Does washing hair with baking soda damage it?

[lovemyfamily6]

I've been washing my hair with baking soda and rinsing with acv. I really like it so far (it's been two weeks). Is it possible that the baking soda will damage my hair though? I was thinking about this as I scoured my sink with baking soda and Dr. Bronner's tonight and as I rubbed baking soda fairly diluted with water on my face and felt irritation. I don't want to start having breakage or other damage down the road. Does anyone know?

[Bitter Green]

I've been washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar for over two years now and my hair has never been healthier.
I guess it's possible, and most stylists and estheticians insist it will, but that hasn't been my experience at all.
I don't even get split ends anymore.

[stellabluz]

does the rinsing with the vinegar help it not have the "sticky" feeling, I have just started washing w/ bs...how much do you all use. I have very long hair and feel like Im only really getting the top scoured

[avendesora]

The vinegar is an important part of the mix. It balances the pH of the baking soda. I imagine that if you only used BS and no vinegar that it would break your hair after a while. It could break it down chemically.

The intention of the BS/V cleaning is that if your scalp is clean, your hair will be clean too. The oils come from your scalp, and not from your hair, afterall.

I found it a bit drying, and I've recently added aloe to my vinegar rinse. Love it!

My regimen: 1 Tbs baking soda dissolved into 8 oz warm water (I use a peri bottle) and pour it over my head, focusing on the roots. Scrub with finger tips, rinse. Then I use 1 ounce of a 1:8 dilution of vinegar. Pour it on, let it sit a minute, rinse (no more scrubbing).

Aven

[lovemyfamily6]

I do use ACV. Thanks for the info! I'll keep doing it then because I love it. My hair looks better than it used to and I get more of the natural wave in it without adding anything.

I bought two bottles at Bed Bath & Beyond. Like the kind you can put icing or condiments in. I use 1 TBSP baking soda to 1 cup warm water and in the other 1 TBSP AVC, 6 drops orange essential oil and 1 cup warm water.

[sarahope]

:

thanks, I just started this regimen last week. you should post in another month or so and let us know how it's going for you - I've read where many people said it took six weeks or so to really get their hair/scalp really healthy. I know my curls are already way less dry.

[rere]

My hair was much healthier when I used baking soda and ACV ( my scalp was another story).As soon as I started using shampoo again a ton of hair broke off.I just couldn't get my scalp to stop being disgusting.