As we age, one thing that’s often on our minds is keeping our hair looking healthy, vibrant, and youthful. Gray and silver hair was once a sign of aging but has now become a hot fashion statement!
Although it is a beautiful color, gray locks still require maintenance to keep your strands looking fresh and stunning.
Gray hair can be tricky to handle as it turns an icky yellow over time and can make your hair (and you!) look dull and lifeless.
Well, fear not! Baking soda can be the savior of your gray hair! Yes, you heard it right. Baking soda can work wonders and we’re here to find out exactly what does baking soda do to gray hair.
Table of Contents
- What is baking soda?
- What does baking soda do to gray hair?
- 6 easy ways to use baking soda for gray hair.
- #1. Remove Yellow Tinge
- #2. Cleanse And Clarify Your Hair
- #3. Promote Healthy Hair Growth
- #4. Treat Dandruff
- #5. Add Volume
- #6. Improve Hair Texture
- Watch and learn: Two minute tips – Baking Soda For Grey Hair
- Baking soda for gray hair FAQs
- Will baking soda take yellow out of gray hair?
- Can using baking soda damage grey hair?
- What does vinegar do for gray hair?
- How to care for gray hair.
- Parting words.
What is baking soda?
First, let’s talk about what baking soda actually is!
For those not in the know – baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline powder that has a variety of uses both in cooking and outside of the kitchen.
One of its lesser-known uses is as a natural clarifying agent and overall pep making potion for your hair.
When used in the right way, baking soda is a cheap and cheerful way to remove buildup and impurities from your hair, leaving it looking brighter and more revitalized. Hurrah!
What does baking soda do to gray hair?
So how does it work on gray hair exactly?
Well, it all comes down to pH levels. Baking soda has a high alkaline pH, which makes it effective at breaking down stubborn build-up in hair.
When used on silver hair, dyed or natural gray hair, baking soda can help remove the mineral build-up that can leave locks looking dull and lifeless.
But don’t go too crazy with the baking soda – it’s important to use it in moderation, as too much can actually damage your hair.
6 easy ways to use baking soda for gray hair.
If you’re wondering what you can do to keep your silver or gray locks looking their best, here are 6 easy and safe ways to use baking soda for gray hair.
#1. Remove Yellow Tinge
The best advantage of using baking soda on gray hair is that it can neutralize any yellow tones that may be present.
As gray hair is prone to developing a brassy, yellowish tint, especially if it’s exposed to smoke, pollution, or styling products, baking soda can come in handy to counteract this effect.
The alkaline nature of baking soda helps to balance out the pH level of the hair, reducing the appearance of yellow and bringing out the natural silver or white tones of your locks.
This makes your gray hair look more vibrant and youthful, without resorting to harsh chemicals or dyes.
What to do:
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with equal parts apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and apply it to your hair.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes and rinse with cold water. Voila! You’ll notice your hair looking brighter with a silverish glow.
#2. Cleanse And Clarify Your Hair
One of the most notable benefits of baking soda for gray hair is its clarifying properties.
Baking soda is a natural and gentle abrasive that works wonders in removing buildup and residue from the scalp and hair strands.
This process is called clarifying, and it helps to give gray hair a brighter and cleaner look, eliminating the dullness that can come with age.
By using a baking soda solution on your gray hair, you can strip away impurities and leave your locks feeling refreshed, smooth, and healthy. With no need for expensive clarifying shampoos!
What to do:
Mix baking soda with your favorite shampoo and use it as a regular shampoo to clean your hair. This mixture will add an extra oomph to your look, leaving your hair shinier and SILVERY.
#3. Promote Healthy Hair Growth
Apart from its cleansing and toning benefits, baking soda can also contribute to healthier hair growth.
Gray hair, like any other hair type, depends on a healthy scalp environment to thrive.
By using baking soda to exfoliate the scalp, you can remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and debris that can clog the hair follicles and hinder growth.
Baking soda also stimulates blood circulation when massaged onto the scalp, which increases the oxygen and nutrients supply to the hair roots. This leads to stronger, thicker, and more resilient gray hair that looks and feels youthful!
What to do:
Mix baking soda with olive oil to create a paste and apply it to your hair. Leave it in for 15 minutes and rinse with water. This nourishing DIY will leave you with stronger and healthier hair.
#4. Treat Dandruff
Dandruff can be extremely annoying and embarrassing!
Gray hair can make the situation worse as it is more prone to dandruff. Baking soda is an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, making it an excellent remedy for dandruff.
What to do:
Mix baking soda with apple cider vinegar and water and apply it to your hair.
Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it with cold water. You’ll notice a significant reduction in dandruff, which also means you now have healthy gray hair!
#5. Add Volume
Gray hair can look flat and lifeless, but baking soda can help add some volume.
Baking soda has properties that help remove excess oil and dirt that weigh down your hair. It adds volume and texture to make your silver locks look fuller and bouncier.
What to do:
Sprinkle baking soda onto your hair roots and massage it. Leave it for a few minutes and rinse with cold water. You’ll be amazed at the increased volume!
#6. Improve Hair Texture
Baking soda can help to smoothen and soften coarse gray hair, giving it a soft and smooth texture.
It removes all the excess oil and buildup on the scalp, making your hair look healthy and well-maintained.
What to do:
Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with your regular conditioner and apply it to your hair, focusing on the ends.
Leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water. Your hair will be left feeling silky smooth and easy to style.
Watch and learn: Two minute tips – Baking Soda For Grey Hair
Here’s a great short video that shows you how to use baking soda on gray hair for volumizing and neutralizing unwanted yellow tones.
Baking soda for gray hair FAQs
Will baking soda take yellow out of gray hair?
While it’s not a magical fix, baking soda can help brighten the appearance of dull, gray hair by removing unwanted yellow tones.
Baking soda is a natural cleanser that can help remove buildup and leave your hair looking shinier and cleaner.
When it comes to yellowing in gray hair, baking soda can also help neutralize unwanted brassiness.
Just mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water to form a paste, apply it to damp hair, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it out.
Can using baking soda damage grey hair?
Is this trendy hack doing more harm than good?
Well, the short answer is: it depends on how you use it.
While baking soda can work wonders for removing buildup and refreshing your scalp, it can also be abrasive if overused.
It’s important to dilute it properly and not use it too frequently to avoid damaging your precious silver strands.
If you’re up for this little experimentation with your hair care routine, be sure to use baking soda in moderation to keep your grey locks shining bright!
What does vinegar do for gray hair?
You’ll notice many of the methods above include apple cider vinegar. There’s a reason for that!
Like baking soda, vinegar helps to restore the natural pigment in your hair and add shine to your locks.
It also removes buildup from the scalp and hair, which in turn will help it grow healthier and stronger.
When combined with the exfoliating properties of baking soda, it’s a formula for silvery success!
How to care for gray hair.
Gray hair is the new blonde! More and more people are embracing their gray locks and rocking the look. It is a statement of self-acceptance, and a sign of confidence.
In fact, gray hair can be even more beautiful and healthy than any other hair color – if you know how to care for it properly. Here are some top tips on how to care for your gorgeous gray mane like a pro.
Tip 1.Choose The Right Shampoo and Conditioner
As we age, our hair loses essential proteins, which makes it weak and brittle.
Gray hair is even more delicate, so it is essential to choose gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that are enriched with nourishing ingredients, such as keratin, biotin, and vitamin E.
These ingredients can help to strengthen, hydrate and protect your hair from damage.
Tip 2.Avoid Heat Styling Tools
One of the most significant challenges of gray hair is that it tends to be more susceptible to heat damage than other hair types.
Gray hair is often drier and coarser and can quickly become brittle. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using heat styling tools on your gray locks as much as possible. And ALWAYS use a heat protecting spray whenever you do.
Tip 3.Use a Moisturizing Hair Mask
To keep your gray hair looking its best, it is essential to use a moisturizing hair mask at least once a week.
Hair masks can help to replenish your hair’s natural oils, hydrate your hair, and restore its natural shine and elasticity.
Look for a mask that is formulated with natural ingredients such as argan oil, shea butter, and coconut oil for maximum benefits.
You can also make your hair mask at home from natural ingredients!
Tip 4.Protect Your Hair From the Sun
The UV rays from the sun can damage your hair as well as your skin.
It can cause your hair to become dry, dull and lifeless.
It can also cause discoloration and fading of your hair color. Therefore, it is essential to protect your hair from the sun’s rays.
You can wear a hat or scarf when you’re outside or use a hair protection spray that has UV protection.
Tip 5. Use a toning shampoo
To prevent brassiness and keep your hair color cool, a purple or silver toning shampoo will work wonders.
These beauties work by depositing color pigments into your hair to restore its color and counteract any unwanted warm tones.
Use once a week for the best results!
Parting words.
As you can see, baking soda for gray hair is an incredibly effective and natural way to brighten your locks and restore their natural shine and vibrancy.
Whether you choose to use it as a paste or a rinse, incorporating baking soda into your regular hair care routine can help to keep a silver sister looking her absolute best!
