Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair: Why You Need to Be Using It, Stat

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) may seem like a weird cure-all, but scientific research has shown that ingesting this cloudy liquid can reduce the glucose and insulin response in diabetics and healthy adults. Similarly, it has been proven to help make you feel fuller (short term, anyway). Everyone from moms to beauticians and doctors swear by ACV as a trusted home remedy, and believe it can cure everything from stinky feet and sore throats to a bad case of indigestion. 

Check out this slideshow of some of the most surprising benefits of apple cider vinegar, and read below for my favorite apple cider vinegar recipes that’ll fix some of the most common hair woes.

It’s around this time of year that my hair seems to need the most help. Months of dry air and hiding it under a hat has completely taken a toll on my hair, and now that spring has come around, there’s no hiding from the fact that it’s time to get my beauty routine together and repair the damage that winter has done on my skin, hair, and nails. 

The beauty industry is all abuzz about apple cider vinegar, touting it as a one-stop cure-all for a whole handful of beauty woes. But what’s in apple cider vinegar? Particularly, what makes it such a miracle product (if it really even is one)? I did some research, both online and in the shower, and the results were stunning. 

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from apples or cider and is most commonly used in cooking. The fermentation process of making apple cider vinegar converts alcohol into vinegar by the addition of acetic acid-forming bacteria. It’s most commonly used in cooking, but has recently been touted as the hottest natural beauty remedy making the rounds, promising better skin, teeth, nails, and even hair.

Research proves it’s good for your insides. Apple cider vinegar reduces the glucose response to the carbohydrate load in healthy adults and in people with diabetes. There’s even evidence that it acts as a short-term appetite suppressant (source: US National Library of Medicine).

RELATED: 9 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, pH levels, and what it all means for your hair:

Regular use of conditioners and product in your hair can lead to weighed down or frizzy hair. That’s where apple cider vinegar for hair comes in.   As mentioned above, acetic acid is widely present in apple cider vinegar. It’s also a primary ingredient in clarifying shampoos (the stuff that removes buildup from your hair). The pH levels of shampoo is not regulated, and often have higher pH levels of 5.5 and higher, which is responsible for raising the pH levels of your hair. As the pH value in your hair increases, that’s when frizzyness and static electricity occurs. 

Hair that is at its ideal pH value (4.0 to 4.5) is smooth and flat. Since apple cider vinegar is acidic, with a pH level between 2.5 and 3.5 (depending on the brand), using a diluted solution of it is a great way to lower the pH of your hair. 

Personally, I’ve experienced wonderful results using apple cider vinegar in my hair and diet. If you want to give apple cider vinegar a try for your own hair, here are some quick recipes using apple cider vinegar (conveniently curated for both in and outside the shower) that solve almost any hair and scalp woe you may have.

Apple cider vinegar for dandruff (pre-shower rinse):

• Add apple cider vinegar to water in equal parts and put the solution inside a spray bottle.
• Bathe your scalp in the solution and let it sit  for up to two hours.
• The rinse will cleanse your scalp and rid it of dandruff.
• You can do this easy treatment a couple of times a week for severe dandruff. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Apple cider vinegar quick in-shower mask for lowering pH values: 

• Take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and an equal amount of water.
• After shampooing and conditioning, massage the solution into hair and scalp.
• Leave it on the hair and scalp for five minutes and rinse off completely. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Quick clarifying apple cider vinegar in-shower rinse:

To remove dulling product build-up, wash your hair with normal shampoo, and then rinse with apple cider vinegar before conditioning. This treatment also makes your hair shiny and softer. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Apple cider vinegar in-shower deep conditioning mask: 

• Mix one part of apple cider vinegar with three parts of water per your hair length.
• Wet your hair and use a clarifying shampoo on the entire length of the hair and scalp, and then lather it.
• Gently brush your scalp with a wide bristle comb in circular movements.
• Wash off the shampoo with cold water and apply the prepared apple cider solution.
• Massage into the scalp for about three minutes.
• Rinse the hair with cold water to remove the vinegar.
• Now apply your conditioner and comb through your hair from root to tip.
• Cover the hair using a shower cap and leave your conditioner on the hair for twenty to thirty minutes. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Pre-shower anti-itch apple cider vinegar mask: 

• Take three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of honey, and three to four drops of soy oil or olive oil, and three to four drops of peppermint and tea tree oil.
• Mix all the ingredients and pour it into a microwave safe bottle.
• Shake well and microwave the bottle for ten seconds.
• Apply this on the hair by dividing the hair into small parts.
• Tie up the hair after applying the solution.
• After ten minutes, rinse off with shampoo and water. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Pre- or in-shower deep conditioning hair and scalp mask 

• Mix equal parts of ACV and water.
• Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the mixture onto the hair and scalp.
• Divide the hair into parts and cover the scalp with this mix.
• Allow the scalp to soak in the mix for five to ten minutes.
• Rinse off the vinegar solution using a tea tree oil shampoo.
• Allow the shampoo to remain on the hair for two to three minutes before rinsing it off.
• Make a puree of one avocado and add two tablespoons of coconut oil to it.
• Apply mixture to scalp and massage well. Avocado and coconut oil hydrate the scalp and hair very well.
• Cover your hair using a shower cap.
• Leave the mask on hair for twenty to thirty minutes.
• Rinse it off with water and a mild shampoo.
• Repeat the remedy at least once a week to cleanse and hydrate your hair and scalp. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Warming and moisturizing treatment for flaky scalp (pre-shower or in-shower):

• Take two tablespoons of olive oil and warm it for a few seconds.
• Apply this olive oil on the scalp and massage well.
• Thirty minutes after applying, comb the hair thoroughly.
• Next, use water mixed with vinegar to rinse the hair. You can use two cups of vinegar mixed in ten liters of water.
• You can dry the hair just like that, or you can wash the hair in running water for a few minutes. (Source My Healthy Tips)

Soothing & scented apple cider vinegar conditioner (in-shower): 

• In a saucepan, add three cups of water and a handful of rosemary. Bring the water to a boil.
• Reduce the flame to simmer position, then cook the water for about forty-five minutes.
• Strain this mixture and then allow it to cool at room temperature.
• Now add ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to this solution, along with a few drops of rosemary and peppermint oils.
• Mix this solution well, and then store it in a glass spray bottle.
• Use this solution after shampooing. Leave it to rest on your scalp for a few minutes.
• Rinse it off and then pat dry your hair. You will feel nourishment in your scalp and hair. (Source My Healthy Tips)

pH lowering additive to your regular shampoo (in-shower):

• Add ACV to your shampoo or conditioner, and apply it on hair to create lather.
• After ten minutes, rinse off the lather.
• The ACV smell will dissipate once you wash and dry your hair. (Source Organic Authority)

 Have you used any ACV mixes in the past that have cured your hair ailments?

image (edited): Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, available at Amazon ($12.32)

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