Does Baking Soda Work to Cover Gray Hair? Natural Methods

Baking Soda to Cover Gray Hair: Does It Work?

Gray hair is a natural part of aging, but that doesn't mean you have to embrace the salt and pepper look right away. While some choose to proudly sport their grays, others prefer to cover up these signs of getting older. If you're looking for inexpensive, natural solutions for masking gray hair rather than chemical hair dyes, using baking soda is worth considering.

What Causes Gray Hair?

Gray hair occurs when melanin, the pigment that gives your hair its color, starts to decrease in the hair follicles. Hair follicles contain melanocyte cells that produce melanin. As we get older, these melanocytes become less active, resulting in reduced melanin production. With less melanin loading into the hair strand as it grows, the grays begin to peek through.

While aging is the most common cause of graying, other factors can speed up the process like stress, smoking, vitamin deficiency, and genetics. People with dark hair tend to gray later than those with light hair. But no matter what your natural hair color, grays can start becoming noticeable in your 30s and 40s.

Can Baking Soda Actually Cover Gray Hair?

Baking soda can temporarily mask gray hair since it removes product buildup and opens up the hair cuticle to deposit color. It works by helping hair absorb other ingredients you mix into the solution. For example, pairing baking soda with lemon juice allows the citric acid to penetrate deeper thanks to the clarifying effects.

However, baking soda alone does not color hair. It's an abrasive cleansing powder that strips away oils, dirt, and styling products that cause dullness. Using a baking soda hair treatment before applying a natural dye like black tea, henna, or beetroot juice can help the color stain the strands more evenly.

DIY Baking Soda Recipes for Gray Coverage

Here are some easy baking soda hair recipes you can test to cover grays at home:

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

The acid from lemon juice helps open the cuticle so the baking soda can clarify and remove buildup. This allows any added coloring agents like tea or herbs to deposit better for disguising gray hairs.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• Juice from 2 lemons
• 1 cup chamomile tea (brewed, cooled)

Directions:

1. Mix the baking soda with the lemon juice to form a paste.
2. Add the cooled chamomile tea and stir well.
3. Apply thoroughly to clean, damp hair. Let sit for 15 minutes. The tea provides a subtle blonde tint to blend grays.
4. Rinse and style as usual. Use a deep conditioner after to prevent dryness.

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another ingredient containing acetic acid that reacts with baking soda. Using vitamin C-rich amla powder adds nutrients that nourish hair and scalp for healthier grays.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons amla powder (optional)

Directions:

1. Whisk together the baking soda and apple cider vinegar into a frothy paste.
2. Mix in amla powder if using.
3. Apply to damp hair, coating every strand. Let sit for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse thoroughly. The vinegar smell dissipates once hair dries.

Other Ways to Blend Gray Hair

Using baking soda can help prep hair to accept color, whether tea, henna, or other natural dyes. But it won't completely cover your gray hairs. For the best results, consider these techniques after clarifying with baking soda:

Rinses

Rinses made with black tea, sage, rosemary, or other herbs deposit temporary color that washes out over a few weeks. Brew a strong tea, let it cool, and use it as a final rinse after shampooing. Repeat as the color fades to keep gray coverage.

Henna and Other Natural Dyes

Plant-based dyes like henna, beetroot, and hibiscus last longer than rinses. Henna coats the outside of the hair shaft to stain the cuticle. Mixing in ingredients like coffee, tea, or cloves helps darken the color to hide grays better. Always do allergy test before using henna or other dyes.

Semi-Permanent Chemical Dyes

Semi-permanent hair dyes don’t require peroxide or ammonia like permanent color does. The molecules are small so they can penetrate the hair shaft better for longer-lasting results covering gray hairs. Reapply as new growth comes in, usually every 4 to 6 weeks.

Permanent Hair Dye

Permanent chemical hair dye alters the structure of hair to change pigment within the strands, giving the longest coverage for stubborn grays. The ammonia swells the cuticle to deposit color deeper while peroxide removes pre-existing dye inside. This leads to consistent color from new growth to ends until it eventually grows out.

Maintaining Healthy Hair As You Gray

Repeated use of baking soda and other color methods can dry out your hair. To keep hair healthy-looking with the grays blended, be sure to:

• Shampoo less often
• Use a weekly hydrating hair mask
• Apply oil or serum for added moisture
• Let hair air dry instead of heat styling
• Trim regularly to deal with split ends

As you make peace with your natural gray hair, remember that healthy hair is always in style, no matter the color.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.