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.
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.
The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar balances hair and scalp pH. By lowering the pH of your scalp, ACV flattens and closes the hair cuticle. This makes your hair smoother and easier to detangle, shinier, less frizzy, less prone to breakage, and more moisturized.
Allow the solution to remain on your hair for 2-3 minutes. Rinse the ACV mixture out of your hair with cool water. (Cooler water helps to polish the cuticle of the hair.) Apply a lightweight conditioner for your hair type and work the product from root to tips.
"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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
A higher pH substance or product on the scale opens the cuticle and lower pH closes the cuticle." While ACV may successfully make your hair appear shinier or smoother initially, Anderson says "ACV will make hair dry and brittle stripping it of its' natural oils even though initially providing extra shine.”
The truth is that Apple Cider Vinegar is only slightly acidic–not nearly enough to strip hair color. Whew! The only thing you do need to know about using Apple Cider Vinegar on your hair is this: don't use it too often. Like any clarifying shampoo, it is meant to be used every few weeks to refresh hair.
The potential benefits of skipping shampoo include: healthier hair and scalp that produces a balanced amount of oil. more voluminous hair. better textured hair and less need for styling products.
Shampoo as we know it today has only existed for about 100 years. Prior to 1903, the act of hair washing ranged from a head massage with fragrant oils to boiling pieces of “shaved soap” bars in water. There are a range of early methods, however let's focus on the past hundred years or so.
Apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar is an easy and cheap option for lightening your hair. Rinse your hair in vinegar and then rinse it again in cold water to lift color and revitalize dull strands. Apply gloss or conditioner to seal in moisture.
You want to leave it on the hair for at least a few minutes before rinsing out. 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.
2. Condition with a combination of 1/3 apple cider vinegar— I like this organic apple cider vinegar from Bragg —and 2/3 conditioner. The vinegar actually helps the hair dye to remain bonded to the hair, according to my awesome stylist Viviane of Marina Beach Hair.
Allow the solution to remain on your hair for 2-3 minutes. Rinse the ACV mixture out of your hair with cool water. (Cooler water helps to polish the cuticle of the hair.)
Apple cider vinegar may help reduce frizz and boost shine
According to Fitzsimons, when apple cider vinegar is applied to the hair, it coats the cuticle which leaves the hair shinier and smoother. This is especially beneficial for those with textured hair types that tend to be frizz-prone.
Not only will a dose of apple cider vinegar help gently lighten hair, it will also dissolve oil and residue buildup in your hair and on your scalp, promoting growth. Plus, apple cider vinegar helps detangle and defrizz your hair. All around, it's a hair care winner.
Vlogger Sarah Williams claims that plain vinegar and honey can lighten hair in as little as 10 minutes. You can even apply this solution at night and sleep your way to natural highlights.
The skin's pH balance is improved by apple cider vinegar's acidity, which gradually lightens the skin tone. After diluting it with water, use it twice daily to your skin for a glowing complexion. If you want flawless skin, it's crucial to know that vinegar also works to get rid of age spots.
Not even the Greeks and Romans, who pioneered running water and public baths, used soap to clean their bodies. Instead, men and women immersed themselves in water baths and then smeared their bodies with scented olive oils. They used a metal or reed scraper called a strigil to remove any remaining oil or grime.