scalp psoriasis improves if I stop using shampoo altogether, and that I won’t have to wash my hair every day anymore.
I too have phoriosis on the back of my head. I had that problem since middle school and it got worse through the years. I am now 43. My head would itch sooo bad, I would scratch til it would bleed. Doctors would tell me the only thing there is to use it T-Gel and other over the counter shampoos. 7 years ago I went to the dermatologist for another reason and decided to ask him about it. He looked and said there is several medications that will control it and change my life. I tried a couple of different things and found that Clobetasol was right for me. It changed my life!!! No more itching. No more flakes covering my cloths. If you have not gone to a dermatologist, I highly recommend you to go. You will be glad you did. My medicine is covered under my insurance and one bottle will last me about 3-4 months. With that said, I have thick straight hair and started using baking soda very diluted and use the ACV when I think about it. I think I should use it more often though. But I have found out I love it because I think the dyes and fragrances in regular shampoos is a huge irritant to my scalp due to the phoriasis. And I hear that the ACV is suppose to be good for dry scalps. Give it a shot. You might love it or you might hate it. But I do highly reccomand a dermatologist for your phoriais if you haven’t been already. I promise you it will be worth it!!!
Hello! I just wanna ask if i could mix baking soda and coconut oil at once and use it as hair treatment. Is it posible? Or they should be use separate ways? Thanks . :)
tea tree oil is great to protect hair, by the way, you will get the good smell hair after u wash it.
My hairdresser recommended Shielo’s Smoothing Conditioner to me because I have hard to handle hair that is super dry and brittle on the ends and gets really oily at the roots. I’ve been using the Shielo Conditioner for about two weeks now and it has honestly improved my hair so much. The once dry, brittle ends of my hair are now amazingly healthy, smooth and hydrated, without being that false silky that you get with a lot of supermarket brand conditioners.