Adding apple cider vinegar to your hair care routine "will help keep your scalp healthy by warding off bacteria and keeping a balanced pH level," said Dr. Jaliman, adding that "this will stimulate hair growth. ACV gently exfoliates the scalp which in turn will promote hair growth and healthier hair."
“No matter what you do with it, ACV will not cure or treat hair loss. The reason it is often linked with hair care is because it is an ancient remedy for making hair shine and treating dandruff that is said to have been favoured by the Romans.
Science supports the use of apple cider vinegar as a hair rinse. It could help strengthen hair and improve luster by lowering hair and scalp pH. It may also keep pesky scalp infections and itchiness at bay.
An apple cider vinegar hair rinse helps shift any excess oil deep down, giving hair some of its bounce and volume back. Check out more tips on how to add volume to fine hair.
Although the effects are gentle, ACV on its own is too harsh to apply directly to hair, so make sure you dilute it before applying onto the scalp. Not diluting it could irritate the scalp or even lead to mild burns, says Philip B.
If your hair tends to be dry, you may want to use the rinse less often; if your hair and scalp are more on the oily side, you may want to do it more frequently. Generally speaking, though, you'll want to rinse your hair with an apple cider vinegar solution a couple times a week.
how long do you leave apple cider vinegar on hair? Using ACV on the hair is meant to be a touch-and-go process. At most, Williams recommends leaving it in your hair for one to three minutes. “Rinse thoroughly after this and follow with a conditioner,” she says.
DIY ACV rinse: Pure ACV is extremely acidic and will definitely start degrading your hair and drying out your scalp. So, we don't recommend using diluted ACV rinse more often than once a week at most.
Products with minoxidil help many people regrow their hair or slow the rate of hair loss or both. It'll take at least six months of treatment to prevent further hair loss and to start hair regrowth. It may take a few more months to tell whether the treatment is working for you.
For the best effect, doctors recommend taking biotin, vitamin C, zinc, and folic acid together. One preliminary study showed that receiving a scalp massage for four minutes every day for six months improved hair loss symptoms.
Here's the hard truth: Little can be done to permanently change the diameter of individual hair strands. Thickening products can do wonders to temporarily plump hair strands, but when it comes down to it, fine hair is genetic and can't be changed.
"Ironically, with thinning hair it's important to make sure you get your hair cut regularly," says Julie Hensman, from Hensmans in Northampton. "Thinning hair can get out of shape more quickly, making it look more obvious". Booking in for regular trims can keep your hair looking its best.
"I recommend shampooing first and then saturating the hair with ACV." Once you massage the solution into the scalp, let it sit for three to five minutes before rinsing and conditioning as normal.
Know that natural washes are fine
In fact, according to Davis, apple cider vinegar (as long as it's diluted with water) can help you “remove stubborn hair products, deep clean your hair and scalp, and even reduce mild scalp inflammation caused by dandruff.”
Using the shampoo and conditioner of your choice, wash your hair as you normally would. Rinse thoroughly with water before applying the apple cider vinegar solution. Make sure that you have completely rinsed the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair.
2) Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse:
Another option is to mix a bit of apple cider vinegar into a dollop of shampoo. This clears build up from environmental toxins and hair products. It also seals the hair cuticle, making your grays silky, shiny and frizz-free.
You can also leave it in your hair overnight! If you leave it in, it will help prevent tangles. Since it restores your scalp's pH level, it will also help and prevent an itchy scalp.
You should never apply apple cider vinegar directly to your hair. As we mentioned above, it has a highly acidic pH that undiluted could cause irritation, itchiness or burn the sensitive skin of the scalp. The best and safest way to use this ingredient is by diluting it with water to make a hair rinse.
If you are experiencing thinning or balding, our Bosley experts recommend washing no more than three times a week.
Biotin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, stimulates the production of keratin to increase follicle growth. Biotin deficiencies tend to be rare, with those diagnosed with Biotinidase Deficiency being the most common.
Overall, Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Thinning and Loss is the top choice given the FDA-approved hair growth-boosting ingredient in its formula.
The bottom line. There's no strong evidence to support using biotin for hair growth or to prevent hair loss in people without a deficiency. Because hair thinning and poor hair growth are sometimes associated with a biotin deficiency, correcting a deficiency can help restore hair growth in some people.