The Long Hair Community - Baking Soda Washing (The Shampoo-Free Method)

GlebeGirl · January 31st, 2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimo

I agree it's safe. For me, the hardest part was the transition as I tried to find what amounts would clean my hair but not leave a residue. Once my scalp balanced out, I used this method successfully off and on for nearly a year. Another difficult thing, believe it or not, was getting used to the lack of suds!

It's true! Even now whenever I use this method I still have the lingering thought in the back of my head, "Is this really getting my hair clean?" After I let the mix sit for about thirty seconds I massage my scalp. After about twenty or thirty seconds of that I start to notice a slippery feel on my scalp and the roots of my hair, and that's when I rinse.

Luckily I never had a transition period. My hair was already used to CO, and I've never had residue issues with lots of rinsing.

GlebeGirl · January 31st, 2007, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessie58

Glebe Girl I have used baking soda with much success before and I just wanted to add that I just now used about 2 tablespoons of baking soda with lots of water and washed with it, followed by ACV diluted with warm water about 2 tablespoons of that also. Then a good rinse. My hair is ultra volumnous and shiny right now and I have mega curls. So I'm happy with this method. Great for me to use between my WO. The only thing I have noticed is that I am experiencing a bit of itching at the moment. I'll have to see where that goes and if it becomes a problem. It could just be while drying.

Sorry I missed this reply earlier!

The itching might just be because your scalp is so very used to WO now. I guess any method of removing sebum might make it sit up and take notice! I'm glad that the results on your hair are to your liking, though. Maybe an aloe scalp massage or something else soothing would help the itch?

Thanks for the great feedback.

jessie58 · January 31st, 2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlebeGirl

Sorry I missed this reply earlier!

The itching might just be because your scalp is so very used to WO now. I guess any method of removing sebum might make it sit up and take notice! I'm glad that the results on your hair are to your liking, though. Maybe an aloe scalp massage or something else soothing would help the itch?

Thanks for the great feedback.

Oh I totally forgot to come back and say that the itching only lasted for 10 minutes and then went away entirely. My hair is so big today and curly and I'm so happy with it. I'm just worried about how often to do this.

Stagecoach · February 1st, 2007, 03:05 AM

I tried this on Monday. Well, a slight variation. I mixed 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 tablespoon honey and mixed it up in water. Wet my hair, applied conditioner to my length (it's been dry lately) and poured the mixture over my scalp. I then let it sit for a minute or so, gently rubbed it around, and let it sit some more. Rinsed, rinsed, rinsed...and rinsed with ACV. I am really pleased with the results! It cleaned my hair nicely, and my hair detangled SOOO much easier!

GlebeGirl · February 1st, 2007, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessie58

Oh I totally forgot to come back and say that the itching only lasted for 10 minutes and then went away entirely. My hair is so big today and curly and I'm so happy with it. I'm just worried about how often to do this.

That's great! I get an itchy scalp from time to time no matter what washing method I'm using. It's never terrible, but sometimes a bit annoying.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how often you are thinking of doing this, but if I recall correctly you only use cleansers other than WO about once a month, right? I know there's a reason, but danged if I can remember what it is right now.

I don't think doing this once a month would hurt at all. I don't think doing it once a week would, either! I'm averaging about once a week lately, although I do it two times a week quite often as well. I alternate it with WO washes and it's making my hair happy (when I'm not doing radical conditioning treatments, and the result of those has just been overoiling for the most part).

I'm interested to know how this continues to work for you!

GlebeGirl · February 1st, 2007, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stagecoach

I tried this on Monday. Well, a slight variation. I mixed 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 tablespoon honey and mixed it up in water. Wet my hair, applied conditioner to my length (it's been dry lately) and poured the mixture over my scalp. I then let it sit for a minute or so, gently rubbed it around, and let it sit some more. Rinsed, rinsed, rinsed...and rinsed with ACV. I am really pleased with the results! It cleaned my hair nicely, and my hair detangled SOOO much easier!

I haven't been adding anything to the baking soda mix. I am starting to add oils to the vinegar rinse, though, and I'm going to try some aloe vera juice in it, too. I find that honey gives me an itchy scalp so I try not to get it there too often, but if it agrees with your scalp then I say go for it! As long as the baking soda to water dilution is still the same it can't hurt.

jessie58 · February 1st, 2007, 05:31 AM

Hello again, I would like to add that this morning is the first time I have ever been able to get up and comb my hair for 3 seconds, put it in a half up and walk out the door.
My hair is usually flat, tangled and straight every morning and MUST be wet by either rinsing or spritzing, but this morning, it was still wavy, still had some curl and all I did was run the comb through and that was it.

Another bonus of Baking Soda washing.

Glebe Girl, I was washing once a month the day before coloring my grey roots. Lately I have been washing about once a week for various reasons. I would like to try this instead of washing though. I don't use gels, conditioners, nor do I oil the length, just the scalp so I am a bit worried about the drying effects.

I'll have to experiment and if I find it drying, I'll have to do some type of conditioning or cut down my times between BS.

styg · February 1st, 2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlebeGirl

That's great! I get an itchy scalp from time to time no matter what washing method I'm using. It's never terrible, but sometimes a bit annoying.

itching is my main reason to try to switch to BS washes only. most shampoos cause itchy dandruff on me (especially the sles ones, 99.99999% of anything sold around here). and coing seems only to work for me with one specific - very smelly - cheap conditioner.

GlebeGirl · February 1st, 2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessie58

Glebe Girl, I was washing once a month the day before coloring my grey roots. Lately I have been washing about once a week for various reasons. I would like to try this instead of washing though. I don't use gels, conditioners, nor do I oil the length, just the scalp so I am a bit worried about the drying effects.

I'll have to experiment and if I find it drying, I'll have to do some type of conditioning or cut down my times between BS.

I'm having some success currently with glycerin in my conditioning rinse (after the vinegar rinse, at the end of my shower). I'm not adding much to begin with since I want to be careful and go the 'less is more' route, but it seems to be helping! I think that just a drop of oil in the vinegar rinse is also doing good things for my hair without actually getting a whole lot of oil in my hair. I like to think it stays where my hair needs it, but I could be fooling myself.

A spritzer with glycerin, aloe and oil might also be something you could experiment with post-shower (sans oil if you're really trying to avoid it on your length). You want to keep those curls moisturized and happy!

GlebeGirl · February 1st, 2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by styg

itching is my main reason to try to switch to BS washes only. most shampoos cause itchy dandruff on me (especially the sles ones, 99.99999% of anything sold around here). and coing seems only to work for me with one specific - very smelly - cheap conditioner.

That's a major benefit of the Shampoo-Free method! It's the very rare person who can't find baking soda and vinegar within easy shopping distance.

jessie58 · February 1st, 2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlebeGirl

I'm having some success currently with glycerin in my conditioning rinse (after the vinegar rinse, at the end of my shower). I'm not adding much to begin with since I want to be careful and go the 'less is more' route, but it seems to be helping! I think that just a drop of oil in the vinegar rinse is also doing good things for my hair without actually getting a whole lot of oil in my hair. I like to think it stays where my hair needs it, but I could be fooling myself.

A spritzer with glycerin, aloe and oil might also be something you could experiment with post-shower (sans oil if you're really trying to avoid it on your length). You want to keep those curls moisturized and happy!

Funny you should say that GG, this morning I mixed up a new bottle of spritz with distilled water, aloe vera, rose water and a few drops of patchouli oil. I hope it will help and replace the need for conditioners and styling agents. So far, so good.

JennyP · February 1st, 2007, 04:34 PM

Oh, how I want this to work for me! It does make my hair feel nice and clean, but I think it's just too drying on the 2/3 of my hair that is chemically colored. It feels crisp. It really gives nice waves, though. Maybe in a few years when I've trimmed this colored stuff off I'll try this again.

GlebeGirl · February 1st, 2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyP

Oh, how I want this to work for me! It does make my hair feel nice and clean, but I think it's just too drying on the 2/3 of my hair that is chemically colored. It feels crisp. It really gives nice waves, though. Maybe in a few years when I've trimmed this colored stuff off I'll try this again.

That's one thing that I definitely can't guarantee. I've only used this on my own hair, which is virgin. I'd be very interested to hear from other people who've tried this with chemical coloring or perming/straightening!

Did you use a conditioner on your chemically treated hair, or did you just do the baking soda and vinegar?

missy60 · February 1st, 2007, 08:15 PM

I have tried baking soda on dyed hair and it stripped the color off really bad but I think I used more baking soda. I would love to hear the results to your measurement to but Im not going to experiment with it because I just got mine colored yesterday. I might try it though before my next touch up

GlebeGirl · February 2nd, 2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missy60

I have tried baking soda on dyed hair and it stripped the color off really bad but I think I used more baking soda. I would love to hear the results to your measurement to but Im not going to experiment with it because I just got mine colored yesterday. I might try it though before my next touch up

Well, I do know it doesn't strip off BAQ henna, since I did have hennaed white hairs that weren't affected at all by the Shampoo Free method. Do let us know if you try this before your next touch-up, though! The more information, the better.