Baking soda is pretty rough on the hair and skin. While some people might benefit from using it for an occasional deep cleanse, it’s not a good choice for regular hair-washing. [3] X Research source

Baking soda also risks irritating or damaging your skin, which is a concern if you have sensitive skin or any skin conditions (like eczema or psoriasis). [5] X Research source There’s some chemistry behind this: baking soda has a pH level of around 8 or 9, whereas your hair and skin average around 3. 7 and 5. 5, respectively. The high pH of the baking soda “clashes” with the low pH of your hair and scalp, which damages it. [6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source It’s an interesting science experiment, but probably not one you want to try on your hair.

Mixing baking soda with water won’t reduce the pH, despite what you might have heard. Water’s pH is 7, which is neutral, so adding baking soda just raises the pH of the water.

Avoid baking soda shampoos if you have thin or weak hair, sensitive or dry skin, or have reacted badly to other products based on baking soda. You should also not use baking soda shampoos if you’ve used any kind of bleach, dye, or relaxant on your hair. [13] X Research source

Don’t leave in the baking soda for longer than two minutes. It can irritate your scalp. Once you’ve rinsed out the baking soda, treat your hair and scalp with a moisturizing treatment, like conditioner, hair oils, or hair masks. (Baking soda wears down and dries your hair and scalp. )

If your hair is weak or treated, you shouldn’t use baking soda at all, because it can damage your hair and cause it to break. [17] X Research source

Like with a baking soda shampoo, test a little bit on your skin before you wash your hair, to make sure you don’t react. Keep in mind that store-bought shampoos with high pH levels will still damage your hair. Consider testing the pH of the mixture before you try it.

Explore different natural shampoo recipes or store-bought shampoos, or even consider forgoing shampoo entirely. For dandruff removal, try a moisturizing solution like coconut oil or aloe vera. Use coconut, argan, or jojoba oil to moisturize or volumize your hair, or get curls to stand out. [19] X Research source