If you too are into natural skincare and hair care, you might have heard about the acidic rinse. In case you haven't, this is a mixture made of water and a mildly acidic liquid (mostly apple cider vinegar) that hair can be rinsed with after washing. The goal of this easy DIY hair care product is to revitalize the hair, making them shinier, glossier and cleaner-looking.
I have been using ACV rinses for some time now whenever I feel like my hair really needs it. So now that after going to the pool regularly for two week my hair is not looking their best, I decided to give them some needed extra (vinegary) care.
To quickly fix my unfortunately straw-looking hair though, I haven't been using my trusty ACV just as part of acidic rinses. That's right, there is more than one way to use it on your hair, and so many benefits to doing so.
Why is apple cider vinegar good for your hair?
Well, it’s all about the pH! Our hair are acidic, and so they love acid products, just like vinegar.
On the other hand, alkaline products and environments make our hair swell, split and become frizzy. Take pools for example: the pH of our hair is between 4.5 and 5.5, while swimming pool water's pH is between 7 and 7.6. Way too alkaline for our hair!
Acidic things though can counterbalance the effect of the alkaline ones as they have the opposite effect on the hair, closing their cuticles, and closed cuticles are synonymous with healthier and shinier hair!
Vinegar also has anti-inflammatory proprieties. Apple cider vinegar in particular is packed with minerals and vitamins too. This makes it a great product to use if you suffer from itchy scalp or dandruff. Just don’t use it too often, as this can cause a bit of dryness.
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How to use apple cider vinegar in hair care
- After washing your hair with shampoo, apply the ACV straight to your hair mixed with some warm water from the shower, then it rinse it all off. (P.S. close your eyes, the stuff may sting!)
- For a more localized treatment, dip frizzy hair ends in a mix of apple cider vinegar and water. Then leave it on for a couple of minutes then rinse it off.
- To fight dandruff and give your hair some shine, mix half water and half vinegar and use it as a spray on your hair length and roots.
Plus, for some extra proprieties and a nice scent you can infuse your ACV-based DIY hair care products with herbs such as rosemary.