Could BS be making my hair break off?

[MamaAllNatural]

I have been poo free for 2 1/2 years now and I use only BS & vinegar. In the past few months my hair has just started breaking off. Like apparently breaking in two at random lengths. What could this be about? It really sucks. I feel like I'm going to have to cut all my hair off soon. For a while it's been okay and everyone just thought I had some fancy layers but I think it's starting to look weird and I'm kind of concerned about what could be causing this.

[babybugmama]

huh...being that you've been doing this for so long it would be surprising. If it were, I would say you are using too much baking soda and stripping the natural oils off. So maybe dilute even further and put jojoba oil or something similar on the ends. Also do you rinse with something to close the hair shaft?

[MamaAllNatural]

Yeah, it doesn't seem like it could all of a sudden change, huh? Right now (and for what seems like forever) I have been using BS w/warm water for the wash and then rinsing that out and rinsing with water mixed w/vinegar. I usually let it sit for a while too. Then rinse it out. The only thing I can think of that's different is that I started leaving the BS in while I washed the rest of my body and I used to rinse it out right after washing my face. So, maybe I'll stop doing that as well as use even less BS. I only wash my hair 2 X per week too so I feel like I'm getting back enough natural oils before I wash. Or should I try to space out the hairwashing an extra day or two? Thanks for your input.

*ETA: I also meant to say I don't have any jojoba but I do have lavendar...and some rosemary. Would one of those have the same effect as jojoba?

[Altair]

BS/V might be too harsh for you at this point. hair changes with age, diet, etc... so what works at one point in your life might not work at another point!

what is your hair type? I LOVE using coconut oil in my hair-i i use it after the shower, and don't rinse, but my hair really likes the extra moisture. you can also use it as a pre-shampoo, then wash it out.

[sphinxie]

Originally Posted by MamaAllNatural

The only thing I can think of that's different is that I started leaving the BS in while I washed the rest of my body and I used to rinse it out right after washing my face

Yikes! It sounds a lot like that would be the culprit.

I have trouble with occasional brittle hair and take silica, dr recommended the kind from soil rather than plants. Although I think a good multivitamin is great too, I don't know much but I think things like biotin and msm are hair strengthening.

If I were you I might do as much water-only washing as possible for awhile (still with very mild acid rinse). I've heard of people using salt instead of BS, as in a mild saline solution. Also as much moisturizing treatments as you can handle. Make sure the oils you use are moisturizing--I recently had some breakage after using coconut oil because apparently it can be drying if your hair is prone.

[MamaAllNatural]

I have just started taking Cod Liver Oil...not for that but I'm thinking it might help. And my hair does tend to take a while to get greasy. It's straight, pretty darn thin, blonde. I also had been using these clips in my hair (twisting it up into a tooth comb clip) that I had never used before a year ago so I have stopped using them. But I think you're right that it's the leaving BS in for too long that is the real culprit here. So, vinegar can be too harsh for the hair? I'm getting tempted to just use regular 'ol conditioner. Is this an instance that would call for some weird egg or mayonaise soak?

I really appreciate the help ladies.


Oh, and I'm going to do a water only wash the next time or two for sure.

[babybugmama]

Oh and if you use clips or other hair thingies...especially if it's in the same place every day - that can cause breakage. The pressure on the hair weakens it. Speaking as a french braid every day kinda girl. I've learned to loosen my hair band a little and it works just as well with less breakage. I used to wear pony tails every day and you could see where my hair band was.

I don't know about the other oils you mentioned instead of jojoba. I was using almond oil and I know that didn't work as well as the jojoba. You may also try doing some deep treatments on the weekends or some day that you don't care about how your hair looks.

[sphinxie]

If you water wash only for awhile and your hair gets slightly greasy, that'll be a cheap moisturizing treatment

I don't know about different oils. I keep meaning to start a thread asking about the differences between the oils. But oil and honey is apparently the thing. I mean in the things I've read recently, avocado is very moisturizing, olive oil is very moisturizing, jojoba is very close to the body's oil and quickly absorbed, coconut oil as I said is great but can be drying... maybe make a combination to try to get different benefits? But yeah, if you could hang out with that in your hair one weekend (towel on the pillow), you'd probably get a boost. I think my hair really benefited from my transition to no-poo, when I wasn't using enough BS and couldn't get my moisturizing treatment out

I agree with the you guys the clips could also be a contributing factor.

The vinegar is just to get your hair back to its natural slightly acidic ph, after the alkalinity of BS (and water is usually slightly alkaline as well). This acidity protects the hair, and smoothes down the cuticle shafts (as far as I remember) after the alkaline solution has opened them up. Open hair shafts basically = dry brittle hair. So don't cut out the vinegar... dilute it more if you are worried about it being harsh. You can also use beer, which is especially nourishing for hair, apparently. When I used olive oil, honey, a few eos, and beer, it actually smelled nice, though sort of odd.

Apparently there are disagreements on whether the proteins in egg are too big to penetrate your hair. But it seems more likely that the proteins in beer can get in.

Some people use conditioner as the carrier/dilutant for their BS. That could be a good measure while your hair is recovering.

I'm a little hazy on the details but cod liver oil, like silica, is one of those nutrients that'll benefit more or less every cell in your body, so yeah it should help your hair as well.

[allaboutcloth]

I tried the baking soda/vinegar and HATED it. I found indian herbs worked much better on my hair; shikakai and amla. You can also add other herbs if you'd like, there is no end to the possibilities; marshmallow, fenugreek, henna...

[Spastica]

Using too much baking soda, not dissolving it well, or not using enough acidic rinse can break off hair.

I dissolve my baking soda with conditioner so it doesn't overstrip. I also spray vinegar in my hair after I rinse the baking soda 'shampoo' out. I rinse again.

I'm having a lot of breakage lately - but it's fall season, so it'll break off, I'm also anemic. I also have to teach myself that the amount of baking soda CHANGES per season and with the needs of my hair. I know for sure I'm using too much and 'shampooing' too often.

You are probably doing the same. Make sure there's enough moisture in your home this winter, a humidifier will help.