It's A pH Thang, Ladies: Baking Soda, Hair Color + Vinegar

Okay...we have written about rinsing newly colored hair with white vinegar in a past BeautyTipToday article.

Why?....To LOCK in the hair dye + allow the color to last longer.

And now we are expanding on this inexpensive, beauty theory with yet another tidbit of beauty science:

It's the 3-step plan for lasting color results:

1. Baking Soda AFTER shampooing.

2. Hair dye and rinse.

3. White vinegar rinse.

 DONE.

 It's a pH thang, ladies. We started going gray in our early 20s ---a few silver strands here + there. So, we've been coloring a long time, and now are finding that the hair color-dye FADES very fast. 

So we have learned new stuff here, and will try it out next time we box-color at home.

Baking soda like permanent hair dyes = alkaline. Alkalinity OPENS up the hair cuticle, allowing the color to penetrate deep into the hair cortex to accept the dye.

An acid has the opposite effect---it shuts down the cuticle, sealing in the color. That's why the white vinegar locks in the dye longer.

Hope you can still follow this. Anyway...here are the How Tos from the HairCrazy.com website. After shampooing HAIR, do this:

..."A small amount of baking soda disolved in warm water will be adequate. You only need about 1 teaspoon in a pint of water. Keep away from your eyes and allow the mixture to rinse through your hair. Now blow dry the hair until it’s damp. Heat will also help open the cuticle. The hair is now ready to dye. Apply the dye to your hair and leave for 30-40 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Rinse again in a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice (again, keep away from eyes). Condition your hair leaving the conditioner on for as long as possible and then rinse in cold water...."
Good luck!