Using apple cider vinegar for hair washing is very popular.
Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV, is often used as a rinse after washing hair. This is not it’s only use though.
Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV, has many beneficial qualities when using it on your hair. Not only is it anti-bacterial, but it also has anti-fungal properties that keep your scalp healthy. After using ACV your hair should radiate shine and be wonderfully soft. It is so versatile that you will find it in many No Poo recipes.
Using apple cider vinegar will improve the health of your hair and scalp in multiple ways.
Read on to see just how amazing your hair can be when using ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair
A number of vinegar can be beneficial for your hair, but the most widely used is apple cider vinegar.
This vinegar is made from crushed apples mixed with sugar and yeast (source 1).
If other vinegar is beneficial, can apple cider vinegar benefit your hair?
And can you wash your hair with apple cider vinegar? … Let’s find out!
Although you should always do a patch test, and dilute for use, apple cider vinegar has been proven anecdotally to be useful for:
Dandruff
You should know that rinsing your scalp with ACV has often been said to be the reason for reduced episodes of dandruff.
Just in case you are wondering how to use apple cider vinegar for hair dandruff
Scalp Itching
With its moisturizing effects and anti-bacterial nature, itching scalps can be soothed with the application of an ACV rinse.
Hair Growth
ACV is often said to improve the rate at which hair grows.
How to use apple cider vinegar for hair growth depends upon the problem you have with your hair or scalp.
However, ACV has been shown to help hair growth even if this is probably because it can improve scalp health and a healthy scalp with growing healthy hair.
Moisture
If you have dry or coarse hair, using ACV will improve its condition and make your hair moisturized and soft.
Breakage
As ACV helps to moisturize hair, the hair is less likely to break.
Hard Water Areas
Using ACV in a hard water area will help to remove mineral build-up that can stop your hair from looking its best.
Fungal Infection / Inflammation
ACV is often used as a detergent in addition to its use in hair care.
Its antifungal properties will reduce bacteria and fungal problems with your scalp.
Oily Hair And Scalp
If your hair is unusually greasy washing it with warm water and then using an apple cider rinse will help to remove the excess sebum, that is making your hair and scalp look and feel greasy.
Curly Hair
With its vitamin content and ability to smooth cuticles, ACV can help to tame your frizzy and unmanageable dry curls.
There are many more benefits of using apple cider vinegar, and some of them are discussed below.
How To Wash Hair With Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be used in many different ways to improve the health of your scalp and hair.
Some of the different methods and their benefits are listed below (source 1):
- Pre-Shampoo: Often used with Aloe Vera, using ACV in a pre-shampoo recipe can help soothe an irritated scalp and help to encourage the hair to take in moisture so as to grow stronger and be less prone to breakage.
- Scrub: To get your scalp and hair really thoroughly clean you can use ACV with other ingredients such as oil and honey. This scrub works well as the acid in ACV works brilliantly as an exfoliator.
- Shampoo: Although often used as a rinse, ACV can be used as an ingredient in a No Poo shampoo just as effectively. When used with soap nuts especially, the benefits of using ACV are obvious after only one of two washes.
- Conditioner: Mixing ACV with olive oil will make a great conditioning lotion that is a real treat for dry hair.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask: If your hair feels as if it needs a boost, adding apple cider vinegar to Greek yogurt and honey will give you a mask that is also good enough to eat.
- Spray: Adding some tea tree oil to diluted ACV will give you a fantastic dual action spray that you can use up to half an hour before washing to help combat dandruff.
- Rinse: Apple cider vinegar hair rinse is a classic rinse, and is often teamed with baking soda as the washing agent. Moisturised, shiny, and soft hair is the result.
Apple cider vinegar hair rinse benefits are numerous.
So what does apple cider hair rinse do?
- Removes product build-up
- Removes excess oil
- Reduces Scalp Irritation
- Promotes Shine
- Improves Texture
- Reduces Frizz
- Tames Curls
- Improves Brittle and Breakage-Prone Hair
- Provides vitamins and minerals to hair and scalp
Is It Safe To Wash Your Hair With Apple Cider Vinegar?
There are many benefits to using apple cider vinegar in your hair care regime, but is washing hair with apple cider vinegar good for your hair?
Below are the pros and cons, to washing your hair with apple cider vinegar:
Pros
- Hair health
- Scalp health
- Shine
- Moisture
- Well formed curls
- Less frizz
- Less oil
- Hair strength
- Hair growth
Although ACV has many benefits, washing hair with apple cider vinegar side effects do exist and should be borne in mind:
Cons
- Patch test before use due to potential sensitivity to the acid:
- Always dilute at least 1 part ACV to 4 parts water
- Smell
- Overuse can lead to dry and brittle hair loss
Whilst most of these side effects can be avoided by not over-using ACV on your hair, either in frequency or strength, ACV does not work for everyone.
If it does not work for you, there are many other No Poo recipes and methods for you to try.
If you find the scent unpleasant, adding a couple of drops of essential oil will remove any residual scent from the vinegar.
How Often Should I Use Apple Cider On My Hair?
ACV is very strong and should be treated with respect.
It is usually advised that ACV in any form should be used once per week as a maximum. Any extra use and you run the risk of doing damage to both your hair and scalp.
How Long Do You Leave Apple Cider Vinegar In Your Hair?
If you are thinking, can you leave apple cider vinegar in your hair for a long time without harm, then make sure that the vinegar is sufficiently diluted.
If you are using a pre-shampoo or a mask, the ACV should be diluted to the extent that whilst it is still effective, it does not have any adverse effects.
The stronger the ACV recipe, the shorter the time that it should remain on your scalp and hair.
A shampoo made using ACV as a main ingredient should not be left on for more than 10 minutes, although this should be reduced if your scalp is sensitive, and/or your hair is dry.
Always err on the side of caution as vinegar is an acid and a bad reaction can be painful and inconvenient.
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Recipe
ACV is easily obtainable and makes are wonderful homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
See below for an easy and effective rinse that you can make yourself:
Ingredients
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Water
- Essential oil (2 drops – optional)
Method
- Mix 1 part ACV to 5 parts warm water
- Add essential oil if desired
- Mix
Application
- After your usual wash pour or spray the ACV rinse over your wet hair
- Massage through your hair and leave for 5 minutes
- Rinse with cool water to close the cuticles
The apple cider vinegar hair rinse ratio should not be stronger than 4 parts water to 1 part ACV.
If you intend to leave the rinse on without rinsing the vinegar from your hair, then it should be further diluted so as not to irritate your scalp.
Hair Products With Apple Cider Vinegar
As the No Poo movement, and using natural products grows in popularity, so does the number of ready-made products available to buy on the online market.
Below are 3 great hair products that are super easy to get hold of and will not cost the earth:
1. G&H Clear + ACV Hair Rinse
This is a wonderful product that is sulphate and paraben free, making it kind to your hair and scalp.
2. dpHue ACV Hair Rinse
You can use this instead of shampoo to give your hair a lovely lavender scent and remove any pollution and hair product build-up in a gentle manner.
3. Nexxus Shampoo And Conditioner
This shampoo and conditioner set is just the thing if you do not want to make your own at home.
It is silicone-free so you know that it will not damage your hair and will give dry hair a new lease of life
Conclusion
Many people are now using apple cider vinegar for hair care and protection from external pollutants in the atmosphere.
Whilst ACV can improve the health of your hair and scalp, it should be used respectfully as too much ACV can cause damage to skin and hair.
Its many positives make it one of the most widely used natural products in hair care today.