Baking soda on hair: how to use it?

Want to get rid of your chemical or plant-based hair colour faster than expected? Baking soda acts as a clarifying agent on your hair, helping to lift the colour. Using it is simple: just mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with a dose of your regular shampoo. Massage the mixture into your roots and lengths before rinsing with warm water. Finish by conditioning your hair for maximum benefits.

The principle is the same as before. If your permanent colour seems too dark, apply a baking soda treatment to your coloured hair. With repeated use, you’ll be able to remove pigments and thus lighten your colour. This tip works on all types of colour: full colour, highlights or balayage. If you don’t have coloured hair, you can use baking soda once a month to detox your hair at home.

It’s perfectly possible to occasionally replace your usual shampoo with a mixture of water and baking soda. Its purifying and gently exfoliating properties allow it to clean the scalp. It can even help with discomfort or dandruff. This solution is a handy fix when you’re on the go, but it should be used in moderation. We don’t recommend washing your hair with baking soda every week. If you’re looking for a gentler solution that makes your hair shine, mix a little baking soda into a mild shampoo.

The exfoliating properties of baking soda can help promote normal hair growth. Exfoliating the scalp helps remove impurities and residue that "clog" it. At the same time, you stimulate blood circulation, thereby helping nutrients reach the hair follicle. For longer hair, you can try doing a baking soda scrub every now and then. And of course, don’t overdo it.

Did you know that baking soda can also be applied to the hair to treat lice? It’s particularly effective at loosening nits stuck to the scalp. To do this, massage a small amount of powder directly into your child’s scalp. Rinse and use a lice comb to remove the loosened nits. You’ll find the task is much easier!

Is there an infestation at home? Discover all our natural tips for fighting lice.

Not necessarily! It all depends on how you use it. Baking soda has the unique characteristic of having an alkaline pH (around 9), which is quite different from that of the skin (around 5.5). It can therefore cause some discomfort if used too often or improperly. Our advice? Don’t overdo it, and be sure to condition your hair generously after each use. The right frequency can vary from person to person. Avoid leaving your treatments on for too long, and keep in mind that treatments using baking soda should remain occasional and temporary, or you risk stripping and weakening your hair.

Incorporating baking soda into your hair care routine requires a healthy scalp with no major issues. This ingredient may not be suitable for you if you have a sensitive scalp or fine, fragile and damaged hair. Very dry and frizzy hair also falls into this category, as it is naturally brittle and does not respond well to overly abrasive or harsh treatments. We also advise against it if you regularly use heat styling tools, such as a flat iron or curling iron. Finally, unless you want to fix a hair mishap, do not use it on your coloured or highlighted hair: it will cause your colour to fade, whether it’s chemical or plant-based.

Precautions for using baking soda: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not mix with acids in a closed container (gas release). Storage: Store at room temperature away from moisture. Close the bag tightly.

Want to try a homemade hair care recipe using baking soda? We recommend testing it first on a small, hidden area of skin to minimise the risk of a skin reaction. Watch for redness, irritation, or any adverse reactions.

Several experts advise against excessive use of baking soda. It could sensitise the scalp and weaken the hair strands. So be sure to find the right balance, while paying attention to how your hair feels.