Baking Soda as Shampoo?

So I was doing my usual online reading on shampoo substitutes, because as some of you know, I try to limit my exposure to the chemicals that you find in the sudsy shampoos.
Well this journey has been a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I though it would be easy to find a brand of shampoo that doesn't have a mile long list of chemicals, but this has not been the case.  So I do a lot of reading, and a lot of trial and error on some of the DIY shampoo recipes online.

Recently I read that you can use baking soda and water as a shampoo.  Comments on this article went along the lines of 'oh I have been doing this for years', and 'my hair is silky smooth.'  So naturally I tried it.  Why wouldn't I?  I have baking soda in my cupboard already!
So I jump in the shower and get my baking soda on.  Felt a bit weird in the shower, but the real results are when you're attempting to get a brush through, and when you are styling.
Results?  My hair felt like straw.  It was nearly impossible to brush (and yes, I used a conditioner).  Worst of all, when I styled it, it looked horribly dull.

So if anyone has any more crazy things for me to try, bring it on...