Since baking soda can remove stains from hard surfaces and teeth, it can also fade colors from your hair after numerous washes. However, it mostly works on dyed hair, especially for semi-permanent dye color. For non-dyed hair, baking soda alone isn’t strong enough to scrub away the natural pigment of your hair. According to Hair Trivia, the key to creating a strong lightening solution at home is to combine baking soda with hydrogen peroxide — a stronger bleaching chemical commonly found in hair dyes. So Technically, you can incorporate baking soda into your DIY haircare solution.

However, Botox Capilar strictly warns against using baking soda to lighten hair that is too dark or recently dyed. The reason being is baking soda isn’t formulated to be used on hair, and using it on hair color that is orange, yellowish, or reddish will cause more harm to your hair than good. Speaking of hair damage, baking soda can strip your hair of natural oils, weaken your hair fibers, and make your hair more vulnerable to breakdown. Baking soda has a pH of about nine, while a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Trichology suggests that any hair product with a pH higher than 5.5 has the potential to irritate and damage the scalp. If you have a dry skin condition — like eczema — do not apply baking soda to your hair .