Why?
Many people have asked me why I wash my hair this way. I can actually give multiple reasons. First of all, commercial shampoos strip your hair of the natural oils (sebum) that protect it and make it shiny. You put conditioner on your hair to put some artificial oils back. Because you’re stripping all the sebum from your hair, any time you go a few days without washing, your scalp goes nuts and tries to overcompensate, creating the grease slick we’ve all had to contend with at some point.
Secondly, after a while with the process, your scalp will calm down and stop creating so much oil, and you won’t have to wash your hair as often. This will vary from person to person, but for me, it’s about 4 days (I was 2 days on the poo). This may be my favorite part.
Thirdly, I’m sure you can buy all kinds of pricey bar shampoos or eco friendly options that aren’t harmful to the environment, but most of your grocery store shampoos are washing all kinds of random chemicals down your drain. Imagine how much easier it would be to keep our water clean without all this stuff? Baking soda and vinegar are harmless and non-toxic, and easily break down in treatment systems anyway.
Lastly, it’s freakin’ cheap. Nuff said. 
Things You’ll Need
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar, because I like the smell, but any will do)
- A mug
- A stirring apparatus (I am currently using a hair stick)
- Water (you’re in your shower! ;-P)
- A natural bristle brush (boar bristles)
The Process
On shower day, put a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in your mug. You may adjust the amount to your tastes over time. I do this before I get in the shower, so I’m not messing with the baking soda package with wet hands. In the shower, wet your hair and put enough water in the mug to create a baking soda “slurry”. Again, this is preference.
At this point, the goal is to massage the baking soda into your head with your fingertips. You want to thoroughly scrub your whole scalp. Now, there are a few ways you can get the slurry on there, like getting some of it on your fingers, pouring a little on your head, etc. Just experiment and see what works well for you.
After massaging the baking soda into your scalp (not your hair) well, rinse thoroughly. If you don’t, you may have a fizzy head for the next step!
Rinse your mug out and put about two capfuls of vinegar in it. Seriously, you do not use much vinegar. Fill the mug all the way up with warm water, and use your stirring stick to mix it up. Pour the mixture over the part of your hair you would usually put conditioner on. Like conditioner, you don’t really need it on the top of your head. Leave it on for a few minutes while you do something else, then rinse it out. Congrats, you’re done!
Between Washings
Comb all the tangles out of your hair, and give your scalp and hair a generous number of strokes with the natural bristle brush. Remember those ladies in the old movies – 100 strokes a night? This is what you’re doing. The boar bristles move the sebum down your hair shaft, making all of your hair shiny and easy to manage. This will especially help during the transition period, when you may have a little wacky oil slick scalp going on. 
Some Warnings
Baking soda is a natural cleaning product. It will fade any artificial hair color over time. However, it also might lighten your hair slightly over time as well.
You may have to change your styling product habits. However, you may find you don’t need as much product anymore. For example, I used to put mousse in my hair after washing and before styling to set the style for 2 days. Now, mousse makes my hair a little sticky, but I’ve found I don’t really need it anymore. Hair spray doesn’t seem to be a problem.
If you have any more questions about my method, feel free to leave a comment on this page, and I’ll add the info! Thanks for reading!
Very Interesting!
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Jessie,
First of all, congratulations! Your mom told me about the February addition. Next, I want to say that while I am very proud of your accomplishments as a math/computer GaTech graduate, I am even more proud that you have not lost your flare for writing. I enjoyed your blog and plan to try the baking soda hair wash. Stephanie is a Green follower as well, and I am a mostly Green convert.
Hope to see you soon.
Diane Brogdon
Thank you so much! It has definitely been too long. I never lost my love of writing – part of the reason I started this blog was to express that part of myself!
Excellent! I so love no-poo!
I tried baking soda shampoo today and I’m not sure I can tell the difference just yet (which I suppose is a good thing). Thanks for posting your experience and the how-to’s.
Thank you so much for this entry! I would love to wean myself off of commercial shampoo and will try this soon. I know that people usually don’t wash their hair every day with this method and, honestly, that’s my concern. I work out on a regular basis and, of course, get sweaty. I’m just wondering if I would still be able to get away with not washing daily. Do you wet your hair between washings? Maybe between the brushing & a quick rinse, that would do it. What do you think? Thanks!
Hi! I’m so glad you’re thinking of trying the method. Water washes are actually a part of my regular routine now. They’ve extended the frequency of my “real” washes to a week! A very thorough rinse with a scalp massage, followed by the boar bristle brush, is plenty effective at getting sweat out. Once you let the natural oils protect your hair again, nothing really “sticks” to it anymore, so it’s easy to rinse out. Hope this helps!
Hi! Thanks for your blog article on no-poo! I’ve been going without using shampoo for 4 weeks now and I’m loving it! I was curious – have you tried the egg wash method (mix an egg and some lemon juice together and scrub it in your hair)? I’ve tried the baking soda and the egg wash and I think the eggs make my hair shinier, but they’re more expensive. I’m wondering if maybe I’m using too much baking soda when I try that method. Anyway, just curious to see if you’ve tried anything different. Thanks!
I’m really glad you’ve had success ditching shampoo! I haven’t actually tried anything else – my hair is thick but with fine strands, so I’m afraid an egg wash would weigh it down. I’m pretty happy with my level of shine though. Happy washing!
I was wondering if you ever experienced any problems with the baking soda burning your scalp? I was very interested in this movement and tried it for a while. I just kept getting really painful (raw type feeling) on my scalp after using baking soda. I have experimented with many different ways to use it, but I think my skin is too sensitive. I have even sprinkled it into my hair and waited five minutes and taken a shower. Nothing seems to help. Have you heard of anything like this? Do you know of another way I can try to make it work?
No, unfortunately I have never heard of this. Have you ever had your scalp examined by a dermitologist? That sounds serious.
Hello, I have same problem of “Loren”, with baking soda, It burns my scalp. Can You help us know why and what to do? By the way, I have hair loss and hair thinning problems.
If baking soda burns your scalp, then I recommend you see a dermatologist. I’ve never had any irritation. Also, maybe it’s reacting with something else you’re putting in your hair? Try stopping all the other products and then try again. Hope you figure it out.
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Just a few things about my experience with this method:
–My hair took about a month to fully transition to the baking soda and acv. Luckily, it was in the winter, so I just wore a hat on any greasy days.
–My routine is a bit different from yours… I keep two squirt bottles (the clear plastic kind you might see ketchup or mustard in; I’ve seen them sold for $1… or you could just use old sport-style water bottles) in the shower, one with 1 Tbs. or so of baking soda, and then filled with water, and the other with maybe 3 Tbs. of acv and then filled with water. This might be easier on the people who are experiencing discomfort with the baking soda, since it’s more diluted. Also, the bottles last me 4-5 showers, which is nice.
I’ve been thinking about trying non-commercial shampoo and conditioner for a while now. I am going to wait until I have finished the bottle and then have a go at this.
I like the idea of Becca’s squirt bottles, anything to make it easier both for the scalp and for applying.
I still find it amazing how with the combination of baking soda and vinegar, it can be applied in so many things around the house, as cleaners and now as shampoo.
So does it leave your head smelling like a salad after using the vinegar? I like the idea but a little put off by how it might smell.
Oh and what about tangly hair? I have to use Infusium when I get out of shower to be able to run brush through my hair. Will I be able to start doing without it?
Well, I make sure I brush my hair well before I get in the shower (I did this even before I went no-poo). I find it really helps with tangles after you get out. Your hair will have more natural oils in it, so it’s possible that you’ll have an easier time brushing it, but I really can’t say – everyone’s hair is different! If you still have trouble, I just found this recipe for a natural detangler (I haven’t used it myself though) – http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/recipe.asp?recipe_id=90
You rinse out the vinegar very well after letting it soak, and by the time your hair is dry, you can’t smell it anymore – I’ve even gotten other people to smell my hair to make sure!
The baking soda and water on my scalp (in mixed/diluted form) made my scalp burn and itch after a few days. Did it dry it out? I had to finally wash my hair with t-gel to cool it off. I was trying to go with something natural and it only made things worse it seems.
Did you rinse it out very well? Baking soda can be abrasive so it could be a problem if left on your scalp.
I had the very same problem. It was painful and after really sticking with this method I had to finally give it up. I think my skin is just too sensitive. I was making sure it was all out. In fact, I was using just enough baking soda to get the job done (very diluted).
I’m starting to suspect that it just doesn’t work well for everyone. There are other methods of natural hair care out there though, so if you’re still interested I encourage you to go take a look. If not, then simply watering down your shampoo will help calm down the oils in your scalp to a certain extent.
My family uses Yucca root for soap and shampoo. You can buy yucca root at the store or i have it in my yard. I just dig up some root, peel it like a potatoe, smash it with a hammer and soak in in water for a few hours in the sun. I just fill up some milk jugs and keep it in a squirt bottle. You dont have to make it very often. Yucca root is anti bacterial and anti fungal. I wash my 1 yr old with it. He comes out smelling so fresh and his dark hair is beautiful!
I do want to try the baking soda wash i think my husband esspecially would like it.
Hey Jessie
I’m 9 1/2 (girl obviously
), i have shoulder length (its not below my shoulder at all… for ur kind info), thin/fine hair.. Sometimes it looks really pretty.. my hair can be curly sometimes when i wash it or it can be straight. Sometimes its a bad and very ugly type of wavy hair. I have a few questions as idk how to start…
Soo, i get baking soda (lets sayy 2tsp) in a mug and make it slurry with water.. Then i add apple cider vinegar and wash my hair.. is that it?! Is there a conditioner?
All I wash my hair with is baking soda and vinegar – I didn’t leave anything out of the article. You’re using the baking soda to scrub your scalp, not your hair. And remember that the baking soda and vinegar are separate steps – you’ll want to rinse the baking soda out before using the (diluted) vinegar on your hair. Good luck – you’ll just have to try it out and see if it works for you!
Hey Jessie!
Is there a way I could use this method without water? Because I normally wear my hair up in a ponytail because it’s really curly, but lately I’ve been straightening it. It takes forever to straighten and I really want to find cheap ways to clean the oils from my hair without having to use water since it takes so long to style
Well, I only get my hair wet about twice a week, so after you get your scalp in shape you can seriously reduce your washing schedule. Also, for a quick mid-week de-oiling, you can dust your hair with cornstarch and brush it out. It might take a while to get it all out without water though!
I’ve been experiencing a lot of hair loss for the past few years and the dermatologist has no idea why. I was wondering if you knew if the baking soda and vinegar method would help with hair loss.
I don’t know if it would help, but I don’t see any reason why it would hurt. If I might offer some advice, I don’t know if you have looked into your diet. Healthy fats and oils are essential for skin, hair, and nails. You could also try taking prenatal vitamins to grow some of it back. Good luck!
I tried the baking soda and vinegar method this morning and while washing my hair it actually felt sticky almost like it feels after swimming in salt water but after it dried it felt normal it that normal? Thank you for your advise. As far as my diet goes the doctor said my vitamin levels were all normal so I was actually afraid of taking a multi-vitamin or prenatal vitamin like you suggested because I don’t want to overdose on any vitamins especially vitamin A, too much vitamin A causes hair loss. By the way if anyone reading this blog has ant suggestions about how to help with hair loss it would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I have tried everything and so far nothing has work. I’m open to any and all suggestions no matter how crazy it might sound.
Your hair does feel different wet when you wash with baking soda, but I don’t know if I would call it sticky, but it’s not slick like if you used shampoo and conditioner.
i dawn…. i suggest you to go to a doctor and find out what the problem is….. hair loss is due to some reason…..
In 2011, even i was suffering from this problem…. then afterwards i came to know that i have thyroid… now all my problems are solved and no more hair loss
also…. there is this very nice oil which i have been using from over a year …. you can see the reviews yourself on youtube …
name: castor oil by hollywood beauty !!
hi dawn *
I’ve been no poo for almost two months and love it. I’m using much less baking soda when I do it on my hair and the people who are saying it burned their scalp may just need to try less. I use a tbsp a bs with 8oz water solution and just squirt a little of that on my hair when I wash it which is weekly. Input vinegar solution in a spray bottle and just spritz and rinse after I’ve rinsed bs out. My question is how do you style your hair on days you don’t get it wet? I wake up with bed hair and its not greasy anymore but I have all these lumps and bumps and end up wearing it up even though I really wouldn’t have to bc it’s still clean and shiny.
I have a wet-to-dry hair iron that has a slight curve to it that I use sparingly. Otherwise no heat touches my hair.
hi.. i just wanted to know that will baking soda make your hair thinner?
There is no reason I could think of that would cause baking soda to thin your hair.
that does*
I have to say that my scalp never did take to the baking soda method. (I also have no serious skin problems that need to be checked by a dermatologist.) But, I have found that using cornstarch on dry, slightly oily to oily hair and combing it through (without water) does WONDERS for my hair. It is basically using dry shampoo without all of the nasty alcohol/chemicals in the over-the-counter sprays you can buy. Just thought I would send a little update.
I’m glad you found something that works for you. I also use cornstarch sometimes mid-week for a bit of a touch up.
I usually have to wet my hair to style it. Will that be a problem when I go no poo? Is there a way around that?
No, wetting your hair will be fine. You probably also won’t have to style it as often though – I’ve found that my hair will keep its shape for longer.
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