How To Do An Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
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Sometimes you just have to go back to basics when it comes to hair treatments, try DIY’ing it with some ingredients you can probably find in your cupboard right now!
Like the super popular rice water hair treatment, the apple cider vinegar hair rinse is another natural hair care treatment but it’s even quicker and easier to prepare and incorporate into your routine!
Read on to find out how to do an apple cider vinegar hair rinse and its many benefits.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is made through the fermentation of apples. During fermentation, lactic acid and acetic acid are produced by yeasts (and sometimes bacteria) present in the cider. The acids help preserve the cider’s freshness, while also giving it its characteristic smell and taste.
You can probably find apple cider vinegar at your local supermarket or health and wellbeing shop like Hollands & Barrett, but go for a raw, organic and unfiltered one with “the mother”, a cloudy sediment made up of settled yeast and bacteria - this version is thought to be the true source of the vinegar’s benefits. The most popular brand is Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is packed with vitamins and minerals like potassium, biotin, folate, iron and copper. It also has a variety of antioxidants including beta carotene and phenolic acids.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair
ENCOURAGES GROWTH & REPAIRS DAMAGE — ACV has the ability to balance your scalp’s pH levels due to its acidic nature, this means unblocking pores and reducing inflammation both on the scalp and in the hair follicles, this will help to reduce hair loss and encourage growth.
DEEP CLEAN & REMOVE BUILDUP — If you are someone that loves to use natural products for cleaning your house, you’ll know how amazing ACV is at shifting grease and dirt from almost any surface and that’s exactly what happens when you use it on your scalp too. ACV has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that easily washes away dead skin cells and buildup without stripping your hair of its natural moisture.
INCREASES SHINE — By smoothing and sealing hair cuticles, ACV leaves hair looking shiny and smooth. This shine boost results from enzymes found in fermented apples. Smooth hair cuticles help your hair retain moisture and nutrients by boosting its protective layer.
REDUCES ITCHINESS & SOOTHES THE SCALP — Some bacteria and fungi are normal to have on the scalp but too much can lead to itchiness and dandruff. ACV helps to exfoliate the scalp but it also has a soothing effect that restores balance (removing buildup and dead skin) and reduces sensitivity.
How To Do A Simple Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would. Try a sulphate-free shampoo if your regular shampoo makes your hair too dry.
Mix three tablespoons of ACV with 1 3/4 cups of water.
Spray an even coat on your scalp and gently massage the mixture into your hair.
Leave it in for up to five minutes, it shouldn’t burn - it’s diluted! But if it does, rinse it out immediately.
Rinse your hair and scalp with cool water to seal your hair’s cuticle.
Follow this rinse with a light conditioner like the Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo, which won’t weigh your hair down.
Rinse your hair out thoroughly making sure all products are gone.
Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar On Colour-Treated Hair?
Apple cider vinegar is generally safe for all hair types, including colour-treated, however, if you tend to suffer from dry hair and scalp, use higher water to ACV ratio to avoid drying out your scalp, and when rinsed out, follow with a deep conditioning mask for coloured hair like Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask.
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