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Home » Nourishing Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Nourishing Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

by Adrienne 83 Comments Published March 12, 2013 Updated: Jul 02, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
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This super refreshing apple cider vinegar hair rinse is easy to make and guaranteed to give you healthier, cleaner hair, and a healthier scalp too!

homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse in a glass bottle with lavender

Do you want healthier, shinier hair?

Look no further...you need a hair rinse.

I started using a homemade apple cider vinegar rinse quite awhile ago to remove build up from hair products.

But I've learned that there are more reasons to use them.

Read on to find out how a good hair rinse nourishes your hair and how you can make your own hair rinse easily.

Did you know that your hair has shingles?

Well, sort of.

Your hair is made of a hair shaft that is covered by cuticle.

The cuticle is overlapping layers that cover your hair, kind of like shingles on a roof.

When the cuticle is in good shape, the layers lie flat and your hair looks shiny and healthy.

Benefit of an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

The layers open when you shampoo your hair, so a good ACV rinse will:

- remove build up of hair products and other toxins so your cuticles are healthier
- close cuticles so your hair slides more easily and you get fewer tangles
- improve circulation to your scalp
- retain a good pH balance
- help with hair conditions like hair loss, dry scalp, dandruff, and more  

SOURCES FOR ACV RINSE INGREDIENTS:

1.  You can purchase aloe vera in a health food store or at Trader Joe's, or at the link in the formula.

2.  Wondering about where to get essential oils?  It's very important to really make sure that the oils that you purchase are pure and that you're not getting taken by some marketing ploy  Read my Best Essential Oils series to find out more.

3.  Plastic Bottle - I reused an old plastic bottle (the most environmental way to go :)), but you can purchase plastic bottles with flip tops on Amazon.  Just look under "Plastic bottles"  (I'm pretty smart, huh?).

4.  Guar Gum- I use NOW Brand.  I love that company for supplements, etc.

Custom Essential Oils for your Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

You can adjust this apple cider vinegar hair rinse according to your personal needs.

Following are some essential oils to consider for use.

Oily Hair - Rosemary, Lemon, Lemongrass, Basil, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Tea Tree
Dry Hair - Peppermint
Hair Growth - Rosemary, Basil, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood
Dandruff - Clary Sage, Lemon, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Myrrh, Patchouli, Tea Tree

homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse with lavender in a glass bottle with lavender and a green towel in the background

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Ingredients

1/3 cup filtered water (see How to Make Your Water Safe)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup aloe vera juice
1/4 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum (optional, but makes for a nicer texture)
5-10 drops essential oils of choice

Method

1.   Combine all ingredients in a container and mix well.

2.  Store in a plastic container in the shower.

3.  To use, mix 1 T with approximately 1 cup water and pour over freshly shampooed hair.

4.  Massage in and rinse out if you desire.

NOTES:

1.  You could just use more apple cider vinegar and water instead of the aloe vera juice, but aloe vera has many healing properties that I prefer using it.

2.  You can either leave this rinse in your hair or rinse it out.  Leaving it in for awhile, especially for the first use, will likely help remove more buildup, residue and toxins.

3.  Use at least once per week to several times per week.

4.  I keep a plastic cup in my shower.  When I am ready to use my ACV rinse in my hair, I pour about 1 capful of the rinse into my cup.  Then I add shower water to make up about 1 cup of water plus rinse.  I dump all of that on my head after shampooing.

For More Great DIY Personal Care Products, check out:

- The Battle of the Eye Makeup Removers
- Simple Nourishing Hand and Body Cream
- Nourishing Lip Scrub
- Hand and Body Sugar Scrub
- Jojoba Oil Face Wash
- Rose Water Spray

Have you ever used an apple cider vinegar hair rinse?
How did it work? Let me know in the comments.

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About Adrienne

Adrienne Urban is the Founder and Owner of Whole New Mom. She has a background in research, journalism, insurance, employee benefits, financial markets, frugal living, and nutrition. Seeking a better life for herself and her family, she uses research and consults with many physicians and other practitioners to find solutions to the variety of issues they have dealt with including life-threatening food allergies and thyroid and adrenal concerns. WholeNewMom.com is the result of her experiences and knowledge gained throughout the process. Posts are reviewed and verified by the Whole New Mom team.

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    Recipe Rating




     

  1. Hannah

    July 27, 2018 at 9:08 pm

    If I make a large bottle in advance, would I keep it in the fridge and only take it out when I need it?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 29, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      Anytime you use something w/ water or aloe as a base you need to be careful about shelf life. I have used things stored in the fridge for a long time but I can't make claims that they didn't grow bacteria and neither should anyone else unless there is a full spectrum preservative in them. Some of the ingredients will help preserve it but I would have to do some intensive studying to find out how long. Hope you like it either way.

      Reply
  2. Kristina

    March 13, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Great post! How long does the mixture last without going rancid?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      March 14, 2018 at 7:57 am

      Thanks! I'm not sure about how long since the water and aloe parts are prone to bacterial contamination but the essential oils, etc. would prevent it. One idea is to not add the water and aloe as needed to the acv and eos in smaller amounts and store in the fridge. Hope it works well for you!

      Reply
  3. sharanya gopalakrishnan

    February 05, 2018 at 8:41 am

    hi, thanks for the post. what is the shelf life of the rinse?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 06, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Hi there. Typically for a homemade DIY recipe that has water as a base (or aloe) you should only plan for about 4 days but some of the things in this formula would help preserve it. I can't know that for sure so just take care to not let it sit too long. Hope you like it!

      Reply
  4. JILL

    December 27, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Hello. I have grey hair - ranges from silver-white to steel grey. Texture is very fine, very straight, not oily or dry. I've just started washing it with baking soda, which does a fine job. If I use this rinse, will it turn it yellow, like so many shampoos tend to do? I used to use Clairol Shimmer Lights shampoo/conditioner, but I like the feel my hair using the baking soda.
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      December 29, 2016 at 8:10 am

      Many of your shampoos turn your grey hair yellow? Or is that because of the baking soda shampoo? Thanks! I do think that the baking soda can make your hair brittle over time so be careful.

      Reply
      • Adrienne

        December 29, 2016 at 5:14 pm

        Actually I am reading on the internet that vinegar is a remedy for yellowing grey hair so I think you are safe.

        Reply
  5. Angie Jessup

    April 08, 2016 at 11:28 pm

    I've had ACV recommended before as a hair rinse. Since I only use a temporary color on my hair I'm afraid it will strip the color off sooner than the 8-10 weeks. What do you think?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      May 05, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      I'm sorry but I don't know. I would contact your hair stylist? or did you end up trying it and if so, what happened?

      Reply
  6. Julia

    February 24, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    I can't wait to try this! I love that you provide recommended essential oils for different hair problems. Thank you so much Adrienne for this recipe! 😀

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      February 24, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      So hope you love it!

      Reply
  7. Jenni

    July 23, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    I see a lot of natural products add vinegar...what is the alternative? No matter how many or what flavor of EO I add the vinegar smell does not disappear for me in household or beauty products, not even when dry; my hair either...I just can't do it and my husband can't stand it, either. I read that vodka or lemon juice is a good alternative-what have you found?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 24, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Yes, I think those are good options - of course the lemon juice might cause lightening depending on your hair color.

      Reply
  8. Ronna

    July 19, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    I'd like to try making this for my daughter, but she's allergic to Aloe Vera. Is there something I could use in its place?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 19, 2015 at 10:54 pm

      I would probably just use filtered water. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Amanda

    April 09, 2015 at 1:42 am

    Any recommendations on a rinse for those who live in deserts and can't use humectants like aloe? Just moved here, and it's seeping all the moisture out of my hair instead of retaining it.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      April 09, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Hmmmm...does vegetable glycerine work? Could you just leave the aloe out and use water?

      Reply
      • Amanda

        April 09, 2015 at 1:53 pm

        No, glycerin is also a humectant. Right now I'm trying a tea rinse with a bit of acv to see how that does.

        Reply
        • Adrienne

          April 09, 2015 at 1:55 pm

          I personally think that using a rinse w/ acv too often can be drying - perhaps limit how often you do that?

          Reply
  10. Pooja Pal

    December 09, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Thanks Adrienne for your prompt response. .will definitely look out for ingredients. .can't wait to try it out

    Reply
  11. pooja

    December 09, 2014 at 1:35 pm

    Couple of questions - do you have any recommendation on which brand apple cider vinegar to be used if not making it ourselves? in one of the ocmments you made you made apple cider vinegar yourself but not able to find ur link for it. also for aloe vera juice the one which is there on vita cost site from ALO i bought the same from costco but they have either honey or the mango one. is it ok to use the flavored one for this rinse or maybe not?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      December 09, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Hi there. I just put a link in the post so I hope that helps. I would think the flavored would work but it depends on the ingredients. If there's a lot of other stuff you might not want that. :)/

      Reply
  12. Lorna

    August 17, 2014 at 5:17 am

    I dye my gray hair. Won't the ACV wash out the color? Please advise alternative. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      August 21, 2014 at 5:17 pm

      It shouldn't affect your hair from the research that I have done - it's diluted as well. I can't promise but that is what I have found. Thanks!

      Reply
  13. Darla

    July 06, 2014 at 11:37 am

    I have blonde fine hair and get foils put in it. I find apple cider vinegar makes the colour go funny. Has anyone else have this problem?

    Reply
  14. Sora

    April 27, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    Just tried this for the first time except I mixed soda and vinegar together with water, before pouring it onto my scalp. My scalp feels less oily, itchy and cleaner now. My hair is soft and shiny. However, it is flaking even more and my hair loss has increased. =(

    I also need to confess to having been allergic to Chinese vinegar internally. Any idea what went wrong?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      April 28, 2014 at 9:39 am

      If you are allergic to vinegar then that could be your problem. I personally would stop using it. Do you have a problem with other vinegars internally? Are you rinsing it out completely? Perhaps something else is going on? Of course, I am not a doctor and can't medically advise.

      Reply
    • Sandy

      August 20, 2017 at 5:25 pm

      Mixing soda & vinegar together makes a chemical reaction. It's used to clean tarnish off silver.

      Reply
  15. Mersey

    October 20, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Hi, I tried using just apple cider vinegar thru my hair after shampooing it - did not help to smooth it- was no good. I do have colour in my hair - can you recommend something else I can use?

    kind regards

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      October 20, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      You mean another idea for a rinse? If so, make this rinse so it's diluted. Straight ACV is quite strong.

      Reply
  16. Heidi

    September 19, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    Aloe Vera juice? Can I just use 1/3 cup of the gel from my aloe plant's leaves?

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      September 20, 2013 at 11:10 am

      You will get a slightly different product b/c the gel is thicker and it has different properties, but since it's an external use I don't know that it will be a big problem.

      Reply
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Welcome! I'm Adrienne, and I'm here to show you that Healthy Living Doesn't Have to Be Hard! Here, you'll find basically everything you need to make healthy living doable--healthy & easy flexible recipes, tips for clean beauty and a natural home, essential oils, beginner gardening tips, and more. Learn more about me here.

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