Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good For Your Hair? 5 Pros and Cons

Ever heard of doing an apple cider rinse on your hair?

If you’re wondering why you would want to rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar, and if it would actually help, you’re not alone. In this article we’ll discuss the pros, the cons, and the possible side effects to using apple cider vinegar on your hair along with ACV supplements.

Apple cider vinegar, or ACV for short is often regarded as a staple in many homes. From making delicious salad dressings, broths, roasts, or other foods, to using it as a fly trap, cleaning agent, fabric softener, immunity booster, sickness fighter, make up remover, and more.

With all the hype that the miracle cure-all ACV gets, it’s easy to wonder what apple cinder vinegar can’t do.

In recent years apple cider vinegar has been claimed to help with hair. While research on ACV is still on going, many websites, people, and doctors say that rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can help your hair be more healthy, shiny and soft. Many people claim that it can increase your hair growth and prevent  your scalp from itching.

A lot of pro ACV on hair sources make some pretty awesome claims. Is the hype surrounding apple cider vinegar and hair really true? Will it really help your hair? Let’s jump in to the pros and cons and find out.

5 pros for apple cider vinegar on hair

1. It helps balance out the ph of your scalp

The ph level of your scalp is supposed to be, and is usually, a 4 or 5 on the ph scale. But, many shampoos have high alkaline levels, making the ph of your scalp raise to a higher number. Shampoos typically are high in alkaline because the shampoo needs to be able to get out all of the dirt and debris in your hair well. You want your hair clean, right?

However, because the shampoo is so alkaline and it raises the ph scale of the scalp, your hair becomes more frizzy, prone to breakage, and easier to get tangled. These side effects aren’t super ideal, but you tend to deal with them because you want your hair clean.

Apple cider vinegar is a 3 on the ph scale, making it super acidic. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar is a perfect way to get the good benefits of shampoo and skip the not so good benefits. An ACV rinse can help your scalp  be ph balanced, which in turn will make your hair smoother, softer, and healthier.

2. It helps with itchiness, greasiness, and dandruff

Another great benefit from an ACV rinse is its clarifying and soothing power on your scalp. It may sound strange because it is vinegar, but apple cider vinegar has anti inflammatory properties. It also can lower and prevent yeast overgrowth. (We’ll cover that more in pro #3.)

ACV is good for anyone with greasy hair or itchy hair because not only does it balance out the ph of your scalp, it also gets rid of the itchiness and increases blood circulation to the hair cuticles. Many people have reported positive results  after rinsing with apple cider vinegar for hair (especially in the awkward-greasy-hair middle school phase.) Apple cider vinegar is often highly recommended for help for an itchy scalp or dandruff.

3. It prevents fungal or bacteria growth

Having an overabundance of harmful bacteria or fungus on the scalp can lead to hair thinning or hair loss, impetigo, scarring, and more. Not only will harmful bacteria and fungi make you scratch and itch a lot and feel painful, they also can cause permanent damage to your hair.

Apple cider vinegar exfoliates your scalp, removing dead skin, bacteria, and anything else that might be blocking the pores on your head. Because of its cleansing properties, apple cider vinegar is really helpful in removing and preventing bad bacteria and fungus from being on your scalp.

4. It contains beneficial ingredients

Apple cider vinegar is packed with nutrients and other beneficial ingredients, like vitamin B, vitamin C, and potassium that are good for your hair. (Not to mention it’s a pretty cheap hair care option as well.)

5. Hair growth

While this point still is being studied, and there’s not a whole lot of research saying if apple cider vinegar for sure makes your hair grow faster or not, many people claim it does. Because it increases blood circulation to the cuticles, helps clean out the pores, and all the other benefits previously mentioned your hair is more free and able to grow.

Cons for apple cider vinegar on hair

Are there any cons to rinsing with apple cider vinegar? Here’s some common reasons people don’t want to rinse their hair with ACV.

• It can be too strong
• It’s Smelly
• It could react poorly with surface oils or proteins on scalp

First, ACV can be too strong. It is a vinegar, and that can be really harsh on the skin and scalp. NEVER put apple cider vinegar by itself on your scalp. It could burn your skin! Always always dilute it with a lot of water. Doing this will help it not be so harsh.

Second, it’s smelly. It can be really hard to want to put ACV on your hair because it really smells. As long as you wash it out afterwards, rinsing with apple cider vinegar won’t leave your hair smelly. Even if it still smells vinegary in the shower, once your hair dries the smell will be gone.

And lastly, it could react poorly on the scalp. This is another reason to dilute it and only leave the ACV on for a couple minutes. Because your dealing with a vinegar you don’t want it to break down important oils in your hair. You also may choose to only do an ACV rinse once or twice a week.

How to rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar

Start by mixing 2 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 16 ounces of apple cider vinegar. After you have shampooed and conditioned your hair pour the apple cider vinegar and water mix on your hair- working it in to your scalp. Leave it on for a couple of minutes and then rinse it off.

Rinsing with apple cider vinegar is a great way to keep your hair healthy, ph balanced, and clean. You can also take a supplement to help with your hair or use  hair growth kits for shiny and beautiful hair.

The best apple cider vinegar supplement we use here at Thinning to Thickness is this the type “from the Mother”. Click here to learn more …