Natural Beauty Tips: Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Care Recipes

Have you ever thought of apple cider vinegar as being part of your haircare routine? It might seem strange to think that the bottle of brown liquid sitting in the bottom of your food cupboard could have such a big impact on making your tresses look amazing but there are many ways that apple cider vinegar can revive, restore and promote healthy hair.

Full of nutrients and antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar (ACV) can be an important and staple part of your hair and beauty regime. Find out exactly how apple cider vinegar hair treatments help your hair and the ways in which you can use it for obtaining natural, beautiful locks without the expensive products you can buy in the shops.

Here’s why you should never underestimate the versatility of apple cider vinegar:

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How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Effective Weight Loss

How To Cure Acne With Apple Cider Vinegar

Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Your Hair

1. Reduces Dandruff

ACV is antibacterial so targets the fungus that causes the dry, itchy and flaky scalp that results in dandruff. Using an ACV rinse weekly will help get rid of dandruff altogether.

2. Removes Product Build Up

ACV acts as a great hair cleanser. Our hair products tend to build up over time and leave hair limp and a bit lacklustre. Massaging ACV into the hair and scalp gently removes any leftover product and gives your hair a new lease of life.

3. Acts as a Conditioner

ACV helps hair retain moisture and so acts as a natural hair conditioner. If using an ACV rinse then there is no need to use your usual hair conditioner as well.

4. Prevents Hair Loss and Encourages Hair Growth

ACV’s antibacterial properties help unclog and cleanse the hair follicles. Clogged up hair follicles can slow down the rate your hair and can cause hair to fall out prematurely. Using ACV stimulates the blood circulation which strengthens the hair roots and promotes a healthy hair growth. This isn’t a quick fix though; you will need to give it some time to take effect.

5. Detangles Your Hair

ACV seals the hair cuticle and flattens the hair surface allowing your comb or brush to glide through your hair more easily. This flattening of the hair surface also results in shinier hair too.

6. Restores Protective Layer

Over time the hair’s protective layer can get damaged by heat appliances, UV light and general hair products. ACV restores the protective layer giving you much healthier locks.

7. Improves Porosity

If you suffer from dry hair then it’s probably because your hair’s porosity or ability to retain moisture is poor. ACV’s acidity can improve porosity by sealing the hair cuticle. This also means less dry, split ends.

8. Restores Natural pH Balance

Hair is naturally slightly acidic and shampooing can cause the pH balance to move away from this. If you use an ACV rinse on your hair it can restore its natural pH balance resulting in happier and healthier hair.

Reduces Frizz

If you’re prone to frizzy hair then using ACV as part of a rinse and baking soda hair treatment then it can lessen the amount of frizz and leave you will wonderfully smooth, great looking hair.

What Type Of Apple Cider Vinegar Should You Buy?

It’s important what kind of ACV you buy. Many ACV products may contain harsh chemicals or even pesticides (it’s made from apples after all) so make sure you find a good organic version that won’t contain any of these added toxins. Although these aren’t overly harmful, it won’t work properly for hair loss treatment as the chemicals could prevent the goodness that’s in ACV from working. Organic ACV will be a much more cloudy looking liquid rather than a deep brown colour.

It’s also very important to get the unpasteurised ACV as this is the kind that actually contains all the great nutrients that gives its health benefits. Pasteurised ACV is stripped of its goodness and so won’t work as efficiently and to its full potential.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Treatments

Here are some simple homemade hair treatments using ACV that you can use on a regular basis. Make sure when using ACV not to get it in your eyes as it may cause them to sting a little. It’s also a good idea to experiment with the concentration of ACV as more oily hair likes more ACV in the rinse and drier hair likes less so start with 1 part ACV to 4 parts water and see how it goes. Don’t worry about the smell either; this naturally disappears as the ACV dries.

Simple Apple Cider Hair Rinse

This rinse will contain the beneficial enzymes, bacteria, pectin and trace minerals for your hair and is the easiest way to incorporate ACV into your haircare routine. Rinse the hair with this after shampooing to give it condition, shine and manageability as well as many other benefits.

• Mix 1 part ACV with 4 parts water.
• Add the mixture to a spray bottle for more convenience.
• After shampooing spray the rinse liberally onto your hair and scalp and massage in for a minute or two.
• Leave in for a further couple of minutes and then rinse out thoroughly (no need to follow with conditioner)

Apple Cider and Baking Soda Hair Remedy

This can be used to wash and condition your hair without the use of conventional shampoo and conditioner. Shampoos contain a large amount of ingredients that cause build up and change our hair’s pH balance. Try this out once a week to give your hair a good deep cleanse and condition.

• Mix 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water.
• Apply the mixture to dry or wet hair making sure you work it into the roots and the ends.
• Leave in for a couple of minutes and then rinse with warm water.
• Use the 1 part ACV and 4 parts water solution to rinse through the hair.
• Rinse after a few seconds with warm water.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Essential Oils

Adding essential oils can add extra conditioning to your ACV treatment. Not only that but it adds as lovely smell to the mixture minimising the smell of the vinegar. Try using peppermint, lavender or citrus to boost the conditioning effects of this treatment.

• Mix 1 part ACV with 4 parts water.
• Add a few drops of essential oil.
• After a few seconds rinse with cold water (cold water will further seal in moisture and create extra shine).

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dandruff Treatment

If you have a problem with dandruff then using ACV can help immensely. When using this treatment make sure you don’t have any open sores on your scalp as it may sting a little. If you do then just dilute the ACV down with water and if you do this you can leave it on overnight if you want.

• Use undiluted ACV and apply it directly to your scalp.
• Massage it in gently and leave for 1-3 hours.
• You can use a warm towel or a shower cap to really get the ACV to penetrate your scalp.
• After 1-3 hours, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Repeat this once a week until the problem is fixed.

Featured photo credit: SunKids via shutterstock.com

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