pretty dark in here

Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is a very useful household chemical with many applications - not the least of which is to clean hair in lieu of shampoo. It is safe enough to ingest in small quantities in food, and has many medical and health related applications. In stronger solutions it is a very powerful alkaline cleaner and bleaching agent that can be used as a kitchen and bathroom cleaner.

Washing hair with baking soda as the main active ingredient in a liquid solution is very effective. It works by opening up the scales of the hair shaft, and by combining with our scalp’s natural oils to make a primitive but effective ’soap’. Though unlike our familiar commercial detergent-laden products it does not lather at all, it does have a slippery feel to it.

Its use may be especially indicated at the beginning of a no-commercial product regimen, when many people will be coaxing layers of laquer-like silicones from their hair, especially lengths that have been exposed to the most ‘cones. This period is often called ‘detox’ and some people fight their sticky or waxy residue for as long as six weeks. Caution is advised here as people have also reported issues using baking soda in areas with hard water, complaining of it leaving a ’soap-scum’ residue in their hair. I certainly wouldn’t want to confuse these two problems, so if you’re not sure, try using distilled water instead of tapwater for a wash.

Sodium Bicarbonate is a mild bleach, and this makes it useful in stripping colour out of hair. Reports confirm it can lighten nearly everything, including semipermanent and temporary chemical dyes, henna, vegetable based hair dyes, and virgin haircolour. Some people consider any lightening as damage, and people working to maintain their colour may wish to avoid its use.

Baking soda may be too drying or harsh for regular use, especially for people with sensitive skin, oily hair, or dry scalp. I feel it works best when viewed as a ‘clarifying wash’ or if someone wishes to lighten their normal haircolour, or strip in preparation for new haircolour.

After using sodium bicarbonate to wash hair, a follow-up with a mild acidic conditioning rinse is called for to smooth and close the hairshaft and cuticle, and to restore a more natural pH level to the hair and scalp.

Stripping baking soda wash solution - for stripping ‘cones or colour. If stripping colour in preparation for a new colour application, whether you use a conditioning rinse and its strength may affect your colour uptake. Some chemical colourants require starting with pH balanced dry hair, whereas vegetable colourants may require an open hairshaft.
1 tsp sodium bicarbonate to 1 cup warm water. Mix well until dissolved and apply to full length of hair, massaging in well and leave for a few minutes before rinsing well.

Clarifying baking soda wash solution - for a deep scalp cleaning
1/2 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate to 1 cup warm water. Mix well until dissolved and apply to roots of hair and scalp. Massage into scalp and first inch or two of hair before immediately rinsing well.

Milder baking soda wash solution
1/4 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate to 1 cup warm water, add 2 drops of essential oil such as tea tree, peppermint, or oregano. Mix well until dissolved, and apply to roots of hair and scalp. Massage into scalp and first inch or two of hair before rinsing well.

I first heard about cold brewed coffee in the comments section of a discussion on the livejournal community poor_skills. Some websearches led me to a popular MSN article, and finally the two articles referenced at the end of this writeup. I decided to try making a batch last summer, and am a convert. My coffeemaker only comes into service between batches of cold brewed. I notice that the coffee that comes of cold brewing is less acidic.

I went to the store and bought a small can of dark roast for my mix, but any coffee will do. I have read that a regular grind is better than a fine or extra fine. I’d have to agree. In a plastic jug or 2L bottle I mix 7.5 cups of cold tap water with approximately 2.5 cups of ground coffee. I stir or shake the mix a few times, but it isn’t necessary. Let the concoction sit for 12 hours. I strain mine through about six layers of cheesecloth, add a teaspoon of vanilla, and store the coffee extract in the fridge. Afterwards I rinse my cheesecloth out well, hang to dry, and will reuse it.

Again that recipe is:
2.5 cups of ground coffee
7.5 cups of cold tap water (or filtered)
12 hours
strain
add 1tsp vanilla
store covered in fridge.

Plenty of people add water and heat it and treat it like regular coffee. I mix it cold with milk and sugar and shake it, though stirring it works. It reminds me of the overpriced small glass bottles of Starbucks coffees, but it’s cheap and I know what’s in it, and that makes it much much better.

Reference Links:
The Food Maven Diary 06/30/2001 Archived Entry: “Cold-Brewed Coffee Extract”
TravelLady Magazine A New Trend In Coffee? - Regarding a popular device to make the extract, as some of you may be gadget-likers.