All About Baking Soda Clarification - LAO Care

In our last article we presented two methods to get rid of chemical residue in your hair and start the transition to natural hair.

This week, let's take a closer look at clarifying with baking soda . We know about the many properties of this product, which is notably used in deodorants and natural cosmetics . But did you know that its stripping properties can also help restore the true nature of your hair ?

Why carry out a clarification?

Using conventional shampoos and treatments for years causes chemical deposits on the hair . These residues give the impression of hair in good condition due to the film-forming effect of these products (silicones, quats, etc.) but suffocate and damage it in the long term.

Dissolved baking soda added to a natural shampoo helps remove any buildup of oils, silicones and other ingredients .

By eliminating this buildup, you will rediscover the true nature of your hair and you will be able to see the more or less significant damage caused by conventional hair cosmetics and daily aggressions (pollution, heat, UV rays, friction, etc.). If your hair is dry, consult this guide!

The powdery consistency of baking soda makes it an exfoliant, so it can also help remove dry skin from the scalp . Avoid if you have a sensitive scalp.

You can clarify with baking soda in several cases:

- If you have oily hair after switching to natural products , then your hair still contains residues of film-forming products and natural shampoos alone are not enough to eliminate them.

- If you find your hair duller or tends to be oilier than normal

Method

1. Add a teaspoon of baking soda (because it is fine) to your dose of natural shampoo 1 to 2 times a month

2. Massage your scalp and lengths

3. Leave to stand for a few minutes

Since bicarbonate is stripping for your hair, it is important to make a natural nourishing mask after your clarification.

The pH of baking soda has a very basic pH (pH 9) compared to that of hair (around pH 5), rinsing with apple cider vinegar after clarifying will help close the hair scales and prevent damage. In addition, vinegar will restore the natural pH balance of the hair . To learn more about the pH of hair and cosmetics, click here !

Be careful not to apply pure apple cider vinegar to your hair, but to dilute one part vinegar in 10 parts water.

Contraindications

Baking soda clarification should be done every 3 to 4 weeks if you feel the need. There's no need to do this if you haven't used conventional products before, as the baking soda will strip your hair of its natural oils, which are essential for its health. The amount of oil in hair varies from person to person.

Although too much oil can make hair greasy , a little oil is necessary to keep the scalp healthy. Removing all the oil could make your hair look dull.

If your hair is very dry or damaged, clarifying is also not recommended as it could further damage your hair. This is because baking soda is a type of salt made up of tiny abrasive crystals.

Hair is delicate and these tiny crystals can tear hair fibers, leading to split ends!