A few months ago my friend Lindsay… Ok, my husband gets (teasingly) annoyed and totally calls me out when I call people who’s blogs I follow “friends”. BUT, I am Facebook friends with her and have also conversed once or twice on twitter, so whatever, Christopher. She’s my friend. It’s easier to say friend AND it makes me sound cooler. Anyway…

A few months ago, my friend Lindsay S Nixon (The Happy Herbivore) posted on her blog about her love affair with baking soda. She had mentioned wanting to use it to wash her hair and I have always wanted to try that. It was right around the time I was doing quite a bit of research on sulfate free hair products and I found the concept of using baking soda intriguing. I mean, you can’t get much more natural than baking soda. So, I tried it.

I mixed 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with about a cup of warm water in a squeeze bottle. After my hair was completely saturated I poured the mixture onto my scalp and worked it in with my fingertips for a minute or so, then rinsed. I had also read somewhere that apple cider vinegar was a great “conditioner” and makes your hair soft and shiny. So, I tried that, as well. I mixed 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and used it on the ends. You may have to play with the measurements to see what works best for you. This is what works for my shoulder length, medium thickness hair.

I have spend loads of money on expensive shampoo’s and conditioners. Loads of money. I have never come across a product that makes my hair softer, healthier or shinier than baking soda and apple cider vinegar. The clean, alkalinity of the baking soda and the acidity of the vinegar are magic together. It also makes my scalp (which tends to be a little on the itchy side) feel calm and soothed. You must try this!

I have read that sometimes your hair needs an adjustment period to get used to this type of cleansing. Maybe 2 weeks or so. Mine didn’t. I think because I had been using the Wen line (which I do still use occasionally) I had already gradually started the transition. Just wanted to put the warning out there in case you try it once and don’t love it as much as I do. You may need to hang in there a few times until your hair adjusts. It will be worth it. OMG OBSESSED!

Be sure to check out The Happy Herbivore and pick up Lindsay’s cookbooks Happy Herbivore Cookbook and Everyday Happy Herbivore for some amazing plant based recipes.

*I also wash my face in the morning with baking soda and use it for cleaning in the kitchen. Oh, and baking!!! So many uses!