From this answer
[self.navigationController.navigationBar setBackgroundImage:[UIImage new]
forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];
self.navigationController.navigationBar.shadowImage = [UIImage new];
self.navigationController.navigationBar.translucent = YES;
self.navigationController.view.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
self.navigationController.navigationBar.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
Also, as suggested by Josh in the comments, to put the bar back to default:
[self.navigationController.navigationBar setBackgroundImage:nil
forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];