I LOVE apple cider vinegar (ACV). It has several benefits from curing the common cold, marinating food, detoxing your body, improving circulation and fighting cholesterol. I especially love ACV for my hair and use it weekly. Why invest in pricey hair products when you can use common, everyday items for your hair from your kitchen?

After I wash and condition my hair, I rinse it with an ACV mixture. ACV restores your hair’s pH, decreases dandruff and clarifies your scalp from hair product build-up. It seals the hair cuticle, making it smoother, softer and shiner. This locks in moisture and helps prevent split ends. My easy DIY mixture is below.

What You’ll Need:

• 250 ml distilled water or filtered tap water
• 2-4 tablespoons raw/unfiltered ACV

Mix 250 ml (one cup) of preferred water with 2-4 tablespoons of raw/unfiltered ACV. Make sure you use the raw/unfiltered ACV with the sediment at the bottom. I purchase a bio ACV from Alnatura.

Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you may need to alter the ratio. Once your hair dries, you won’t smell the ACV. Make sure you tilt your head forward enough to prevent the mixture from running into your eyes. Also make sure not to scratch your scalp too hard before your rinse your hair; otherwise you’ll feel a strong tingling sensation depending on how hard you scratch.

ACV and Essential Oils
To treat excessive dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp, add 2-4 drops of tea tree oil to the above mixture.

Try adding some other essential oils to your ACV mixture such as:
Lavender – prevents shedding, relives dandruff, improves blood circulation on scalp
Lemon – restores shiny hair, prevent scalp dryness (minimized dandruff), stimulates oil glands to produce more oil which leads to healthier, stronger and shinier hair
Rose – moisturizes and hydrates hair, restores hair shine and luster
Rosemary – prevents excessive oil, can help reduce hair loss and promote hair growth
Sage – reduce hair loss, stimulate hair growth, adds shine and luster

ACV can also be infused with herbs to enhance the color of your hair. If you want more from your AVC rinse, follow some of the suggested recipes below for added benefits:

• For blond hair combine chamomile, green tea, calendula
• For red hair combine marigold, calendula, hibiscus, rooibos
• For brown hair add parsley, rosemary, or sage
• For black hair combine black tea

What You’ll Need:

• 3 tablespoons herbs
• 250 ml boiling water
• 2-4 tablespoons ACV
• 250 ml distilled water or filtered tap water
• 10 drops of favorite essentials oils (optional)

Brew 3 tablespoon of herbs to 250ml of boiling water. Let steep for about 30 minutes or until cooled to room temperature. Combine with 250 ml of distilled water or filtered tap water and 2-4 tablespoons ACV and mix well. To enhance the smell, add 10 drops of your favorite essentials oils.

Tip: I recommend pouring all the ingredients into a larger bottle, such as an old wine bottle or soda bottle. The narrow top makes it easier to control the flow when you rinse your hair.

Have you tried a hair rinse before? What were your results?