Ah baking soda. To begin with we loved you then Kimmaytube told us you were evil after which many of us disagreed and threw caution to the wind because it’s ‘all natural’ so couldn’t possibly be that bad. What’s a girl to do when a baking soda texturizer comes ‘a calling?
In spite of the warnings, baking soda has been used in beauty regimens quite successfully for many decades. Some people use it to cleanse their face, clean teeth or even as a natural deodorant!
Using baking soda as a texturizer is nothing new, it’s made its way around hair forums and blogs for a good few years. I’ve heard a few people refer to it as a ‘baking soda relaxer’ but it takes more than just alkalinity to create a true relaxer so don’t expect straight hair!
The treatments below don’t truly texturize your hair in the traditional sense either in that they will not relax your natural curl. What happens is that they help very coily hair with clumping so that your natural curl pattern is more visible. The end result is softer shinier hair and better definition of curls that hang down instead of sticking outwards.
There are a few old but epic threads on various forums with ladies using baking soda as a texturizer. From what I gathered, there are quite a few ways to use it.
1. Some ladies just mix it up with a water to create a paste then slap in on their hair.
2. Some combine baking soda with enough conditioner to make a thick cream and apply it.
3. Some even mix it with milk of magnesia (another alkaline product) to make a thick paste before applying.
In terms of how long they are leaving the mixtures in their hair, it varies widely. Some are leaving it in for 30 minutes and some for 7 hours!
I would be wary about leaving something so alkaline in my hair for longer than 45 minutes. There’s been a horror story of a blogger leaving a mix of 3/4 cup baking soda and conditioner in her hair overnight and waking up with her scalp feeling like it was on fire! Her hair survived the ordeal and afterwards she says that it was truly texturized, shiny and soft but please be sensible if you do decide to try this.
It’s not all doom and gloom, Naturally Nike who was featured on BHI very early on in her hair journey also uses and recommends baking soda but she only uses 2 tablespoons mixed with her conditioning ingredients and she’s got fabulous hair! See her fotki page here.
The Better Option
A blogger called Cherry Lola created a treatment coined The Cherry Lola Treatment that uses baking soda, yogurt and amino acids. It helps with clumping, defining curls and giving them better hang.
The recipe is pretty simple. You need:
16oz plain or greek yogurt
2 tbsp Braggs Liquid Aminos and don’t substitute this for anything else
2 tbsp Baking Soda
Mix the ingredients together, the mixture will begin to frizz and get foamy like mousse. Apply the mixture evenly from root to tip and leave on your hair for anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour with a plastic cap to catch drips.
Rinse and enjoy!
I call this a better option for two reasons. First because because the yogurt being slightly acidic will reduce the pH of the baking soda making it gentler on your hair and scalp and secondly, the treatment infuses amino acids (protein) directly into your strands. Cherry Lola along with many other naturalistas have tried it and have had extraordinarily good results!
Although baking soda is completely natural it is also highly alkaline (like a relaxer) so it will make your strands swell. If you have very fine hair you would be better advised to stay away.
Originally posted 2013-01-02 23:28:49.
Wow! I didn’t know.
Wow!!!
Amber Pullie definitely try this!
Say what?
Wow
Is baking soda and bicarbonade of soda the same thing?
yes
Ok thanks
Yes it’s really good, I’ve been using baking soda since I started the natural style.
Does it really help stretch the curl pattern?
Interesting.
I am trying that this weekend!
NO THANK YOU!!! I just read Curly Nikki’s explanation about the acidity and the pH factors and how ABRASIVE it is…and it’s scared the crap out of me! I’m NO chemist & I love my hair way TOO much to try experimenting with acid-like ingredients! Read this and determine for yourself, ladies….just don’t see a suggestion on here without researching it first! JMHO http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/baking-soda-how-does-it-actually-work#nc-gallery-header
I agree actually but remember that this treatment has yogurt which is acidic which will neutralize the alkaline pH of the baking soda. Having said that I would still need to have pH testing strips handy before applying to my hair 🙂
I am not sure it is yogurt because in her blog… curlnikki it metioned that baking soda alone was smelling bad. I did see a lot of youtube said it cleans well but smelling bad. You know how baking soda can smell bad but fizz when it is with something like apple vingear cidear? It got me to think again…if it fizz, how will it beheave on my hair> It probably burn like relaxer. Baking soda is seeming more powerful on their alone without yogurt . I dunno about amino , I never tried it before. I oly know Yogurt act as natural conditioner or relaxer to some. But it is more of deep conditioner to me. None texturizer. I tried ph balance strip. none bad.
I agree. I thought about the fizz too. I’ve even seen where they encourage to rinse with the vinegar. I’ve also read how it can make your hair hard/crunchy like…. Are people that desperate to change their curl pattern!?!? I’m just not comfortable doing it either.
I don’t do food lol…. I’m good
Baking soda strips your hair…no thanks.
Baking soda messed my hair up.Will not try.
This is the cherry Lola recipe, works amazing. I went from big chop to bra strap length in 3 yrs with 4b hair and have used brags backing soda and yogurt many times. The baking soda isn’t used alone, it oxidized the other ingredients so they work better. Don’t knock something you haven’t tried or even understand the chemistry behind. What works for some may not always work for others.
I am four mouth natural and I need hope.
How do people actually find out that these things work. I mean, who thinks of this?!!!
I didn’t know that was POSSIBLE!
Quite often, many ideas are not original but have been knocking around for a while. It just depends on who decides to pick what idea, money, circumstance etc etc. These people very rarely get thanks, most people just take things they have for granted whether it be technology or medicine but somebody/bodies did experiments, got the results and then you got stuff! These clever people are your humble Doctors, Scientists and Engineers.
What exactly is being used with the baking soda I cannot read the lables good????
It’s yogurt and braggs amino acids. Just read the post!!
I didnt know anything about this .. I cleanse my hair a couple of time with baking soda mixed in with my conditon.. as a co wash because I didnt want to use shampoo and I had some product in my hair since I used it for my face as a face wash and it leave it smooth.. I figured is would be a good exfoliation for my scalp.. but I want use it anymore.. until I fo futher reseach on the chemistry portion on it.
Its called a cherry lola and works great!
I have tried this and had good results, it did loosen my curl.But
If you don’t know how to neutralize & balance the pH levels, I wouldn’t advise this is all I was saying. I’m definitely knocking something I’ve not tried; I’m also not jumping on any bandwagon either. If I don’t feel comfortable putting it in my hair, then that should be fine by you. I’m not forcing you not to. I just simply relayed why I chose not to…and as I said, I’m no chemist and don’t know how to balance the pH levels. Thank you very much! Good day! 😉
Hey I just want to know, did this work for you?
lol i know it, that is why I saw baking soda being too high ph than needed. I was like no way..I only need it to be opened or lifted not closed .
Kimberly McCollum Check this out
I don’t think I will be trying this
Didn’t read all comments my badd
Tawana Turnipseed
Jacqueline Owens what you think??
Reading article now Celeste Jackman
Stephanie Thornton im gonna try it
It strips the natural oils from your hair its a natural clarifying shampoo so of course it would also be classified as a texturizer.
This is the cherry Lola treatment it only define your curls and reduce frizz
Aish Haughton try it loool
Dammy Ashanté Dixon you try it and tell me how it goes
Loooool. No. Lool. The way my hair is set up.. I don’t like to take risks Aish Haughton
Nae
Dammy Ashanté Dixon lol so you want me to do it lool
Aish Haughton something like that loool
Kiff Anthony my aunt told me about this and says it’s like a homemade texturizer
Redy Mix lmk how it turns out
i will i jus got my hair Rebraided but i will in 2weeks Stephanie Thornton
Someone try this & post a before/after!! Lbvs!!!
I’m JUST starting to go natural. How do you get the relaxer out of your hair without a major chop
No thanks….
Lol me too no acid on my beautiful hair
Did nothing for my hair but make it stiff
Is baking soda a natural ingredient?
I’ll pass, thank you.
Does this work??
Imma have to read this!!!
Lies…
Nah I prefer my hair natural strong healthy chemical free and growing long af haha
Lol
It look dangerous!