An apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse is a great addition to any hair care regimen, and a fabulous companion for natural shampoo bars. I was very skeptical at first, but trust me, it's worth trying out!
Why Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Your Hair?
ACV is packed with minerals, increases hair strength and brings a healthy pH balance to your scalp and hair. It also helps close hair cuticles (picture shingles on a roof with the edges laying nice and flat as opposed to pulling up) which reduces tangles and frizz, as well as increases shine. Due to its antimicrobial properties, ACV helps deal with fungus and bacteria known to cause all sorts of scalp irritations and itchiness. It can also help combat dandruff! Finally, unlike conventional conditioners, ACV doesn't weigh down your hair so using it in place of your conditioner can give you more body and enhance curls!
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse "How To"
Like everything I share on here, it's so simple! Here's the basic idea and I'll expand on different method options below:
Mix 0.5 to 4 tablespoons of ACV with a cup or two of warm water
After shampooing, pour or spray onto your head & hair and massage in
Let it sit for a moment or a few minutes
Rinse out (optional)
Depending on how you like to apply it, make your solution in a cup or spray bottle. I keep a small bottle of ACV in my shower with an empty cup sitting upside down on it. About two to three times a week, when it's time for my rinse, I pour about 1 tablespoon of ACV in the cup, fill with warm water from the shower head, pour it over my head & hair (avoiding eyes) and let it sit on my hair until I'm almost done my shower. I generally do a quick splash of a rinse at the end of my shower. Rinsing it out of your hair is optional; you can fully rinse, just let a splash of water hit your hair or leave it in completely.
And no, your hair will not smell like vinegar after it dries, because I know you were wondering!
If you benefit from ACV rinses, don't assume you need to do it with every wash, or at full dilution each time. Often, when you first switch over to natural shampoo, your hair will benefit from more frequent ACV rinses for a couple of weeks while build up from conventional shampoos is worked off your hair. After this you may only need a rinse once or twice a week, or maybe only a very small amount of ACV each time. As it goes with a lot of natural options, you'll need to play around with it to find the right balance for your body's unique needs.
If you find you still like to use conditioner but would like the other benefits of this rinse, you can absolutely still do an ACV rinse before or after your conditioner.
Lastly, the strong vinegar smell in the shower can take some getting used to. I'll end this post with some essential oil blends I like to add to my full strength bottle of ACV for a more pleasant scent. As a bonus, many of these oils are also beneficial for your scalp and/or hair!
AVC Essential Oil Blends
Add the following to 500ml of apple cider vinegar:
Earthy Citrus (my favourite!)
5 drops sweet orange
5 drops spearmint
2 drops rosemary
2 drops tea tree
2 drops lime
2 drops lemon
Earthy Lavender (my husband's favourite!)
9 drops lavender
5 drops rosemary
Bright & Fresh
5 drops lemongrass
5 drops tea tree
2 drops lavender
2 drops rosemary
Or, if you don't have many essential oils options in your home, just simply add about 15 drops of lavender!
(As always, other than links to my own products, the links included in this post will bring you to more information, not where to buy a product.)
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