The Baking Soda Treatment **UPDATED** Orginal Post August 2009

The Baking Soda Treatment

For 4A\4B Naturals Looking to Loosening Up Those Coils

I've tried it, like the results, and I may be a little addicted to the results. Is it that good?

Mmmm I don't know about that, but for my 4B Triple x Natural hair texture
it makes the texture of my 4b so much easier to deal with. Using The Baking Soda Paste gives my 4b natural hair a new texturized feel, it's really nice change. Since it's summer time, and the heat index has gone up to 99 degrees for the scorching months of summer my hair needs all the help it can receive.


The Steps

It varies (I use different products and experiment) but I just did a Baking Soda Treatment a week ago here are the products

Product's You'll Need: Just 3 (How easy is this)!





1 Cup Herbal Essence Hello Hydration or any Conditioner (good smelling conditioner)
2 Tablespoon Baking Soda
2 Tablespoon Castor Oil (this is optional: you don't need oil)

Before you Start:

Wear something you don't mind getting dirty like an old bath towel or T- Shirt

You'll also need:

Shower Cap\Plastic Bag
A Towel for you shoulders (To catch the drips)

Mix and apply to dry hair (I like to make part my hair, make rows then apply)

Cover with shower cap\plastic bag: anything to catch the liquid, and they'll be lots of moisture between the Castor oil and the baking soda this mixture gets drippy

Let this mixture sit in your hair for at least 30 minutes: no longer then 1 hour (Less than 1 hour, if you have sensitive scalp)!!! Please heed all suggestions!

Rinse and do your usual routine: Shampoo, Condition: Style

OR: After you rinse out the baking soda mix

You can do a DC (deep condition) with heat

To Deep Condition following up with Conditioner Using Heat:

Rinse out the mixture and Immediately apply a nice scented deep conditioner, allow the conditioner to saturated your hair for at least 30 minutes with a hooded dryer.

You can also add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of oil to your deep conditioner

Remember: You want to make sure you hair is well moisturized: Baking soda can strip your hair of oils and your natural oils in your hair. Your hair can become very dry if you dont properly moisturized\condition your hair before and AFTER your Baking Soda Treatment

The Results?

Your hair should feel a little different:

While wet your hair should feel: fluffy, airy, soft, smooth to the touch, and easy to brush up either with your hand or with a brush

When completely air dried: Soft, airy, fluffy, and still easy to brush up with your hand or with a brush



Tips

Have fun and experiment with different oils: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil mix it in your baking soda treatment

AND Remember to Use a Good Moisturizing Conditioner that smells nice

Use a Moisturizing\Hydrating conditioner that has a nice scent so your hair will have a lightly fragrance scent to your hair.

I usually keep my hair in braids so I can do a follow deep condition the NEXT day (after the baking soda treatment). This is to ensure that your hair is getting the moisture it needs, since the baking soda cleanses your hair and scalp: it strips your hair of oils (even scalp oils): I've experienced this, so remember to deep condition.

Please Read This blog Fully Especially The Warning Segment: It's for Anyone who wants to try The Baking Soda Treatment Safely:

Warning Warning Warning

Do NOT put a heating cap on to attempt more heated moisture  (while doing the baking soda treatment) doing so may cause a sore scalp and result in SCABS

Heating Cap

heat from your head is ENOUGH to activate the baking soda and work to create a looser texture in your hair.
 

Do NOT leave this treatment on your hair no longer that 30-60 minutes: 

 

Keep this mixture in your hair for less then 30 minutes if you have a sensitive scalp or thin or weak hair strands.

Do NOT mix baking soda and any stinky smelling Cholesterol treatment as your moisturizing conditioner your hair will smell like a BAD RELAXER!!! 

 

**Tip** I like to put a shower cap on instead of having my hair out: The baking soda (I feel) absorbs better and keeps the liquids from dripping on my shoulders.

DO Use a good smelling conditioner, any strong smelling conditioner will interact with the baking soda and make your hair smell BADLY

DO Deep Condition your hair the following day (the day after the Baking soda treatment), to protect your scalp and hair for extreme dryness: and dryness can\will result in BREAKAGE!!

How long does this mini texturizer last???

If you rinse you hair or wash your hair everyday or 3 times in week, your hair texture may revert back to your regular texture in less than 3 weeks: faster if you are using shampoo

My baking soda treatment last for a month or so, I do rinse my hair with water (and spritz my hair) every day BUT I do not use shampoo when I need to clean my hair and scalp, I like to use vinegar and conditioner. If you'll like to clean your hair this way remember to dilute your vinegar.

Here's a recipe: Vinegar Rinse (To Clean the Hair & Scalp)

2-4 Cup of filter or distilled water: or regular tap if you do not have filtered or distilled water
1-2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (Do not use White Vinegar, it has alcohol which dries the hair out).

Place this mixture in bottle or big bowl and pour slowly over hair with one hands and massaging your scalp and smoothing the liquid over your hair

Repeat two or three times if needed

You may follow up with conditioner or rinse your hair with luke-warm water: to get the extra residue of vinegar or dirt out of your hair, and then follow up with a good conditioner

Note: Give your vinegar water a little taste on the tip of your tongue, and relax its just water and vinegar you can taste it: Your Vinegar Rinse (it should have a little tang to the water, if it doesn't it may be too much water and not enough vinegar.

 

That's all there is to it :)

What I Like About The Baking Soda Treatment (Baking Soda Paste)???

What I like about this semi texturizer is that I don't have to "water" spritz my hair with water 15 times a day: only just 3-4, to keep it moisturize. I usually wake with my hair in cornrows, apply a dab conditioner to my hand rub, then rub it in my hair

Spritz my hair with purified water

Add a little bit of oil (dime size): rub in on my parts

I spritz my hair with water if needed throughout the day, but it's not as much

So to review

My Results:

My hair lays down with water alone, which tells me my hair will be easier to put in a pony tail or braids.

Styles I Do (With my New Texture)

Afro's (that doesn't shrink up to 1 inch)
Braid outs
Puffy pony(which is so easy to do since using this treatment)

Pros

My hair absorbs water better
My hair is easier to style: pull up into a ponytail, easy afro
My Double Strand Twist are thicker
Better quicker waves: I take my twist out and my waves are formed: even if I don't keep my twist in for a day or week!

Cons? Any Problems?

My hair gets a little frizzy, and (for me) it's harder to braid since my hair seems to slip out the braids

My hair texture seems softer and feels little weaker so I have to be gentle while combing and braiding.

I combat the frizz with Shea butter a tiny dab through-out my hair after I moisturize with water and conditioner, then another dab of conditioner, and spritz my hair with water.

To Sum It All Up

I really enjoy my texture: All three ingredients to use cost little and gives really good results, what more can a girl ask for?


Original Post August 8, 2009