How to Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

This winter, I got a little bored with my hair routine and began wearing it flat ironed straight. I enjoyed having a different hairstyle but repeated blow-drying and flat-ironing sucked the life out of my curls. There are areas that won’t curl like before, which is a problem since I wear my hair curly the majority of the time.

Whenever I experience heat damage I have to switch up my styling practices and stop using heat tools. I was able to reverse some of the heat damage using an apple cider vinegar hair rinse after shampooing. Also known as an ACV rinse, a mixture of food grade apple cider vinegar diluted with water can help bring heat damaged curly hair back to life. Disclaimer: damaged, split ends that refuse to curl will still need to be trimmed. In my case, the heat damage wasn’t severe, and I was able to restore the majority of my curls. I had to cut off more than an inch of damage, and I’ll need to trim again in six weeks after it grows out a bit.

How to Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

You’ll Need:

1 oz Apple Cider Vinegar
3 oz Water (not shown)
8 oz Applicator Bottle
Plastic cap (not shown)

How it Works:

Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, with a pH balance ~3. Adding acidity to the hair removes buildup and closes the hair cuticle, leading to shinier, easier to manage hair.

Instructions:

Pour 3 ounces of water 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar into an 8 oz applicator bottle. Shake gently to mix. Set aside. Shampoo and rinse hair. Separate hair into 4 sections and apply the diluted apple cider vinegar to hair, from root to tip. Gently massage into scalp, to relieve dandruff. Concentrate the treatment on ends to revert damage. Put on a plastic cap and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse well, condition and style as usual.

Notes:

Only use this treatment once per month. Using it any more than that can strip your hair of moisture. Beware of any allergies to apple cider vinegar. If you are allergic to apples, do not use ACV.