Apple cider vinegar or ACV, which is made from fermenting apples, has a host of nutritional and medicinal qualities. From lowering cholesterol and helping control diabetes to killing fleas on your pets, its uses are versatile. And one popular use of ACV that has found backing even from the medical community is in hair care.
Why Is ACV Good For Our Hair?
Our hair and the scalp are acidic in nature, with a pH value of 3.67 and 5.5, respectively. But many shampoos and hair products on the market are alkaline—that is, they have pH values higher than 7. These alkaline products increase the negative electrical charge between our hair fibers, causing friction. As a result, hair shafts, or the visible part of the hair, gets swollen. And the outermost layer of the hair shaft, made of scale-like things called cuticles, gets damaged. This leaves you with frizzy, dry hair that breaks easily.1 2
As the name suggests, ACV’s chief constituent is vinegar, or acetic acid. With its pH of 4.5, vinegar is well suited to the natural hair oils in our hair. Unlike the alkaline products, it penetrates the oil layer in a short time, without damaging the cuticles.3
ACV: The All-In-One Hair Solution
- Functioning as a cleanser, it cleans the scalp without leaving it dry and helps maintain its natural pH.
- As a conditioner, it closes the damaged hair cuticles, which otherwise stand out like scales and let the moisture escape. It can even rejuvenate an already irritated scalp and make hair smoother.4
- As an anti-dandruff product, it can eliminate both the bacteria and the yeast that causes dry flakes and itchy scalp.5
- As an anti-lice agent, it dissolves chitin—a kind of glucose product essential for their survival—in lice nits and deactivates them, as proved by a clinical study.6
Just make sure you have a supply of good-quality organic apple cider vinegar and you are good to try these out at home.
1. ACV And Tea Tree Oil Scalp Cleanser
An ACV and tea tree oil scalp cleanser is a good remedy to get rid of dandruff. The enzymes and acids in ACV and the anti-dandruff properties of tea tree oil work together to kill bacteria and get rid of dandruff and itchy scalp.
Ingredients
- Half a cup of ACV
- 5–6 drops of tea tree oil
Preparation
Mix ACV and tea tree oil in a cup of water. It’s as simple as that.
Directions For Use
Apply the mixture gently to your hair and scalp. Let it rest for about 10 minutes and then wash it off with a mild shampoo. It will leave your scalp dandruff free.
2. ACV And Baking Soda Hair Cleanser
While baking soda is a great cleanser when it comes to removing the oil build-up in your hair, being highly alkaline in nature (pH 9), it can leave your hair cuticles open or raised, which will make your hair quickly lose moisture. This is why you use ACV as a conditioner to close the cuticles and retain moisture.
Ingredients
- ACV
- Baking Soda
Preparation
- Take an appropriate amount of baking soda according to the length of your hair (about 4–5 tsps for medium-length hair) in about 400 ml of water.
- Make a separate solution of 1 part ACV and 4 parts water.
Directions For Use
- Apply the baking soda and water mixture on the root of the hair and scalp. Massage your scalp thoroughly to help the mixture cleanse it. Then rinse with water.
- Now apply the ACV mixture to your scalp and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wash it off.
3. ACV And Water Hair Rinse
Ingredients
- 2–4 tbsps ACV
- 300 ml water
- Essential oils (optional)
Preparation
It is really easy to make an ACV rinse. Just mix the ACV into 300 ml of water and you are good to go. The mixture can be made in bulk and stored indefinitely. You can add some essential oils to it to make it smell nice.
Directions For Use
Apply the mixture of apple cider vinegar and water all over your hair and scalp after shampooing. Let it sit in the hair for a couple of minutes and then rinse it thoroughly.
Point To Note
- Vary the concentration of the mixture to suit your style. Start with 2 tablespoons and gradually increase to 4 if it benefits your hair. As everyone’s hair is different, it will take different amounts of ACV to work for each individual.
- Repeat this technique about twice a week for damage-free hair and a clean scalp with no more dandruff or itching.
4. ACV, Avocado, And Coconut Oil Rinse
If your hair needs more tender loving care, treat it with a mixture of avocados and coconut oil. The coconut oil fatty acids moisturizes an itchy scalp and the vitamin E in avocados improve the blood circulation, promoting hair growth.
Ingredients
- 4 tsps ACV
- 1 avocado, pureed
- 2–3 tbsps coconut oil
- 4 tsps water
Preparation
Mix equal parts ACV and water. Make a separate mixture of the avocado puree and coconut oil.
Directions For Use
- Apply the ACV and water mixture. Let it rest on the scalp for 5–10 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo.
- Now massage the avocado and coconut oil mixture into your hair and scalp. Leave this on for 20–30 minutes so that it moisturizes and hydrates your hair. Then rinse it off thoroughly with shampoo again.
- Do this once a week for best results.
5. ACV, Peppermint, And Rosemary Oil Conditioner
Overuse of chemical shampoos leaves your scalp itchy and hair dry and damaged. Both rosemary oil and peppermint oil increase blood circulation on the scalp and thereby hair growth. The freshness of peppermint and the herby fragrance of rosemary are added advantages of this conditioner.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ACV
- Rosemary leaves
- Rosemary oil
- Peppermint oil
- 3 cups water
Preparation
Take 3 cups water in a sauce pan and add a handful of rosemary leaves to it. Bring the mixture to boil. Then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain the mixture and allow it to cool to room temperature before adding the vinegar and a few drops of rosemary and peppermint oils. Mix the solution well.
Directions For Use
After shampooing, apply the mixture as you would a normal conditioner. Let it rest in your hair for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly. You will instantly feel the nourishment in your hair and scalp.
References
