The Problem with the No Poo Method
If you google “no poo method” you’ll get testimonials about the miraculous results of this hair care method. The before and after pictures were enough to convince me to try the baking soda and ACV. Although I only used the No Poo method for about two months, it did take a toll on my hair. My scalp was getting flaky and irritated and my hair felt slightly brittle.
When I posted that I was trying the no ‘poo method on Facebook, many of you wrote that baking soda had actually ruined your hair. Curious–and scared–I began researching. Evidently, baking soda is very alkaline and, although it may make hair soft in the beginning, it will overtime damage hair. This is the reason the No Poo method fails for many people: it is not pH balanced for the scalp or hair.
One dermatologist wrote 3 Reasons Why Baking Soda and ACV Destroy Your Hair:
With a pH of 9 – one hundred times more basic than water – baking soda is a known alkaline irritant (Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 1989). According to renowned dermatologist Dr. Audrey Kunin, M.D., “The first principle of shampooing: make sure your shampoo says it is pH-balanced and avoid those that are alkaline. Alkaline shampoos strip the hair’s natural oils and disrupt the acid mantle, causing dehydration and leading to porous, fragile hair.” (The DermaDoctor SkinStruction Manual, 2005) SOURCE
While I don’t agree with the product plug at the end of her article, she does bring up good points. Namely: don’t use harsh ingredients on your hair, even if they are from your kitchen cabinet.
Recently, Robin at Thank Your Body shared the importance of using a pH balanced shampoo. Like me, she was using a natural but very alkaline replacement for regular shampoo: castile soap. A reader commented and explained why these alkaline substances at first soften hair but then make it dry and brittle:
Using highly alkaline solutions on your hair (baking soda, bronners soaps, etc.) though it feels soft and manageable that is really the disulfide bonds in your internal hair structure being weakened by the alkaline solution… To then bring your hair down to it’s proper pH a acidic solution (apple cider vinegar) when using a alkalinic cleanser is used, this is called clarifying. This dual process is not healthy for your hair or your scalp. — Amanda, a TYB reader.
Can baking soda or vinegar be used on the hair?
Due to the strong alkalinity of baking soda, I believe it has no place in hair care. The basic pH of baking soda can damage hair even when it is followed by the acidic vinegar. Many would disagree with me, because they have fantastic results with the No Poo Method. My goal is not to demonize No Poo here, because if it works for some people, then more power to them. But if you aren’t having success with No Poo, it’s not your fault because the baking soda is harsh! So if you want an alternative to the No Poo method, I would encourage you to explore the holistic hair care options I discuss below.
But what about raw apple cider vinegar? Since a healthy scalp is slightly acidic, between 4.5 – 5.5, a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse can be safely used. Dilute 1 – 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 1/2 cup of water to create this rinse. The gentle acidity of this rinse helps promote a balanced scalp and can prevent the common fungal overgrowth which leads to dandruff.
My raw haircare routine
My natural hair care journey has been a long and adventurous one, as I tried the No Poo Method, then various other DIY hair care recipes, then ACV rinsing. I went more than a year without purchasing shampoo. I was ready for a change and, quite frankly, was ready for the convenience of a pre-prepared shampoo.
Finally, I found 100% raw hair care products that met my holistic philosophy – including balancing the pH of the scalp. I was delighted by my results, and I shared my experience with this haircare line here.
Do you use homemade hair care? Have you used the no ‘poo method?
Wow! I wish I had come upon this article waaaaay sooner. This evening, when I was taking a shower with my baking soda and vinegar (been doing this method for a year, I have very thick, moderately coarse, light brown, straight hair)… my hair came out so badly, I started to panic. More hair came out during my shower, then would come out in a whole month. The hair completely covered the top of my trash can. Then more came out when I brushed it out of the shower. I noticed that the top of the hair strands, still had the white follicle attached to it! I when to the computer and found this website and others, talking of the horror of baking soda.
Now I have to admit, I was the fool in not measuring the soda. I realize that I have been using waaay to much of it and the last few weeks and I didn’t follow up with the vinegar as I should have. I also find myself looking at other women’s hair and longing for their shine (albeit it may be from chemicals, but its still beautiful).
I wonder if all this mess over a few ingredients, is really worth it? We can fuss and fight so much over what’s put in our hair, while the next person over, pantene pro v’s theirs and walks away with a gleaming shine, having never put an ounce of work into it and watches us pour hours into the internet to find a way to get ‘her’ hair. =)
Hey, I’m the, raw food, do it yourself, ferment everything, chemical free, homschooling mom… but why do they get to have the beautiful hair and I am stuck with buying extensions now. Maybe I should dye it again. The gooey chemicals always did give it a beautiful, sleek shimmer. Maybe I’ll die a few years early from cancer, but I’ll die with a gorgeous shine! 😉 I’m just saying…
Hi Lauren! I came across your blog a couple of days ago while searching for how the ‘no poo’ method damages hair. I heard it from a co worker and I must say I was very surprised because I’ve been using the ‘no poo’ method for over a year now! I can’t believe I hadn’t notice how my hair has changed since the first couple of months using this method. My hair also looks dry and brittle! Like you, I started suffering from hair loss at early age and I was desperate looking for a natural way to help my scalp. My alopecia came from a condition called “Seborrhoeic dermatitis” according to my tricologist (specialist on scalp). At first I started a treatment with some shampoos they specially made and selled. For a while this stopped my hair loss and I was very happy but I realized I could not afford it because this shampoos were EXTREMELY expensive. I was wasting almost $130 for 6 little bottles of 4 oz each. Also I noticed that as soon as I stopped using them my hair was falling again. Thats when after a period of despair and almost depression I found the ‘no poo’ method and decided to try it. Even though this method has damage my hair in the long run, it has significantly reduce my hair loss. When I read about the morocco method it immediately caught my attention and so I started researching online. Most of the reviews are excellent and it really helped knowing that it has had amazing results with people suffering alopecia like me! I ordered the starters kit and I am very excited and can’t wait to start the treatment!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and having this excellent blog!!! I soon as I start the treatment I will write back!!!
Thanks again Lauren!!!
Very informative article. I agree that using baking soda in your hair for a long period of time is not a good for your hair. However I have had great success with water only hair washing and I have been doing so for some time now. The transition period was horrible because my hair got extra greasy but after about 4 weeks it went back to normal.
I’ve been using baking soda and ACV for over 6 years exclusively. By the accounts on this post I should be bald, because I actually use a baking soda *paste* on my scalp (just enough water to make a paste). I only scrub my scalp with this paste, I do not put it throughout my hair, and then I immediately rinse it out very well. I then do a diluted ACV rinse (only about a tablespoon per cup of water), leaving that on my hair for a few minutes before rinsing it out. My hair is healthy, shiny, I have no breakage, and I only have to do this once a week. There’s got to be another reason this is damaging some people’s hair – it can’t possibly be universal, given my own personal experience. I seriously doubt I am exceptional.
Really great post..
Hard water is too hard on hair! Avoid dry, brittle hair, and hard water scale build up in your laundry, or anywhere else in your home for that matter- you can easily install a hard water treatment system where your water comes in, then you won’t have to deal with the effects throughout your home.
I just wanted to thank everyone who commented on this post. I have learned so much just by reading the comments. And I have read every comment. I do wish that people would start explaining what their hair type is. . Then explain which no poo method you are using and why it is or isn’t working. This would really help in a decision as to which no poo method to use. For example: My hair is long, fine, oily with a mixture of straight, wave and curl. I’ve been pooless for 4 weeks using only water every day and alternaiting with a rosemary or ACV rinse. I’ve used the bs/acv method once to help with oily hair, but it didn’t do anything. My hair is just now beginning for feel like it might normalize, and after reading this blog and knowing that honey is a humectant; I will be saving this recipe and using it only when my hair needs a deep conditioning.
I used baking soda once on my hair without ACV and it completely destroyed my hair. It has been falling out in clumps and severely thinning over time. I have gotten frequent buzz cuts and short hair cuts and the new hair just keeps growing in thinner and more and more damaged. The density has gradually worsened and my hair feels like mush when its wet. If my hair is more than a few inches long, its looks horrible, stringy, waspy and just awful. Does anyone know if baking soda can cause permanent hair damage, I have gotten my blood tested from many different doctors and nothing has come up abnormal. Does anyone possibly know whats wrong or how I can reverse it?
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Real Castille soap has a perfect ph. Don’t use dr bronners. It should contain only olive oil (coconut oil makes a drying soap) that is aged 6 weeks or more. Hospice patients love real Castille soap because it has the perfect ph for your skin.
Hey, I was wondering if anyone can give me any insight on this. I stupidly washed my hair with baking soda, not knowingly that your supposed to follow it up with apple cider vinegar. After I did this, my hair immediately was destroyed and fried beyond fixing. My hair was very stringy, mushy when wet, very thin, split ends, can’t retain mositure, always very dry and has lots insane amount of density. I figured once I cut of all my hair, new healthy hair would grow in and my hair would be okay. I have had a few buzz cuts after the incident , but my hair is still in horrible condition. It won’t stop thinning, and its density is extremely bad. Have I done permanent damage? I have gotten my blood tested by multiple doctors ( derms, endocrinologists, GPs) and my thyroid, iron levels are completely normal every time. Does anyone know what could be the problem and if theres any chance of getting my old hair condition back.
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John very dry hair could be a nutritional problem. I highly doubt ANY product you used on your hair would still be affecting the follicles to this degree. Of course depending on your age it could just be that your hair is now naturally thinning? (Maybe check out your family’s genetic patterns.)