It’s always great to be around a campfire, enjoying nature and making memories with family and friends. But when you’re busy having fun, it’s easy to forget that your hair can absorb campfire smoke and retain a lingering smoky smell. Nobody wants that!
Fortunately, there are a few different tricks you can use to make your hair smell fresh and sweet again after a campfire. From baking soda to vinegar to dry shampoo, this guide has got you covered.
Should You Wash Your Hair After a Bonfire?
Ideally, you should wash your hair straight after a bonfire. It’s not just about the unpleasant smell—the smoke and ash from the fire can easily remain stuck in your hair and be hard to get out, risking you damaging your hair. So, if you can, you should ideally wash your hair soon after a bonfire to stop any dirt, debris, and smells from lingering.
Before you start cleaning, always ensure that you put out the campfire for your safety.
If you’re wondering how exactly to wash your hair after a bonfire, it depends on the kind of fire you were near to and how long you were there for. If you were near a big, intense fire for a long time, you might want to use a clarifying shampoo or a deep-cleansing treatment to get the smoke and ash out. Conversely, if you were only near a small fire for a short time, a normal shampoo and conditioner may suffice.
Even though it might not be the most exciting part of camping, washing your hair after a bonfire or campfire is important to keep your hair smelling, looking, and feeling fresh, healthy, and clean.
Tip: To make washing your hair even easier after a bonfire, you can try to avoid getting it too smoky or dirty in the first place! When you’re enjoying the fire, try not to get too close to it or to the smoke—that way you’ll get less ash settling into your hair.
How to Wash Campfire Out of Hair?
In addition to shampoos and conditioners, there are some other ways you can wash your hair after a bonfire. Here are the 5 most effective methods!
- Clarifying shampoo: A clarifying shampoo is a deep-cleaning shampoo that removes buildup and impurities from your hair. It is especially effective at removing the smell of a campfire because it helps to lift and remove any smoke particles that may be trapped in your hair.
- Vinegar: Vinegar is a natural odor-eliminating agent that can help to neutralize the smell of smoke in your hair. After shampooing, combine equal parts water and vinegar and rinse your hair with the solution.
- Dry shampoo: If you don’t have time to wash your hair, dry shampoo can help absorb excess oil and odor. Simply apply the dry shampoo to your roots and brush it through your hair.
- Deep conditioning treatment: If your hair has become particularly dry or damaged due to smoke from a fire, you can moisturize it using a deep conditioning treatment, which will nourish your hair and leave it feeling soft and healthy.
- Baking soda: Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can help to remove the smell of smoke from your hair. Wash your hair as usual after mixing a small amount of baking soda with your regular shampoo.
Tip: Whichever method you go for, make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly to remove all of the products. If possible, follow up with a conditioner to keep your hair even more healthy and hydrated.
…And it’s as easy as that! You can effectively remove campfire dirt and odor from your hair using simple ingredients and a few easy-to-follow steps.
As you learned in this article, not washing your hair after a campfire can lead to unpleasant smells and hard-to-remove dirt. So it’s always best to clean your hair soon after a campfire—and with this article, you’ve got plenty of ideas for how you can do it!
Whether you go for shampoo, vinegar, deep conditioning, or baking soda, your hair is sure to come out squeaky clean.
I am Bruno. Navigating the urban rush by day, I find peace under the stars by night. Alongside my loyal companion and co-adventurer Lilith, we explore the balance between city life and nature’s embrace. Through writing and films, I delve into bushcraft and the wild’s allure.
GointheWilderness is my bridge between these two realms, guiding you to reconnect with your innate wilderness.
Eden is here and now; join us in rediscovering it.