Have you ever considered washing your hair… without shampoo? Before you run screaming, hear me out; washing your hair without shampoo does not mean you can’t get it clean, it just means you don’t have to use shampoo to get it clean.

Baking soda, added to a dollop of shampoo on occasion, helps remove product buildup on your scalp. So what if you use baking soda, without the dollop of shampoo, to wash your hair, and follow that up with an apple cider vinegar conditioner?

Shampoo

1 Cup Water
1 tbsp Baking Soda
3 Drops Essential Oil (Rosemary, Etc.) (Optional)

Dissolve the baking soda in the water, add the essential oil, and shake well. Apply the mixture to wet hair, focusing on the roots, and massage the scalp to spread it around and cleanse. Rinse the mixture out of your hair, focusing again on the roots/scalp, and the ends of your hair will be cleansed as you rinse.

Conditioner

1 Cup Water
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix the water and vinegar and shake well before rinsing your hair, or just the ends of your hair, with it. Since the ACV may cause your scalp to over-produce oil, you may want to just rinse the ends of the hair to begin with.

The water that is used to wash the hair is also very important. In my experience, hard water leaves the hair stiff and unmanageable, so it is important to use soft water.

When first switching to baking soda to clean your hair, you may experience a period of time (usually about two weeks) during which your scalp over-produces oil as it adjusts to the new routine. After the period of adjustment (if you even experience one), most people report that their hair looks and feels better than ever.

Coconut oil makes a great leave-in conditioner to tame frizz and increase shine and manageability. When your hair is about half dry, apply a few drops (or one drop, for short hair!) of coconut oil to clean hands rub them together before running them through your hair to spread the oil evenly. Allow hair to finish air-drying, then style as usual.