Baking Soda Wash, Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse and Curlformers

While doing some online research about transitioning and hair care I came across lots and lots of information about the pH of hair and how this will help your hair to be healthy and strong and shiny, so I decided to try it. Here are some links which have in depth information about pH and the role that baking soda and apple cider vinegar play. I learned that the hair takes on the pH of the product that you are using. That the healthy pH range for hair is 4.5-5.5 and that you must take the total of the pH for each product that you are using and divide it by the total products used. Example My baking soda mix was 8, the apple cider vinegar rinse was 2, the shampoo was 5, and the conditioner was 5. So 5 + 5 + 2 + 8 = 20 Twenty divided by 4 is 5. So at the end of my hair regimen my hair had a pH of 5 which is healthy hair. :-D

No Poo
No Poo Method
pH levels of hair and skin
pH of your hair
shampoo free


Well, I tried lots of new things tonight. I tried the baking soda wash, apple cider vinegar rinse, alkazone pH test strips and curlformers.

Alkazone Test Strips

These pH test strips are really great because the range is from 2 to 10 and the package that I purchased contained 50 strips. I purchased them from evitaminstore.com.
Cost: $6.81 + shipping and handling $4.99 = $11.80.

My Containers

 I purchased two bottles of shampoo from the Dollar Tree where everything is a dollar, literally. My husband emptied them, soaked them in water and I rinsed them well until the water rinsed clear and bubble free. Voila empty, clean containers one dollar each. :-D


 Mixing the Baking Soda Solution and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

My husband helped me with this entire process. We filled each bottle with filtered water from our refrigerator. you don't necessarily have to use filtered water that's just what we did.

We began mixing the baking soda solution. We added 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to 18oz of water. The bottle was shaken vigorously. After wards we measured the pH of the mixture which came out to a pH of 8.

Which is what we were aiming for.

Next we attacked the apple cider vinegar mix. We added 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, after which the mixture was shaken vigorously and tested at a pH of 4. We added 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the 18oz of water three more times and each time tested at a pH of 3. We graduated to 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar which we added 6 times until we reached a pH of 2. For a total of 4 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 18oz of water.

Hair Regimen

First I washed my hair with NuGro Shampoo which tested at a pH of 5.

I rinsed and applied the baking soda solution to my hair and scalp. If you remember baking soda is an alkaline which opens the hair shaft. Next I applied NuGro Conditioner to my hair and scalp. The NuGro Conditioner tested at a pH of 5.

Then I rinsed and applied my apple cider vinegar rinse. Once my hair was dry I did notice that the vinegar smell had dissipated and my hair was easier to comb through. My hair was really clean.

Curlformers

I purchased three packages of Curlformers locally from Sally's. Two short and wide and one long and wide. I have a Sally's card so each package of rollers was like $11.89. Each package comes with 10 rollers. So I had 30 and I purchased the crochet hook as well which was about $3.89 with the card. My total was about $43.00.

The ends are rubbery and firm, the overall roller is a mesh build and the roller is a preformed tube curl. Each color turns a different way which is helpful in creating a spiral look and especially if you want your hair to come towards or away form your face.

I used Lottabody setting lotion.

I sectioned my hair and used hair clips to keep the portions that I was not working on out of my way.

I began with the short and wide curlformers in the back of my head at the base of my neck per the directions. Here is my first "curl". 

 The hook was fairly easy to use. You place a curlformer on the hook, section a piece of hair, give it a twist, place the hair on the hook and open the curlformer by pinching with your fingers to form an "O", then gently pull in a downwards motion the hair down and through the curl former.

In no time I was finished. I used 24 of the 30 rollers that I purchased. Mostly the short and wide. My hair is shoulder length and I now wished that I had purchased the curlformers labeled long and wide because I had quite a few curls that I had to pull more towards the end and away from my scalp because their were ends sticking out. There were a few times that my hair got caught up in the hook and tube and I had to start over. I saw a few hairs in the sink which indicated breakage I believe. I sat under the dryer on high for 30 minutes. I will sleep in them overnight and remove them in the morning. I will take pics to show the final result. I will use these again and be more gentle next time.

 

I am transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. ;-D My last relaxer was June 17, 2011.