Have you ever wondered why a creamy yellow color shades your silver strands? Discoloration is not a natural part of aging hair. All types of dyes, shampoos, and hair care products that a beauty market suggests for silvery maidens may come up with a cost. Some say baking soda reverses the graying of hair, while others speak of its lightening effect on the strands. In short, they are only partially true. But think of it. What Does Baking Soda Do To Gray Hair?
A reaction does occur after you apply baking soda to your gray hair. It is different from what you could think of. Know about it briefly as we continue to bask in its other aspects.
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What Does Baking Soda Do To Gray Hair? | The Gifts And Grims
The prime cause of your gray hair is the loss of pigment cells, namely, melanin. Loss of melanin makes your hair more transparent, making it appear white, silver, or gray. While naturally reversing gray hair is impossible, you can enhance its texture. And yes! Your silvery locks may cast off a yellowish shade. Do you know why? The clue is in your environment. With little to no pigment, your hair’s surroundings (which includes daily hair care products) leave some unwanted coloring, i.e., a yellow tint. Baking soda helps in removing this yellow tint. Let us look at the complete picture.
The Good Side
The miracle of baking soda lies in its ability to exfoliate well. It acts powerfully upon the dirt, dust, and remnants of the hair products lying on the scalp’s surface. The excess grimes on the mane loosens its grip and comes off while you wash it after applying baking soda. You see how cost-effective and natural treatment it gives to your gray hair.
If you face a yellow cast highlighting your fine bristles, they will lessen and eventually fade away. The antifungal properties of the baking soda counters dandruff and excess oils while improving the overall texture. Consequently, the hair volume bulges, and all these changes leave you with a complete hair makeover. To sum it up, baking soda benefits your hair in the following ways:
- Deep exfoliation.
- Volume expansion.
- Retaining its natural silver color.
- Making it softer, shinier, and healthier.
The Grim Side
If we keep all the goodness aside, a few things about baking soda may bother you. Research shows that Alkaline pH can cause tension between hair fibers, further leading to hair breakage. The pH value of baking soda or Sodium Bicarbonate is 9, which is relatively higher than the pH 5.5 of our scalp. The potential damage includes dryness and frizziness. As a result, the hair shafts may become prone to weakness.
Regularly washing your grey hair with baking soda may discolor your hair with yellow tones. Yes! The element that it initially saved us from. Hence, baking soda does not pair well with all hair types. Some of us may face irritation and dryness. In that case, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Again, to sum it up, the possible side effects of using baking soda include:
- Loss of hair.
- Irritation on the scalp.
- Discoloration of the grey hair.
- Reduced moisture in the scalp.
After you’ve ensured that your scalp is not excessively dry, you may use the baking soda on your gray hair.
How To Use?
To reap the full benefits of baking soda, you must know how to use it properly. Follow these steps to get the ‘perfect application.’
- Take two tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of water.
- Mix till it makes a good thick paste.
- Apply it to the roots and lengths of your hair.
- Massage gently with any neutral pH shampoo blob for smooth and even distribution.
- Let it stay for about 4-5 minutes.
- Rinse your hair well with water.
- You may use a conditioner or mask afterward.
- Style your hair with a hairspray.
FAQs | What Does Baking Soda Do To Gray Hair?
So, I’ve tried answering some of the most asked questions about the topic. You may find it to be of great help to your potential doubts.
Should I use baking soda on my gray hair?
Yes, you can apply baking soda to dump the dead skin cells and clear the scalp. But do not overdo it, as it will likely cause side effects. Apply it only once to thrice a week.
What does adding baking soda to gray hair do?
Baking soda clarifies the scalp and volumizes the gray hair minutes after application. You may later style it your way and flaunt your snowy locks.
Is baking soda good for gray hair?
Yes, baking soda is good for grey hair as it acts against the yellow cast. Besides, it helps in clearing out the scalp and making it healthy. Add to it the return of shine and volume that was long lost.
How to prevent gray hair with baking soda?
You cannot permanently prevent graying of your hair with baking soda. It temporarily lightens up your hair strands while exfoliating the scalp. If you are facing untimely gray hair and want to prevent it, check out these points.
How to use baking soda to whiten grey hair?
You may use baking soda to return to your natural gray-colored hair, eventually making it whiter. Check out the steps I’ve mentioned above to correct the application part. However, recognize that using it excessively may cause undesired effects.
Closure
Now, I ask you, What Does Baking Soda Do To Gray Hair? Well, you can derive the answer by yourself. Though baking soda does wonders for your grey hair, consult your doctor if you have a sensitive scalp. As then, they would decide better for you. Be it genetics or aging, the cause of your gray hair varies. But one thing is for sure. It would help if you catered to a clean diet and healthy lifestyle for yourself. Because premature graying of hair is a direct result of you being deficient in either of these factors, maintain them to an optimal level. And if your ashen hair is a gift of age, embrace it, queen!
If you still need clarification, ping us in the comments below. We would revert in no time.
I’m Sarah Abraham, the founder and co-author of Blushastic.com and a professional makeup artist. Beauty is more than just skin deep, and that’s why I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience to help people feel confident and beautiful on the inside and out.
Whether it’s skincare, haircare, or fashion, my goal is to empower women to feel their best. With my expertise in the beauty industry, I strive to provide practical advice and tips that are accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level or budget.