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.
Yes, to distract from the vinegar smell
Hmm…I am thinking peppermint would be one of the best, or the tea tree. Still, I would go for the oils you like and/or the benefits you wish to have. That should help significantly w/ the smell :).
I haven’t tried this yet, but do use vinegar for a lot of things, from household cleaning products to cleaning my veges & fruit. I’ve found that as soon as it dries, the smell is gone with all of these uses, so would guess it would work the same with hair.
I have been using baking soda/ vinegar on my hair religiously for 7 years. My hair does smell like vinegar when it is still wet from the shower, but the vinegar smell is gone as soon as my hair dries. Hope that helps!
I have a few questions! If you don’t mind?
Should I use regular shampoo or a home made one? And is it ok to use if I color my hair? I’m really anxious to try this rinse. I have very thin limp hair!! But want to get the most bang. Oh and where do I get the guar??
Thank you so much for all your info!! I like to read everything you post!
Warmly,
Gichi
Thank you sooo much! You can use any shampoo. I don’t think colored hair should be an issue. I will put in a link for the guar now. :).
Do you still use some form of shampoo with this?
Also, I’m looking for a homemade replacement to conditioner for use as a shaving lotion – I’ve always bought cheap conditioner and it works amazingly for shaving, but now that I’m trying to slowly replace my products with natural ones, I don’t know what to do about the conditioner!
Yes, I still use shampoo. I haven’t gone the “no poo” route. So you are looking for a good shaving lotion? Or a hair conditioner? Or both?
Well, it would be used as shaving lotion, but something that mimics traditional conditioner as closely as possible… I use conditioner mostly as a shaving lotion and I can’t imagine this conditioner replacement would work as a shaving lotion. :p
I buy bar shampoos from Camamu, they have several bar shampoos to choose from, depending on your hair and what it needs. I LOVE their Rosemary Nettle.
I use plain organic coconut oil for shaving. It works GREAT, and leaves your skin moisturized and silky soft and smooth. You can add essential oils for scent, but I just use it plain.
Interesting Carol. Someone just recommended shampoo bars to me – did you have an adjustment period? The reviews on them are pretty mixed. Sorry for the delay – I’m trying to catch up here :).
What I’d really like to know is which exact bottle/brand is the most cost effective and still works well! We’re needing something like this for my daughter. If you could link to the one you normally buy or suggest one that is the best deal but still a good product, that would be helpful. I had a tab open already to place an order with VitaCost. Thank you!
I used the Lily of the Desert and I bought the 1 gallon size b/c we were using it for digestive issues as well. It is supposed to be helpful for leaky gut I think.
I was wondering what brand/type of aloe vera juice you prefer to purchase from VitaCost? Thanks.
I’ve bought 2 kinds – what are the brand you are looking at?
I have reached the age where I fight nature and dye my hair every 9-10 weeks. Yes……I know all chemical stuff but I still look young and just don’t like the grey look. Can this be use with dyed hair?
I haven’t heard any reason why not – enjoy!
I used to dye my hair as well, but then discovered a way that really helps your hair retain it’s color, AND can even un-do grey hair!
It is the rinse I use daily: make a STRONG tea with nettle, rosemary and horsetail herbs.
When cool, add the same amount of Braggs apple cider vinegar, or any organic cider vinegar with the mother. Put it in a container, and when you shampoo and are ready to rinse, take the mix, add the same or more warm water, coat your head and give yourself a 15-20 second head massage. Let the concoction sit on your head while you complete your shower. (careful, this will sting if it gets into your eyes!) and rinse out thoroughly just before you are done showering.
I usually make a large batch, keep enough for two days in the shower and the rest in the refrigerator until I’m ready to use it. I also add a few drops (FEW) of any essential oils that I fancy at that moment.
Just FYI: I have found that the vinegar smell WILL go away once your hair dries, but on me, I tend to be quite warm blooded and if I start sweating, a mild vinegar smell WILL waft around my head.
This has undone grey hair – really???
Well, I just “refound” this post. Sorry about the question. I’m not sure, but I’m 65 and still have mostly brown hair. I do have a few “light” spots (I’m NOT going grey, I’m going “Naturally Blond”!! LOL!)
Also, an herb called Fo-Ti root (also known as He shou Wu) is an amazing herb for your hair. I think you either make a tincture and consume or make a tea and steep for an hour, but look it up. It is almost a miracle herb for hair. I finally got some and have been adding it to my French Press “coffee” in the morning.
Maybe genetics are at play, as I think my mom didn’t really start going grey until she was about 60…
Great minds :). https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/essential-oils-for-hair-growth/ . My hair isn’t graying fast either but maybe a bit faster than yours? Here’s hoping!
We have hard water where we live, so I use conditioner now to get the tangles out of my hair after shampooing. Does the ACV rinse help with tangles, too?
Yes, it should since it smoothes the cuticle. 🙂
My husband hates the smell of vinegar. What essential oil do you think will make it smell the least?
You mean to distract from the vinegar smell?
I recently switched from organic shampoo to a homemade shampoo bar (which I love!) and just this morning I tried a water/vinegar rinse after shampooing and WOW does it make a difference! I couldn’t believe how soft and smooth my hair was just from the vinegar! I don’t think I’ll ever go back to conditioner now. Thanks for the tips about which EO’s to add!
You’re welcome!!! Hope you like it!
What recipe did you use for the shampoo bar? 🙂 Thanks!
I’ve been rinsing my hair with just apple cider vinegar and water for months now and I love it. I never thought to add essential oils, but it makes perfect sense. I have some of those on the list, I’ll try it next time I wash my hair. Thanks for the suggestion!
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it even more!