My curls high on baking soda shampoo and apple cider vinegar conditioner!
I can only imagine how much money I’ve spent in my lifetime experimenting with all different types of shampoos, conditioners, mousses, and hair gels to tame my unruly curls (see my other post on how I care for my curly hair). Since switching to baking soda shampoo and apple cider vinegar conditioner a year ago, I haven’t tried another product and haven’t even wanted to! If you think this sounds like a gimmick, I can’t blame ya, but I promise it’s not. Just start browsing the comments on this post and you’ll see one success story after another.
I’ve tried Nexxus, Frizz-Eaze, Kérastase, DevaCurl, Matrix Biologe, Redken, and Bed Head to name a few. I’m 30 years old now, and until a year ago, I still hadn’t found the perfect products to keep my hair soft, manageable, moisturized and most importantly, tamed. After using no-poo (no sodium laureth sulfate) shampoo and conditioner from DevaCurl for a couple of years and only washing my hair every 3-4 days, it was only fitting that I take the full plunge and make my own Baking Soda shampoo!
So ewww, that’s totally gross! Wash your hair every 3 to 4 days and not use real shampoo? Well, at first it is gross because your hair has to go through a 2-4 week transition period (mine was about 2 1/2 weeks) as it adjusts how much oil it produces.
See, regular shampoo has harsh sulfates in it, which are synthetic detergents. These sulfates clean the hair a little too well and end up stripping it of its natural oils, which causes your scalp to produce more oil than is actually needed. Baking Soda doesn’t strip your hair of its natural oils, but simply removes dirt from your hair.
I was determined to try it and stick it out – especially because it’s so incredibly cheap, gentle on my hair and 100% green! My hair did continue producing excess oil for about two weeks, even after having used a poo free shampoo for several years prior! I was very surprised by this. After that period, however, my hair felt softer than ever and started to actually lay flat! This works for all types of hair, not just curly. In fact, most bloggers who’ve written about it have straight hair.
UPDATE: One of my readers, Deanna, has been using the diluted baking soda on her five month old baby and says that her baby’s skin is much softer and it is helping to remove her cradle cap. Wow! It’s really not necessary to spend ten times the money on natural baby soaps when you can make baking soda shampoo and soap for pennies!
So, let’s get started!
 All you need to make your own shampoo! Baking Soda and water – doesn’t get any cheaper or easier than that, folks! |
Baking Soda Shampoo
- Filtered Water
- An empty container – I use an old shampoo bottle
- Baking Soda
- Measuring Cup
- Tablespoon
- 1 Funnel
Approx. Ratio for the Recipe: 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 cup water OR make a paste with baking soda and a small amount of water and store in an old lotion tub. Just rinse thoroughly if you make a paste. The ratio for this recipe is flexible – there’s really no right or wrong way to do it. Add more baking soda if your hair is thick and long or oily, and less if it’s short and thin or dry. I use a little bit more, because my hair is so thick and long. So, for a 32 ounce container, I use 5 tablespoons of Baking Soda and 4 cups of cool water. I use the funnel to get the water and baking soda into the container. I’ve used warm water before (so I could use the shampoo right away and it wouldn’t be cold), but warm to hot water causes the baking soda to break down and clump, rendering it ineffective.
It’s so easy! Takes me about 5 minutes to complete it.
I take the bottle, flip my head upside down, and squirt the shampoo onto my scalp (the mixture is usually colder than room temperature, so it’s COLD to just pour on the scalp, which I why I flip my head over!).
Then, I take my fingers and rub my scalp in a circular motion, adding more shampoo if it feels like I need it, and rinse very thoroughly.
TIPS:
- It’s very important to rinse thoroughly or your hair will feel grainy and dry.
- Make the recipe with cool to lukewarm water, but not warm or hot. Warm/hot water reacts with the baking soda and causes it to clump up.
Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner
- Empty container (I use an empty vinegar bottle)
- Measuring cup
- Funnel
- Apple Cider Vinegar (I love Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and order in in bulk on Amazon)
- Water (see tips below for scented, herb-infused water in the “Worried About the Smell?” section
Ratio for the conditioner is one tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar to one cup of filtered water. My hair is so dry, thick and long that I use a lot more and it works wonders for my hair – about 1 cup ACV with 1 cup water.
I shied away from using this as a conditioner for a long time because as I used it in the shower, my hair did not feel soft and silky like it did with commercial conditioners, so I thought it wasn’t working. Then, I bit the bullet and decided to try it without any commercial conditioner just to see what would happen. The result? After my hair dried (and I ignored that it didn’t feel soft while wet), it was softer and smoother than when I had used commercial conditioner! I was amazed and now I’m HOOKED.
Worried About the Smell?
Don’t be – I promise you will not smell like a walking pickle jar! If I did, believe me, I wouldn’t be using this. I may be into green living, but I do have pride (smile). Once your hair dries, the vinegar smell disappears. In fact, it starts to dissipate right after rinsing and I don’t notice a smell at all. However, I have been doing this method for a long time, so I am used to it.
If you are just starting this method and just can’t stand the smell of it in the shower or while it’s drying, here are several ideas:
- You can add essential oils like lavender, rosemary, sage, or citrus to freshen it up. However, if you get the raw ACV like I do, the essential oils will make the raw material (aka “the mother”) clump up.
- You could also make your own scented water to mix with it by steeping some herbs in hot water (like making herbal tea) in a pot on the stove, strain the herbs and use that water to mix with the ACV.
- A reader wrote that she uses just a little bit of rose water and orange blossom water and a few drops of her favorite essential to make it smell heavenly.
Tips for Application:
- When starting this method for the first time, be careful to pour the ACV on just the ends of your hair so it doesn’t get on your scalp. It makes my scalp feel oily.
- However, if you are dealing with psoriasis, dandruff or dry skin on your scalp, ACV does WONDERS for healing dry and damaged skin and I recommend applying it to your scalp until your skin heals. I have had a few spots of dandruff in the past and the ACV has cleaned it up after one application!
Trying this Method and Still Dealing with Frizziness?
I’ve gotten quite a few comments from curly girls who are dealing with frizziness while trying this method. I highly recommend reading my other post on my Curly Hair Regimen and follow all the steps when it comes to washing your hair and applying a product afterwards – each step counts. To be clear, I do still have to use a hair cream or mousse with this method or my hair would look terrible and frizzy. I know that may sound strange, but that’s just how coarse and curly my hair is. Before this method, my hair was frizzy, unruly and really dry even with hair products on it. Now, my hair feels soft and lays much more nicely and isn’t nearly as dry. Not only that, I’m saving tons of money as gentle shampoos and good conditioners are very expensive.
Another idea is to use coconut oil as a pre-conditioner. I get my coconut oil from Tropical Traditions and love it! Apply it BEFORE washing your hair, preferably an hour before and let it sit. Then, wash and rinse like normal. Do this on an as-needed basis until you hair feels like you want it to! I have been doing this since having my third baby as the hormonal changes made my hair very dry. The coconut oil has worked wonders to moisturize it!
See how I use this method and other natural methods to care for my curly hair in my My Organic Curly Hair Regimen – How to Have Gorgeous Curls post!
See my Green Homemaking page for more DIY green projects, like homemade deodorant, lotion, detergent, and cleaning products!
I’ve been struggling with my hair since well… forever! I remember being young and having a wild mane that was simply thick, long and unmanageable without untangling spray. Its only been in the last couple years that I’ve begun to experiment with different products, and thought that I had hit the jackpot when I started using Ouidad products. BUT, seeing that there are many steps and each little bottle is $15, I have decided to try this method. I begin today!
Best of luck to you, Mary! Ouidad products are really good, especially DEVA Curl products, but they are very expensive. I’m still loving this method. Let me know if you have any questions!
I finally decided to try baking soda water after reading this article. I’ve read about it before on other sites, but I wasn’t fully convinced. This made me take the plunge. I’ve always used ACV, diluted, as a good clarifying rinse every so often, just to keep my hair clean and happy. I’ve always been a fan of Chagrin Valley soaps for hair and body, but my hair reacted so well to just these two rinses alone. I still love other products they have, but my hair is super happy with this. Every so often I do like to do a nice hair mask with eggs, honey, and EVOO, but I doubt I’ll need it as often anymore.
Today, after sleeping in a braid, I had some seriously awesome braid waves from it. They really looked almost curly, not just wavy. My family commented on how silky my hair looks. My mom even said it looked like I used Loriel shampoo, which worked for her minus her scalp. So this simple routine rivals brand names!
Hi Cassie! Thanks for leaving your success story. I love that you were able to take the plunge! It’s amazing that this method works better than commercial shampoo, isn’t it? Sometimes I still can’t believe how happy my hair is and I’ve been doing this method for more than a year!
I’ve been no poo for a year now and LOVE it! Transition sucked (hard core) but once I got all my ratios right and figured out what worked best for me and my hard water, I’ve never looked back.
For anyone with hard water I found making a paste right in the shower with 1 TBS or so of baking soda in your palm and massaging it into the roots works great. Just leave it on while you finishing showering and then rinse out.
I also know of a great Aloe Honey “shampoo” recipe that works great in between No Poo’s that gets rid of dandruff, dry, itchy, no poo scalp and makes your hair shiny and soft. You can find the recipe at: http://coderedhat.com/aloe-honey-shampoo-recipe/
Happy No Poo’ing!
I have hard water so maybe that’s been my problem with the transition. Going to try the paste tonight.
Melissa
Best of luck, Melissa! Like I wrote in the post, I had to use a water filter because my water was so hard. I saw a huge difference in the softness of my hair!
Hey Melissa, did you try the paste? How did it work?
Thanks for sharing what worked for you, Leah! Sorry your transition was so hard, but good for you for sticking it out. Apple Cider Vinegar also does a great job of getting rid of dandruff.
I have been using California Baby for shampoo and conditioner for about 2 months since I ran out of my stuff and had it in the house since I use it on my 16 month old daughter. I love there brand but it is expensive for the amount I have to use on my thick hair. So I started using your baking soda and ACV last week. I am having trouble with my hair feeling dirty and stinky. I thought maybe I had too much baking soda in the bottle so I added more water but no luck. I feel like I am rinsing well. Do you have any suggestions for me to try? I can’t wait to try your body scrub and many other fun things listed. So happy I found your site.
Hi Melissa! I also like California Baby, but it is so expensive. I would add MORE baking soda, not less, if you feel like your hair isn’t getting clean. But remember, as I write in the post, that your hair could take up to two weeks or more to adjust to producing less oil. Even California Baby shampoo will strip your scalp of natural oils more than baking soda. Let me know how that works for ya!
So I’ve been thinking about going no poo for awhile now!! I have super curly hair as well, and I’m super scared to mess with my routine! ha! But, it’s spring break (I’m a teacher), so why not give it a shot?
A quick question though. Do you use the whole bottle of water and baking soda solution every time you wash your hair? Also, do you suggest starting out by washing my hair with the solution everyday, or should I start with the once every 3-4 days from the very beginning?
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Hi Ellen! I use a 32 ounce bottle and use a cup or less of each time, so it does last a couple of weeks when I wash every 3 days or so. I suggest, since your just starting it for the first time, to wash your hair more often until your scalp gets used to producing less oil. Trying it on spring break is a great idea! Best of luck to you and let me know if you have any more questions!
I had tried the no-poo method a couple years back but my hair was going through the after baby phase of super dry, falling out knotted 2 seconds after I washed it thing… I want to try it again ( we are cleaning up our act, going all home made and organic around here) but I remember having a very hard time getting a comb through my hair after the shower… what would your suggestion be?? I dunno if it was just my hair at the time, or if that is normal..
Hi Casey! Do you have curly hair? If so, getting a comb through it is not a priority, just running your fingers through your wet hair will be enough. But I do on occasion use a wide-toothed comb on my curly hair in the shower after doing the ACV conditioner and it works great for me!
I just tried it today, and my hair seriously feels like hay. I put 1 tb baking soda in 1 cup of water and 1 1/2 tb ACV in 1 cup of water and poured the entire thing on my hair… Any suggestions ?
Melissa, if this is your first time to wash your hair this way – don’t fear your hair is having a bit of a freak out moment. You probably have hard water. Leave the BS/Water mix on your hair (while you shower) until it feels “slippery”, then rinse. Next use your Vinegar/Water mix really focusing on the length of your hair. Good luck! I’ve been washing my hair this way for a year and I love it!
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Hi Leah! Thanks for helping out. Looks like you know a lot about no-poo yourself!
Sara is BS and ACV safe to use on my 16 month old? If so, what amount would you recommend for the mixture? Thanks
Hi Melissa! Yes, it is totally safe for their skin, however, it will burn their eyes unless your child knows to close their eyes. The ACV will burn, not sure about the baking soda, but I do think it will, too. You could pour it on just the length of the hair and not near the scalp to be safe.
Hello! I am very excited to try this but I do have a question. Forgive me if I overlooked this, but would I make the ratio 1:1 every time I am going to wash? So the bottles are only stocked with enough for one shower? Or is it filled completely using this ratio?
Thanks!
Hi Kellyn! The ratio is 1 tbsp. of baking soda or apple cider vinegar to one cup of water. I make 32 oz to a gallon’s worth of it so I don’t have to make it every day or even every week, cuz I’m lazy like that!
Hi Kellyn,
I tried pre-mixing mine with water and didn’t like it so I keep a container in my bathroom with plain baking soda (also for lazy toothbrushing days, sprinkling on the sink if I’m in a cleaning mood, etc.) and I just make a paste in my palm and massage it in. I also keep an old brush in the shower to comb it through and give myself a good scalp massage. That works better for me and I don’t have to refill the container often at all. (I’m making a mental note to make more ACV rinse before I jump in the shower tonight, though.)
That’s a great idea, Mitzi! I got really get tired of refilling my bottle, so I started making it a gallon at a time.
Very helpful information here, Sara. Green is great. Thank you for sharing the simple shampoo and conditioner recipes, together with where and what you buy.
Time to try it out on my ever decreasing hair. Who knows, it may help.
Roberta
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I do hope it’ll work for you, Roberta! There have been many women who’ve commented on here that it has helped to stop their hair loss.
Well, just tried your no-poo method for the first time. My hair is very thick and wavy, but I had no trouble getting my wide-tooth comb through it. Definitely feels different, but we’ll see how it goes. I used a splash of rose water in the wash mix to give it a lovely scent. Its commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking and I found it along with orange blossom water in my local bulk food store. Its very potent though so you dont need much. I also added a tiny drop of essential oil (Patchouli, but use what you like) to the rinse. So my hair feels kinda weird but smells great. Thanks for the great info, Sara.
Hi Debbie! Great idea to add the rose water and orange blossom water. Folks are always asking me how to make it smell better since ACV just isn’t that lovely of a smell, and I will have to add your tips to the post! Thanks for sharing!
Ok, so what about colored hair? I also have straight, fine hair so it tends to look oily after a day; and if I have plans, I need to wash my hair or else I look homeless with straight greasy hair. Ideas?
I color my hair and this works fine! The thing to remember is that this is a super gentle way to wash your hair, the next closest thing to rinsing with just water. So, it’s not ever going to strip color out of your hair.
is the quantity (one tbsp acv/baking one cup of water) used in one wash, if not how many washes will it last? (i have med-long hair)
Hi Tyler, I use about a 1/2 cup to a cup I guess per wash, although I’m really not sure. I make a gallon so I don’t have to make it very often, then store it in smaller containers to keep in the shower so I don’t have to struggle to pick it up every time
. Hope that helps!
This is all new to me. 2 questions….When you flip your head upside down to start, is your hair wet or dry? When using ACV conditioner, do you rinse it out or leave it in? It’s not clear to me in the instructions. Thanks…anxious to try it!!
Help! I’m a first time user and I really want this to work. My hair is thinning at the crown and I’m only 27 so I’m at my wit’s end.
Issue #1. I pre-conditioned with coconut oil because I have a major problem with my hair getting super tangled. One of the reasons is because the bottom half of my hair is damaged from coloring. Anyways, my hair is dry and the entire mane is oily. When I washed, I used a lot of baking soda more than your recommended dosage to try and get the oil out and it didn’t work. I’d like to keep pre-conditioning my hair until it feels healthy. Any tips on how to get the oil out?
Issue #2 My hair type. I have 3 different hair textures. The hair on my crown is thin and limp very oily. It forms a persistent part, exposing a balding spot. My roots are oily throughout. The front and side sections are frizzy and the back section, buried under the top layers is almost smooth. When I wake up in the morning my hair clumps up in greasy sections. I never look nice in the morning, no matter how nicely I styled my hair the night before. Any recommendations on use?
I had very oily hair too. I sometimes would shampoo twice a day if I was going out at night just to deal with the oil. I’ve made it through a month on this method and it worked for me. I added some rosemary essential oil to my baking soda mixture, and also added more baking than the recipe, but I am now scaling back.
Another trick on days you’re not washing with the baking soda is to use cornstarch. Using a makeup brush, brush it into your roots. It doesn’t show on my hair (light brown) and it sucks up the oil. I hope this works for you.
Oh wow, cornstarch? That is the first I’ve ever heard of using that – very interesting! Thanks for stopping by, Lizzy!
I have started using this method however, I placed the ACV in a spray bottle which seems to work great.
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Oh cool! Glad you found a way that works for you. Thanks for sharing, Bonnie!
Do you have colored hair? I have natural curls and I need to color my hair every 5-6 weeks to cover grey. How does this impact coloring? I use Aveda products and coloring; which are more natural.
Yes, I do! I get this question all the time -need to add it to the post. I use Herbatint which is an herbal-based haircolor that is very gentle and I have no trouble with it stripping or fading. This method is the most gentle way to clean your hair, so it won’t strip color!
I made it through! I’m in my fourth week and after a struggle with oily, icky hair, I’ve finally made it to the other side. I’ve always had oily hair with nasty itchy dandruff, but since I switched to the baking soda, the itch was gone, after the first day! That is what kept me going through the oily mess. I never want to go back to hair that has to be washed everyday. I now have a nice wave going through my fine hair.
One tip if struggling with oil: cornstarch is a natural dry remedy. If I had a oily day ahead of me, and was tempted to wash with shampoo, I would brushed some cornstarch in around my roots with a make-up brush and that helped me cope!
I’ve made most of your recipes for natural beauty care and green cleaning, and I am so happy I did! My face has cleared up using your oil recipe, after having acne for most of my twenties even though I didn’t have it as a teenager. I’ll be thirty in a few weeks, and I feel like I’m heading into a new decade fresh and chemical free! Thanks so much for all your posts!
Hey, so I just started this interesting hair care routine and have a few questions. 1. How long are you supposed to leave the baking soda and ACV in for? 2. Can I rinse out the baking soda with the vinegar and have bubbles form on my head or it that a bad idea? 3. Is there a way to thicken each mixture so it’s not so runny? With gelatine or something? 4. Is it bad to leave the vinegar mixture in your hair while you wash your body? Thanks for your help.
Hi Carolin! I don’t leave either one in very long – the baking soda doesn’t need to soak in your hair. It’s mostly for scrubbing. I do leave the ACV in a few minutes while I wash my body. I wouldn’t rinse out the baking soda with the ACV because it changes it into another chemical altogether. I don’t think it’ll burn your scalp, but it might! The only way to thicken it would be to make the baking soda more of paste by using less water. Many people like it that way. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Quick question, if I get my hair dyed at a salon and they use their shampoo will it ruin what I have going with the BS/ACV and put my hair back at step 1? Or will one shampoo/condition from a salon be ok?
Hey Kayte! No, I don’t think so. I still get my hair washed when I get it cut a (3-4 times a year) and it has never set me back. You could tell them to lightly scrub or use less shampoo, though.
Can i make the shampoo and AVC and keep it or you only have to make it and use it right away?
Hi Ana! Oh yes, it can keep for a very long time, especially the shampoo. I’ve kept them for several months with no problems!
I didn’t read all of the comments above, however, I wanted to add an extra application tip for the ACV conditioner. I use a spray bottle to apply it! (50/50 ACV & water) I just spritz it on and I actually run a big toothed comb through it (I just keep it in the shower). It works as a detangler in the shower, too! I have long fine, thin hair. Took a few weeks for my hair to get used to using Dr Bronners soap & ACV conditioner, but totally worth it! My hair stays cleaner longer now
Thanks for sharing, Sara! That’s a great tip!
I’m still not clear, do i rinse off the ACV mixture after applying or leave it in?
Hi there! Rinse it out. You’ll be left smelling like a jar of pickles if you leave it in
.
I have been doing the baking soda shampoo for about a week now. My hair feels grainy with not much of a shine. I also do the acv rinse as well. I have to shampoo my hair every day because it looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket. Is it okay to use this every day. What should my ratio be of b. soda and water? Thanks.
Hi Tammy! There is about a two week transition, sometimes shorter, with the method. I suspect you need to make sure the baking soda is throughly washed out as that will add to graininess. Also, you might more ACV to your conditioner to help moisturize. It might also be that your hair is really dry during the transition, or it could be related to hormones. You might have success putting coconut oil on your hair for an hour before washing. It does wonders for my hair!
Do you apply the b. soda wash to all of your hair and do you apply the ACV rinse all over and let it set? Thanks.
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Hi Tammy! I usually just apply it to my roots (the BS) and do the ACV all over because I need a lot of moisture.
I read your blog about two weeks ago and tried the baking soda vinegar shampoo. I was about to give up because my hair was oily and gross. I finally realized I have hard water, so I boiled the water and then added the baking soda. I also added lemon and rosemary to the vinegar rinse and I love my hair!!!! I’ve always washed my hair everyday because its naturally oily, but I’ve gone 3 days now and no oil
I love this!
Awesome advice, Sara. I wash my hair every day and would like to know if the recipe is suitable for everyday use? I am talking about baking soda shampoo.
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Yes, most definitely! It is so extremely gentle since it has no soap in it that it won’t hurt your hair. However, it is better for your hair to not wash it everyday, as simply using water will still dry it out some. As you use this method you’ll find that your oil production will decrease (after the two-week transition period) and you won’t need to wash it but every 3 to 4 days. My scalp starts to get slightly oily by the end of the third day.
Sooo…. dumb question. Do you mix this up every time you wash your hair then? You can’t make a lot at once? Thanks!
Not a dumb question!
I make up a gallon at a time and it takes me about a month to use it. I’m way too lazy to make it every time I wash my hair. Only issue doing it this way is sometimes the baking soda will clump up, and I have to shake the bottle each time. It is still just as effective for me!
I noticed you told Maria that even getting your hair wet will dry it out some. Do you go 3-4 days without washing your body as well then? Or do you use a shower cap and wash up that way?
Hi Brenna – hehe, nope, I’m not brave enough to go that far. I still want my one shower a day for sure! But, I will tell you that I only wash the essential parts – underarms, feet, anything that got sweaty, and the undercarriage as my husband calls it
. My dermatologist told me as a teenager to stop washing my arms and legs and that was some of the best advice he ever gave me! I make my own body soap with diluted Dr. Bronner’s and oil and it’s very gentle.
Does this work good for colored hair?
Yes, absolutely! I color my hair and it fades way less than it did with regular shampoo.
I have always had naturally curly hair. When I was about 14 years old, I decided I was going to straighten it everyday and did that for about five years. I got it permanently straightened every couple months because I wanted to also keep my my hair long. I am now about 20, with incredibly damaged hair. I have gotten a hair cut (from about waist length to right at my shoulders) to help get rid of all the dead hair. Slowly I’m attempting to grow my hair back out but this time I want long HEALTHY hair. I have been eyeing these “no-poo” blogs for a while and after reading this today I decided to finally try it. Tonight I started it. 1tbsp baking soda to 1 cup water and 1 cup acv to 1 cup water. I also used organix Moroccan argan oil deep moisturizing treatment pre-shower for a little moisture boost. The problem is when I got out of the shower and was drying myself off I quickly noticed that I was COVERED in little red bumps and hives. Are any of these items known to cause allergic reactions? I’m new to this but I don’t want to give up after the first try.
Hi Alexis! I have never had a reaction from it, but I have had readers who’ve reported bumps and we figured out together that it’s from the baking soda. It sounds like you’re allergic to it. I would try using a different type of shampoo – you could do an herbal shampoo with Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap and water. There are many recipes that my friends have – here’s one from The Nerdy Farm Wife. It’s still technically no-poo since Castile soap is soap and not detergent with sodium laureth sulfate.