Using Baking Soda to Loosen Natural Curls: Why I No Longer Recommend It
By Lady Carolyn M. Summerset
Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks
From the Crowning Glory Archives | Originally Published April 4, 2014 | Refreshed October 2026
Hello, My Beautiful Naturalistas!
Ladies, we're going to talk about something today that may surprise some of you!
Baking soda and natural hair.
Now, if you've been following the natural hair community for years, you probably remember when homemade hair treatments were everywhere.
We were experimenting with kitchen ingredients, searching for affordable alternatives, and trying to discover what worked for our beautiful curls and coils.
Some of those discoveries were helpful.
Others? Well, ladies, let's just say we've learned a few things along the way! LOL!
Back in 2014, I shared an article about using baking soda to loosen natural curls.
Today, I'm revisiting that topic because I believe it's important to correct information when we learn something new.
And I no longer recommend using baking soda to loosen your natural curl pattern.
Let me explain why.
Why Did People Start Using Baking Soda on Natural Hair?
Years ago, baking soda became popular in some DIY natural hair circles.
People claimed it could cleanse the hair, soften tight curls, and even make natural hair easier to manage.
For women who struggled with shrinkage or wanted a more elongated curl pattern, those promises sounded attractive.
But here's the important question:
Just because something can change the way our hair looks or feels temporarily, does that mean it's actually good for our hair?
Not necessarily!
The Problem With Baking Soda and Your Hair
Baking soda is alkaline, meaning it has a higher pH than many products formulated specifically for hair care.
Hair fibers can be affected by highly alkaline conditions. Exposure may increase surface friction, roughness, tangling, and vulnerability to breakage.
The original article I shared recommended leaving a baking soda mixture on the hair for several hours.
Ladies, that is not something I would encourage anyone to try.
Prolonged exposure is unnecessary and may cause damage or scalp irritation.
Baking soda is not a proven, controlled, or reliable way to safely loosen your natural curl pattern.
And attempting to force a curl-pattern change through a harsh homemade treatment is not worth risking the health of your strands.
But What If I Want My Curls to Look Looser?
Here's something I want every naturalista to understand.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to experiment with different hairstyles.
Sometimes we want our curls stretched.
Sometimes we want more volume.
And sometimes we want our natural texture to shine in all its beautiful shrinkage!
The key is understanding the difference between temporarily stretching your curls and chemically changing their structure.
Stretching creates a longer-looking style without necessarily changing your natural curl pattern.
A true structural change may involve chemical processes or sufficient heat, and those changes carry different risks.
So, let's talk about gentler styling options.
Five Ways to Stretch Natural Hair Without Baking Soda
1. Twist-Outs
Twist-outs are one of my favorite examples of how versatile natural hair can be.
After cleansing and conditioning, divide your hair into sections, apply suitable styling products, and create twists.
Allow them to dry completely before unraveling.
Depending on your hair texture, section size, and technique, the result may be elongated, beautifully patterned curls.
2. Braid-Outs
Braid-outs work similarly but can create a different wave or curl pattern.
They can also help reduce the appearance of shrinkage temporarily.
Remember to detangle gently before styling and avoid braiding too tightly.
3. Banding
Banding involves placing soft, snag-free bands along sections of hair to encourage a stretched appearance as the hair dries.
The bands should be loose enough to avoid pulling on the scalp or creating excessive tension.
4. African Threading
African threading is a traditional technique that can stretch coily hair without using direct heat.
It takes patience, but when performed gently, it offers another way to experiment with length and styling.
Avoid wrapping the thread too tightly or leaving it in a way that pulls uncomfortably on the roots.
5. Low-Heat Stretching
Some naturalistas prefer to use a blow-dryer with a diffuser or concentrator attachment.
If you choose this method, use a heat protectant, lower heat settings, and gentle handling.
Heat is not completely risk-free, even with a protectant.
Use it thoughtfully rather than as an everyday requirement.
Can You Permanently Loosen Natural Curls Naturally?
This is another question that deserves an honest answer.
There is no well-established homemade kitchen treatment that can safely and permanently change your natural curl structure in a predictable way.
Products can temporarily improve slip, definition, or manageability.
Certain styling techniques can elongate curls.
But those effects are not the same as permanently changing the internal structure of your hair.
And please be cautious when someone promises dramatic, permanent curl loosening with ordinary pantry ingredients.
Your Hair Doesn't Have to Be Looser to Be Beautiful
Now, ladies, let me speak from the heart for a moment.
Sometimes we spend so much time trying to achieve someone else's curls that we forget to appreciate the beauty of our own.
We see a beautiful wash-and-go on social media and wonder why our hair doesn't fall the same way.
We see a loose curl pattern and wish ours behaved similarly.
But every head of natural hair has its own characteristics.
Your hair may have multiple curl patterns, different porosity levels, varying densities, or a combination of textures.
And none of those differences makes your hair less beautiful.
Healthy hair matters more than chasing a particular curl type.
What About Moisture?
Maintaining comfortable, manageable natural hair doesn't require changing your curl pattern.
Start with a suitable cleansing routine.
Follow with a conditioner that provides enough slip for gentle detangling.
Use leave-in products or styling creams according to your hair's needs.
And remember that oils can help with lubrication and reducing moisture loss, but oil alone doesn't replace conditioning.
Our goal is to make caring for our hair easier, not put it through unnecessary stress.
A Lesson From the Crowning Glory Archives
One reason I love revisiting these older articles is that they remind me how far we've come.
In 2014, natural hair information was circulating rapidly through blogs, YouTube videos, Facebook groups, and product forums.
Many of us were learning together.
We shared what we discovered, experimented with different routines, and compared our results.
But learning also means being willing to change our minds when better information becomes available.
And I believe that sharing updated guidance is part of being responsible to my readers.
So today, this article has a different message than it did when first published.
Please don't use prolonged baking soda treatments to try to loosen your natural curls.
There are gentler ways to enjoy stretched hairstyles without intentionally exposing your hair to harsh alkaline mixtures.
My Final Thoughts
Ladies, the natural hair journey is exactly that—a journey.
Our knowledge grows.
Our preferences change.
And our understanding of what our hair needs becomes clearer with experience.
Whether you enjoy a defined wash-and-go, a fluffy twist-out, a stretched braid-out, or a beautiful natural afro, your crown deserves thoughtful care.
And remember:
You don't need to change your natural curl pattern to celebrate its beauty.
If you're learning to appreciate your natural curl pattern, read my Shrinkage — Learning to Embrace It! article for encouragement and gentle styling ideas.
Let's Talk, Ladies!
Have you ever tried baking soda or another homemade treatment on your natural hair?
Did you learn something that made you change your hair care routine?
And what is your favorite gentle method for stretching your curls?
Share your experiences in the comments. Your story may help another naturalista make a better-informed decision.
Until next time, love your curls, embrace your coils, and celebrate every beautiful kink!
Happy Curls to You!
Lady Carolyn M. Summerset
Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks
© 2026 Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks by Lady Carolyn M. Summerset. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or republished without prior written permission of the author.
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