DIY Care: Should I Do a Baking Soda Rinse?

Natural hair is beautiful hair, and healthy hair is beautiful hair. Trichologist Lisa Akbari has detailed home hair care regiments to keep your natural hair healthy and stylish.

Shampoo on an as needed basis, at least every 3-7 days. 
This will help to prevent scalp disorders caused from environmental factors.
Allow your conditioner to penetrate into the hair shaft.

A tip from Lisa Akbari, Pros and Cons

Baking Soda Rinse

Many women with natural hair believe that you should use a baking soda rinse as part of their hair care regimen.
Pro:
Although Baking Soda will strip away foreign particles and debris from the hair, and perhaps even product residue, 
Con
Baking soda has a pH that will cause the hair and scalp to dehydrate and become dry and brittle, and does not actually clean the hair, because it is not a shampoo. 

Alternative
Trichologist Lisa Akbari recommends that instead of using baking soda; use a clarifying shampoo that is the pH of the hair and scalp, which are 4.5 to 5.5. By doing so, you will gently clarify the hair, putting it at a pure natural state, without the dehydrating effects of baking soda.