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.
First off, you should never use ACV directly on the skin, hair or scalp without diluting it first. It's also not a recommended remedy for those with extremely dry hair, and shouldn't be used frequently if you are coloring your hair. There is also, well, the smell.
"Dry hair needs less ACV and oily hair needs more," she adds. "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.
Gently work the vinegar into your hair with your fingers. It should be diluted enough that it shouldn't burn your scalp. Let the vinegar mixture sit for three to five minutes. Rinse your hair and scalp with cool water.
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.
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.
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.
Apple cider vinegar's acids and enzymes work to destroy those bacteria and prevent them from contributing to hair weakness and loss. Using an apple cider vinegar rinse can also help exfoliate the scalp, removing dead skin cells and promoting hair growth.
"ACV unblocks follicles in the scalp so that strands have freedom to thrive," Ruggeri says. (Note: If you do use dry shampoo, Ruggeri advises spraying it on the mid-lengths of hair, rather than the roots, to prevent clogging the follicle).
There are a variety of methods available for the regrowth of hair follicles, from using medication to massaging your scalp to stimulate your hair directly. Currently, the most effective way to reactivate your hair follicles is by using medication, such as finasteride and minoxidil.
Try a DIY Hair Detox
Mix equal parts bentonite clay powder, aloe vera gel and apple cider vinegar. Apply your DIY hair mask to your strands and let sit for 20 minutes under a shower cap to prevent drying. Rinse out with white vinegar, and follow with a clarifying shampoo to remove residue.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acids known to be caustic. This means they may irritate or burn the skin. Always dilute ACV with water before applying it directly to the skin. If your rinses are too strong, try diluting it more — though if irritation happens, it almost always clears up within a couple of days.
People who want to give this potential natural dandruff remedy a try can start by applying a dilute apple cider vinegar wash to their scalp once or twice a week. In some people, however, the wash may lead to skin irritation or worsening dandruff symptoms.
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.
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.
It Helps with Scalp Issues Like Dandruff
"As the acidic properties of ACV get to work, the antimicrobial benefits help decrease the amount of bacteria and yeast on the scalp and hair, which could translate into fewer scalp issues resulting in shiner, frizz-free hair."
Because of its antibacterial properties, vinegar can actually reduce dandruff and most itchy scalp issues, too. The exfoliating properties of white vinegar mean your scalp is buffed free of dead skin, helping stop the symptoms of scalp conditions in their tracks!
The scalp produces natural oils to maintain cleanliness and shine. The apple cider vinegar not only strips away leftover products, it strips away the natural oils. If this is done too much, it can lead to thinning and breakage of hair.
"Apple cider vinegar isn't harmful, per se, but it is acidic and can dry out the hair, which can lead to breakage."
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.”
White vinegar is also missing many of the nourishing vitamins and minerals that we get with apple cider vinegar. Our verdict? White vinegar works in a pinch, but apple cider vinegar hair-care products and rinses offer the most benefit for your hair and scalp.
In most hair recipes that calls for ACV you can replace it with distilled white vinegar, as it will work just fine. The pH level is slightly more acidic than apple cider vinegar so you may need to dilute it with more water. This rinse will help to smooth the hair's cuticle for enhanced shine.
Pour two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and keep it aside. Then, shampoo and rinse your hair as usual. Apply the vinegar solution over your scalp and let it rest for two minutes. Once done, rinse it thoroughly.