Science Experiment #1: Baking soda shampoo and vinegar conditioner, day one
Hypothesis: Baking soda and vinegar are sufficient substituent for shampoo and conditioner. And loads cheaper.
Method. Prepare two mixtures: a 1:4 mixture of baking soda to water and a 1:2 mixture of vinegar to water. In the shower begin by applying the baking soda mixture to scalp and massaging the mixture into the roots of your hair. Rinse well. Pour the vinegar mixture onto the ends of your hair and work in towards the roots to de-tangle. Rinse well. Towel-dry hair and wrap in turban to help dry. When hair is damp but no longer very wet, (amount of time determined by length and thickness of hair) take hair down and style without the use of additional hair products or tools beyond a brush or comb. In the case of this subject, wrap hair for 5-10 minutes, brush hair and scrunch to activate curl.
Notes: I typically use a curl activating shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner. After my hair is damp and no longer dry, I use an anti-frizz styling cream and a shine spray before blow drying and flat ironing my hair. The post shower styling process normally takes 15-20 minutes to complete.
Observations:
May 7th
Even though I was running a little late this morning -- I was really lazy when getting up and I lounged in bed instead of jump-starting my day. What a waste! -- I wanted to try this. I'm out of conditioner and it seemed like the perfect time. I grabbed the baking soda and scooped out about 4tbsp and mixed it up with an unknown amount of water. I think it was probably about a 1:2 baking soda to water mixture. I was running late and didn't have time to measure. Then I mixed a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. I couldn't remember what the actual directions said, but I was just going with it. Note: all recipes specify the use of Apple Cider vinegar. I had white vinegar and could not purchase ACV due to my 90-Day No Buy.
Initial thoughts: Obviously my mixtures were off because I was running late, but it was a good first attempt. It felt like I was rubbing fine sand into my hair. I wonder if baking soda would make a good facial exfoliant. My friends at Beauty Brains give the thumbs up. I'll have to try this. My hair felt really dry, like straw, after using the baking soda, but when I poured on the conditioner, I could feel the hair start to detangle. I was surprised. I rinsed my hair out well. I was concerned that my hair still smelled like vinegar, and my hair is so short I couldn't get a good whiff, so I sprayed a very small amount of body spray onto my head while wet. (K-Swiss was asleep so I couldn't check with him about the scent.) When my hair was dry, it had a good natural curl and it wasn't too frizzy. There were still fly-aways, but fewer than I am used to dealing with. Research has shown that a lower concentration of baking soda will result in less frizzy/dry hair. The post-shower styling process took less than one minute to complete.
Tomorrow I will report on the look and feel of "Second-day hair" with the use of baking soda shampoo and vinegar conditioner.
Method. Prepare two mixtures: a 1:4 mixture of baking soda to water and a 1:2 mixture of vinegar to water. In the shower begin by applying the baking soda mixture to scalp and massaging the mixture into the roots of your hair. Rinse well. Pour the vinegar mixture onto the ends of your hair and work in towards the roots to de-tangle. Rinse well. Towel-dry hair and wrap in turban to help dry. When hair is damp but no longer very wet, (amount of time determined by length and thickness of hair) take hair down and style without the use of additional hair products or tools beyond a brush or comb. In the case of this subject, wrap hair for 5-10 minutes, brush hair and scrunch to activate curl.
Notes: I typically use a curl activating shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner. After my hair is damp and no longer dry, I use an anti-frizz styling cream and a shine spray before blow drying and flat ironing my hair. The post shower styling process normally takes 15-20 minutes to complete.
Observations:
May 7th
Even though I was running a little late this morning -- I was really lazy when getting up and I lounged in bed instead of jump-starting my day. What a waste! -- I wanted to try this. I'm out of conditioner and it seemed like the perfect time. I grabbed the baking soda and scooped out about 4tbsp and mixed it up with an unknown amount of water. I think it was probably about a 1:2 baking soda to water mixture. I was running late and didn't have time to measure. Then I mixed a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. I couldn't remember what the actual directions said, but I was just going with it. Note: all recipes specify the use of Apple Cider vinegar. I had white vinegar and could not purchase ACV due to my 90-Day No Buy.
Initial thoughts: Obviously my mixtures were off because I was running late, but it was a good first attempt. It felt like I was rubbing fine sand into my hair. I wonder if baking soda would make a good facial exfoliant. My friends at Beauty Brains give the thumbs up. I'll have to try this. My hair felt really dry, like straw, after using the baking soda, but when I poured on the conditioner, I could feel the hair start to detangle. I was surprised. I rinsed my hair out well. I was concerned that my hair still smelled like vinegar, and my hair is so short I couldn't get a good whiff, so I sprayed a very small amount of body spray onto my head while wet. (K-Swiss was asleep so I couldn't check with him about the scent.) When my hair was dry, it had a good natural curl and it wasn't too frizzy. There were still fly-aways, but fewer than I am used to dealing with. Research has shown that a lower concentration of baking soda will result in less frizzy/dry hair. The post-shower styling process took less than one minute to complete.
Tomorrow I will report on the look and feel of "Second-day hair" with the use of baking soda shampoo and vinegar conditioner.
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