Nourishing Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
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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!
This recipe is one of the easiest DIYs around, but the impact on your hair is huge. So let's get started.
Do you want healthier, shinier hair?
Look no further…you need this 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. And this rinse is one way to get your cuticle in much better shape.
Benefits of a Vinegar Hair Rinse 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
How to Use
An apple cider vinegar is so simple to use. Try it and see the benefits for yourself.
- Wash: Shampoo your hair as usual, then rinse.
- Apply: Lean your head forward or back and pour the rinse over your head and hair, working it into your scalp. Avoid contact with your eyes. Let the rinse sit on your hair for 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse: Rinse the hair rinse thoroughly.
- Condition: Apply conditioner following manufacturer directions, if desired.
Customizing Options
You can adjust this apple cider vinegar hair rinse according to your needs.
Following are some herbs to consider adding to the rinse.
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
Where to Buy Equipment & Ingredients
1. Aloe Vera: You can purchase aloe vera in a health food store or at Trader Joe's, or on Amazon.
2. Essential Oils: For essential oils, it's really 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 so many things.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar: Two things to keep in mind–1) You should strain out or somehow not use the mother if you are using unfiltered apple cider vinegar and 2) Watch out for the strength of the one you are using. Most on the market are 5%, but if you happen to buy one that's 6% or more (not that common), you'll need to dilute it more. Learn more about this (and other fun stuff) in my post about Katy Perry and Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar.
Tips
1. You can just use more apple cider vinegar and water instead of the aloe vera juice, but aloe vera has many healing properties, so 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.
More DIY Personal Care Items You'll Love
– The BEST Homemade Eye Makeup Remover – really
– Simple Nourishing Hand and Body Cream
– Nourishing Lip Scrub – your lips will truly thank you!
– Hand and Body Sugar Scrub
– DIY Facial Oil Cleaner
– Rose Water Spray
– Homemade Tooth Powder – gets great results!
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 teaspoon guar gum or xanthan gum (optional, but makes for a nicer texture)
- 1-2 tablespoons dried lavender optional
- 5-10 drops rosemary essential oil (or other essential oil as desired)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a container and mix well.
- Store in a plastic container in the shower.
- To use, mix 1 T with approximately 1 cup water and pour over freshly shampooed hair.
- Massage in and rinse out if you desire.
Notes
Have you ever used an apple cider vinegar hair rinse?
How did it work? Let me know in the comments.
I do this.. makes hair soft and does not smell once dried.. important to note ..
Make sure you are not wearing pearl earrings when rinsing with vinegar water..
So great to hear and I agree 100% that hair doesn’t smell once it’s dried. Great tip! Do you feel that is the case even if it’s diluted pretty well as it is for this rinse?
If I make a large bottle in advance, would I keep it in the fridge and only take it out when I need it?
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.
Great post! How long does the mixture last without going rancid?
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!
hi, thanks for the post. what is the shelf life of the rinse?
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!
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.
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.
Actually I am reading on the internet that vinegar is a remedy for yellowing grey hair so I think you are safe.
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?
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?
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! 😀
So hope you love it!