Method – Part 1: Baking Soda
It might be hard to adjust to the lack of shampoo foaming action at first, but I promise this is worth it in the end.
Start by mixing
1 part baking soda with 3 – 4 parts water. I was making a large batch of this and then keeping it in my shower, but I noticed it wasn’t as effective as the individual batches I used to make. Then a reader (thanks Heather!) informed me that water activates baking soda and so now I am back to mixing individual batches in travel-sized squeeze bottles (pictured above).
I have shoulder length hair and use about 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1/2 cup water. You can adjust this depending on your hair length.
To Apply:
- Apply the baking soda and water mixture to dry or wet hair by applying it to the roots at the scalp.
- I like to rub it into my scalp for about a minute and give myself a mini head massage. It feels great and it helps to make sure I get my scalp clean.
- I don’t wash the ends with this mixture because the rest of my hair doesn’t get super oily.
- Rinse with warm water.
Method – Part 2: Vinegar
After washing and rinsing with the baking soda mixture, you’ll want to apply a vinegar rinse. I’ve found that white vinegar does not leave as strong of a smell compared to apple cider vinegar so that is what I use in my rinse. Mix
1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water.
To minimize the vinegar smell, I like to add a variety of essential oils to the vinegar mixture. Here are my favorite combos:
I usually mix a big batch of this ahead of time and keep it in a squeeze bottle in the shower.
To Apply:
- Tilt your head back, close your eyes (to avoid getting this mixture in your eyes), and distribute through your hair.
- After a few seconds, rinse with cold water.
One of the ways that I’ve changed my method recently is rinsing my hair with cold water after the vinegar rinse. The cold water helps to seal in moisture, smooth the hair, and add shine. I have straight hair and have noticed that this really made a difference with eliminating frizz and static.
Since my hair is longer than when I used to use this method, I first noticed the vinegar smell leftover in my hair much more. To remedy this, I simply add two drops of
lavender essential oil to my hair brush and run it through my hair as I blow dry it. Works like a charm!
And, if you enjoyed this tutorial, check out my other DIY and natural beauty recipes!