Start by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to rid your locks from build-up and excess oil. You can make your own by mixing coarse sea salt with a normal shampoo, using a ratio of 3:2. Or, if you prefer salon quality, opt for a professional treatment like Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Shampoo.
Use a clarifying shampoo: Look for a clarifying shampoo free of harsh chemicals that can strip your natural hair of its oils. Finish with a balancing ACV rinse: Mix apple cider vinegar with water and pour it over your scalp as a final rinse to restore your scalp's natural pH balance and remove any remaining buildup.
ACV's removal of grease, environmental pollutants, and product buildup gives the scalp and hair follicles a clean slate to grow new hair. “This enhances your hair's shine and reduces frizz,” McKnight says.
#1 Use a Clarifying Shampoo
To start, you'll want to use a deep cleansing shampoo or clarifying shampoo designed to strip away the extra buildup on the hair and scalp. For example, Living Proof's clarifying detox shampoo is bioengineered to remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water.
For others, their hair detox journey can take about 14 days. There are a few factors that might affect the length of your detox: It could depend on your specific hair type, environmental pollution, the level of buildup you have from dead skin cells and styling products, and how frequently you wash your hair.
If you've noticed your scalp is flaking and feeling itchy and generally uncomfortable, it's likely a hair detox needs to be on the cards. That dryness causing the flaking is likely down to blocked pores (just as you get them on your face, you can get them on your scalp, too).
Make a baking soda scrub, of two parts water to one part baking soda and apply it to your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Removes Major Buildup
“So when it comes to that, I like to use Dawn dish detergent to help.” She goes on to say that she's had a more effective experience using the household product to cut hair grease than even Dr. Bronner's heavy-duty, all-in-one soaps.
I rinsed my hair with apple cider vinegar — here's why you should give it a try. Apple cider vinegar can effectively clarify product build-up, balance your hair's pH level, stimulate growth, and keep natural curls well-defined and bouncy.
According to the experts, no one should use baking soda for hair regularly. It's just too harsh to use frequently. Additionally, the only people who should even consider using it occasionally (think maybe once a month) are those who have very oily scalps or hair, cautions Brado.
Washing hair with apple cider vinegar side effects
Dryness and Brittleness: Overuse can strip natural oils from the hair, leading to dryness. Hair Color Fading: ACV may lighten hair slightly over time, especially if used frequently. Strong Odor: The vinegar smell can linger in the hair if not rinsed thoroughly.
Apple cider vinegar helps to gently cleanse and remove buildup on the scalp from product residue, dirt and debris, without stripping color or damaging your hair.
Similar to pH balancing shampoos, using ACV rinses after cleansing may help to close the cuticle shaft and prevent cuticle swelling, making your hair smoother, shinier, and easier to comb through, as well as holding moisture in more effectively.
After you're done shampooing your hair and washing out the shampoo entirely, you're ready for the ACV solution. Massage the solution into the scalp. Apply the mixture evenly from your roots to your ends, focusing on massaging your scalp to help remove excess buildup and balance your scalp's pH.
Coconut oil can have many benefits for your hair and scalp. It is used to relieve dandruff, restore luster to dry and damaged hair, tame frizz, and protect hair against styling damage. It is safe to use on all hair types.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular home remedy. It's often added to foods,1 and some people also apply it to their skin, scalp, or hair. It's known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral actions,2 and it may also offer benefits for scalp flaking or thinning hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
This household staple is a natural way to remove product buildup left on your hair from styling products. Combine one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and use it to rinse your hair after shampooing. You can apply the mixture with a spray bottle or pour it directly onto your hair.
Dish soap removes the outer coating from your hair
That's your epicuticle, and it's made up mostly of lipids, which provide a chemical surface barrier for your hair. Since it's so good at breaking down oils, using sodium lauryl sulfate regularly will eventually completely remove this protective layer.
What is a chelating shampoo? Chelating shampoos are designed to tackle buildup beyond just what's on the surface of your hair. They remove minerals, metals, and deposits from inside the hair shaft. These minerals can build up over time and cause hair to become dry, brittle, and difficult to manage.
This is why baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has been incorporated into beauty routines due to its alkalinity with a high pH level. The substance works by lightening gray hair but should only ever be used cautiously as it also affects moisture retention capacity making it brittle.