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An Apple A Day: Apple Cider Vinegar Is An Unsung Super Ingredient For Healthy Scalps
Apple Cider Vinegar is much-vaunted for its blood sugar lowering properties. But did you know it’s also a hero in the world of haircare?
You may be used to adding apple cider vinegar to your salad rather than your scalp, but this simple store cupboard ingredient has become a hair hero. Proven to clarify, detox and balance the scalp for healthier locks, we’re evangelical converts. Allow us to share the benefits; a simple at-home recipe; and seven off-the-shelf products to try.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains live cultures, minerals, antioxidants and acids that can help to nurture the skin’s nature moisture barrier. The skin is naturally slightly acidic (pH 5), whereas many shampoos and haircare products have a pH nearer 7. Using ACV topically can help to rebalance the skin’s pH levels and, when it comes to our scalps, this can help treat conditions such as dandruff and eczema.
Great for those who suspect they have a build-up of product in their hair, ACV can gently detox the hair and scalp, without stripping and upsetting the natural pH of your skin, which can lead to irritation. ACV is also naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal, making it a great treatment to heal and clarify the scalp.
Excess oil production and greasy hair can be a result of an imbalance in the scalp’s pH. An ACV rinse once a week (see below) can help to restore a healthy pH level and redress the oil levels. It’s a great go-to for curly girls too, as it acts to close the hair’s shaft for stronger, smoother strands, reducing frizz and breakage.
ACV coats the hair’s cuticle, without weighing it down, leaving it feeling soft and shiny. This extra slippage also helps reduce tangles, too. And, because of its ability to smooth and close the hair’s cuticle, ACV can be used to help reduce colour fade between hair appointments.
Mix a raw, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar (look for one that says it contains ‘the mother’ for all the probiotic benefits – see below) with cooled boiled water in a ratio of 1:6. Combine well.
Decant into a spray bottle.
Section and part your hair and apply directly to your scalp.
Work into your roots with a massaging technique.
Distribute through lengths with a wide-tooth comb.
Leave for 5 minutes.
Rinse with tepid water and wash hair as normal.
By Lydia Mansi
Updated April 2023
7 Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Benefits
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains live cultures, minerals, antioxidants and acids that can help to nurture the skin’s nature moisture barrier. The skin is naturally slightly acidic (pH 5), whereas many shampoos and haircare products have a pH nearer 7. Using ACV topically can help to rebalance the skin’s pH levels and, when it comes to our scalps, this can help treat conditions such as dandruff and eczema.
Great for those who suspect they have a build-up of product in their hair, ACV can gently detox the hair and scalp, without stripping and upsetting the natural pH of your skin, which can lead to irritation. ACV is also naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal, making it a great treatment to heal and clarify the scalp.
Excess oil production and greasy hair can be a result of an imbalance in the scalp’s pH. An ACV rinse once a week (see below) can help to restore a healthy pH level and redress the oil levels. It’s a great go-to for curly girls too, as it acts to close the hair’s shaft for stronger, smoother strands, reducing frizz and breakage.
ACV coats the hair’s cuticle, without weighing it down, leaving it feeling soft and shiny. This extra slippage also helps reduce tangles, too. And, because of its ability to smooth and close the hair’s cuticle, ACV can be used to help reduce colour fade between hair appointments.
Try This At-Home ACV Hair Rinse Recipe
Mix a raw, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar (look for one that says it contains ‘the mother’ for all the probiotic benefits – see below) with cooled boiled water in a ratio of 1:6. Combine well.
Decant into a spray bottle.
Section and part your hair and apply directly to your scalp.
Work into your roots with a massaging technique.
Distribute through lengths with a wide-tooth comb.
Leave for 5 minutes.
Rinse with tepid water and wash hair as normal.
By Lydia Mansi
Updated April 2023
6 Off-The Shelf Products To Try
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Lydia Mansi
Lifestyle Editor
Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.
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