There are many benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair and scalp. This article will help you to decide how using apple cider vinegar can help you and your hair the most.
Apple cider vinegar has long been known to be beneficial when used in cooking and in foodstuffs. With the increasing interest in the No Poo method of hair care, the benefits of apple cider vinegar when used on your hair for reducing scalp problems and even aiding hair growth are becoming more widely appreciated.
With its anti-fungal properties and vitamin and mineral content, apple cider could be the answer to your hair care questions.
Read on to find out how!
15 Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair And Scalp
Apple cider vinegar is made by crushing apples and allowing the extracted juice to ferment by adding yeast and special bacteria.
Once this process has been completed, acetic acid is present which gives apple cider vinegar its particular scent and health benefits.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used in food and as a domestic cleaning agent.
However, over the last few decades, we have started to understand that it also has benefits for our hair and scalp too!
The moisturizing nature of ACV in addition to its vitamin and mineral content makes it an ingredient that you cannot fail to add to your hair care system (source 1,2,3).
Read on to discover the key benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV) for hair:
1. Anti-Fungal
ACV has long been cited to have anti-fungal properties.
Anecdotal evidence has shown that using ACV on your hair and scalp can reduce scalp problems.
2. Anti-Bacterial
For many years ACV has been used as a home disinfectant as it is claimed to have anti-bacterial agents.
The same applies when applied to your hair and scalp.
Apple Cider Vinegar is often used to reduce scalp problems and itchiness, especially for those with dry scalps.
3. Vitamins
Vitamins B & C can be found in apple cider vinegar and may be beneficial to your hair and scalp.
4. Minerals
Calcium, iron, and potassium are only a few of the minerals that are contained in ACV.
These minerals are thought to help strengthen and protect your hair and scalp.
5. Texture
You might notice a softening of your hair after using ACV as a rinse or mask.
6. Shine
If you want shiny hair, then ACV may be what your hair care regime is missing.
7. Reduces Dandruff
With its scalp healing properties and abundance of vitamins and minerals, many people swear by ACV for eliminating their dandruff.
Read more about this concept, in this article I wrote.
8. Removes Build-Up
Instead of using a chemically formulated clarifying wash, ACV has been shown to successfully remove build-up from other hair care products from your hair.
9. Reduces Tangles
Anecdotal evidence has shown that regular use of ACV on your hair can make it easier to detangle and manage with less breakage.
10. Reduces Hair Loss / Boosts Growth
A healthy scalp is the first place to start when trying to boost hair growth and reduce hair loss.
Many hair specialists claim that apple cider vinegar will improve the health of your scalp and strengthen your hair.
As a result, your hair will grow to its full potential, and hair loss will be reduced because your hair is stronger and less prone to breakage and split ends.
11. Limits Color Loss
It is claimed that ACV closes the hair cuticles.
Closing the hair cuticles is beneficial since it helps to improve shine.
It also limits the loss of color pigments for those who like to color their hair but do not want to lose the color prematurely.
12. Adds Volume
As ACV is great at removing build-up and oils, you may discover that using ACV acts as a natural volumizer as it stops your hair from being weighed down by oil and product build-up.
13. Curl Definition
Thanks to the clarifying benefits of apple cider vinegar, ACV has been hailed as a revolution for those whose curls drop at the merest hint of build-up.
Apple cider vinegar closes the cuticles too, which is great for people whose curls drop when there is moisture in the air.
This occurs because closed cuticles help to stop the moisture in the air from entering the hair shaft and weighing it down.
14. Frizz
You may find that regularly using an ACV rinse can help avoid a frizzy bad hair day.
This is because ACV closes the hair cuticles, thereby holding moisture from the rinse in, whilst also keeping out extra moisture from the atmosphere.
15. pH Balancing
The pH-balancing properties of ACV are beneficial to your hair and scalp.
If your hair is dry, dull, or prone to frizziness it is possible that it is suffering from being too alkaline.
Using an ACV rinse, which is more acidic, should bring your hair back into balance and solve these issues.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar On The Hair
If you have been wondering how to use apple cider vinegar on your hair, wonder no longer!
See below for the best ways to improve your hair and scalp with ACV.
As you will see, you can use ACV in many different ways since it is suitable for all hair types, and once you start using it you’ll wish you had found it sooner.
Wash
There are several recipes available that use ACV as a main ingredient in their wash formula.
For example, adding ACV to a soap nut wash can improve the effectiveness of the wash on your hair.
Rinse
After using baking soda to clean your hair, ACV is often used as a rinse as it restores the pH balance of your scalp and hair and adds moisture.
Adding ACV to a tea rinse is often said to work wonders.
Mask
Often added to coconut oil or honey, the benefits of ACV can be discovered when used as a hair mask too.
There are even commercially available ACV hair masks so there is no need to even make your own if you do not wish to!
Drinking
Many people drink diluted ACV in the morning for its digestion benefits.
It is also often used as a salad dressing!
When it comes to your hair though, the best way of making sure it is at its best is to start from the inside out.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar On The Scalp
If you want to know how to use apple cider vinegar on your scalp you are in the right place!
You can either use ACV on its own or mixed with a carrier after washing your hair.
It can be used (diluted or in a carrier) any time your scalp needs a bit of a boost.
Adding ACV to plain water, or to a herbal tea infusion, then spraying it directly onto your scalp can help between washes to keep your scalp in good health.
All you need to do is spray the mixture onto your scalp and massage it in. Leave it in your hair for 5 minutes before rinsing it out with cool water.
Using a hair mask that contains ACV will also act upon your scalp to balance the pH and fight off any damaging bacteria and microbes.
If you have a dry or itchy scalp, using ACV as a mask or a rinse will ease your itching and sensitive scalp, and often remove any problems e.g. dandruff.
How Long Can You Leave Apple Cider Vinegar In your Hair?
It is always important to make sure that you dilute the apple cider vinegar before putting it anywhere near your hair or scalp.
It is too strongly acidic to be used on its own without risking damage to your hair and scalp.
This is also the reason that you should not use ACV too often.
Once or twice a week once you have passed the transition stage (if going No Poo) should give you all of the benefits without any of the risks.
The general consensus is that up to 5 minutes is the most time to leave an ACV mix in your hair before rinsing.
However, many people report the benefits of using ACV as a final rinse and do not wash out. This indicates that it really does depend upon your hair and scalp needs and how strong you have made your rinse.
As with many of the DIY No Poo recipes, it is a case of trial and error to find the right frequency and duration for your hair type and lifestyle.
Can I Leave Apple Cider Vinegar On My Scalp Overnight?
Many people use ACV rinses without rinsing out with water afterward. This is effectively the same as leaving it in overnight.
If you are planning to do this though, make sure you dilute the ACV more than you would for a normal rinse that you would normally remove with water after washing.
Remember that you must always dilute ACV. It is far too harsh to be used neat and could cause damage if used without proper dilution.
If you are making a mask, or rinse, at home, follow the instructions carefully. These will let you know whether this recipe should be rinsed or kept in, and for how long.
Conclusion
There are multiple benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair and scalp. It is also readily available and easy to use.
It is anecdotally a cure-all for any hair or scalp problem, from dandruff to hair loss.
The main thing to remember is that it must be diluted before use so that your scalp receives the very best benefits that it can offer.
Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp.
Once you see the benefits of ACV on your scalp, you will never look back!