Shampoos and other hair-care products leave a residue on the hair and scalp that accumulates over time. This heavy buildup can weigh your hair down, making it appear limp and dull. It can also prevent moisture from reaching your hair, resulting in dryness and split ends and increasing itching and flaking of your scalp. Fortunately, you can remove shampoo buildup with special shampoo or ingredients found in your kitchen pantry.
Step 1
Create a hair paste with baking soda and white or apple cider vinegar. Use enough vinegar to cover your entire head, and then add baking soda until the mixture is thick. Apply the paste to your hair, massage it through the full length of your locks, and then leave it in place for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse well in warm water, and shampoo as normal.
Step 2
Buy a clarifying shampoo and alternate it with your regular shampoo. Clarifying shampoos contain acetic acid, a primary constituent of vinegar, and help remove buildup by stripping residue from the hair shaft. You may need to use the clarifying shampoo for several days in a row if your buildup is severe.
Step 3
Rinse your hair once each week, or after every shampoo, with equal parts water and vinegar. The vinegar will remove and prevent buildup while balancing your scalp's natural pH, says Dr. Audrey Kunin of the DermaDoctor website. The vinegar smell should fade within 30 minutes. Condition your hair after using the rinse if you have dry hair.
Tips and Warnings
- The Vinegar Institute states that vinegar may be beneficial in treating dandruff when used as a rinse after shampooing. If you have blond hair, CreativeHomeMaking.com recommends the addition of a few tablespoons of lemon juice to rinse water to remove buildup.
Things You'll Need
- Baking soda
- White or apple cider vinegar
- Clarifying shampoo
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