What will apple cider vinegar do to hair

Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It

Deven Hopp is an experienced writer and editor with over five years of experience covering the beauty industry for sites like Byrdie and Makeup.com. She is currently the brand director for Versed Skincare.

• FACEBOOK
• PINTEREST
• EMAILSHARE

Tawni Bannister for BYRDIE

In This Article

From fighting blackheads to detoxing your diet, apple cider vinegar has been a formidable player in both the skincare and wellness space for some time. And if that wasn’t enough, ACV is now making a name for itself in hair care, which—given its versatility, accessibility, and the fact that it makes a killer DIY hair rinse—should come as no surprise. To find out more about this buzzy ingredient, we checked in with hair pros Gretchen Friese, Denis de Souza, and Jo Blackwell-Preston.

Meet the Expert

• Gretchen Friese is a Bosley Professional Strength certified trichologist.
• Denis de Souza is a Joico celebrity colorist.
• Jo Blackwell-Preston is the founder and master stylist at Dop Dop Salon.

Not only did they weigh in on ACV’s beauty claims but they also dished on who could most benefit from adding it to their hair care routine—and how. So keep scrolling as we’re bringing you everything you ever wanted to know about apple cider vinegar for hair.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

«[Apple cider vinegar] is made by crushing apples, then squeezing out the juice,» says Friese. «Bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start an alcoholic fermentation process, which converts the sugars from the juice to alcohol. Then in a second and final fermentation step, the alcohol is converted into vinegar.»

Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair

• Type of ingredient: Anti-inflammatory
• Main benefits: Clarifies, detangles, and stimulates a healthy scalp
• Who should use it: Anyone with product buildup or an overly-oily or dry scalp
• How often can you use it: As a general rule of thumb, use once per week (although this can vary depending on the product formulation and your hair type).
• Works well with: Moisturizing masks
• Don’t use with: Scalp scrubs or other chemical/physical exfoliants to avoid irritation

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

klenova / Getty Images

Apple cider vinegar is to hair what honey is to green tea. You don’t necessarily need it, but try it once and you (likely) won’t go back. That’s because ACV offers a host of benefits that all have one thing in common: making your hair and scalp look and feel amazing. Here’s how:

• Promotes a healthy scalp: ACV offers healing properties for the scalp. «The antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of ACV help to keep the pH level of the scalp balanced,» says Friese. «Dandruff is a buildup on the scalp that happens when too much yeast is present on oily areas of the skin. Using a mix with ACV can help avoid that build-up.»
• Reduces color fading: Friese notes that for color-treated hair, ACV can help close the cuticles, thus maintaining your color’s vibrancy.
• Detangles: If you have hair that’s prone to knots or tangles, anecdotal evidence suggests that ACV and a wide-tooth comb can help rid them.
• Strengthens and softens: “Apple cider vinegar coats the cuticle, leaving the hair soft and shiny,” says de Souza. “It also helps to strengthen your hair by closing the cuticles and the hair shaft,” he adds.
• Fights frizz: Friese maintains that ACV can help smooth the hair and keep frizz at bay, making it a popular treatment option among those with curly and textured hair.
• Reduces hair loss: With its ability to balance the skin’s pH and clear the hair follicle from debris, Friese says that ACV can help reduce hair loss.
• Cleanses: Apple cider vinegar may be effective at getting rid of buildup on the scalp without stripping color. «Apple cider vinegar rinses are really truly about removing buildup of products, and they make the hair really clean,” says Blackwell-Preston.

Hair Type Considerations

Our experts agree that apple cider vinegar is safe for all hair types, including color-treated tresses. It’s especially beneficial for those with major product buildup, whether that’s from hairsprays, dry shampoo, braids, or excess grease. And while oily hair types can get away with using a higher concentration of ACV, if you have dry hair, we recommend using a higher water to ACV ratio to avoid drying out your scalp.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair

Because ACV is slightly acidic, when it’s mixed with two to three parts water it may extend the life of hair color, but only when applied right after the color is rinsed off. «Most hair colors are alkaline, which opens up the hair cuticle, and applying an acidic solution may reseal the cuticle,» notes Friese. You can experiment to find a dilution that works best for you and your hair type, but in general, the following steps are a good place to start:

1. Mix five parts water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle (100 ml of ACV to 500 ml of water if you want to be exact).
2. Spray your scalp well, enough that it’ll be evenly coated.
3. Work the vinegar into clean hair with your fingers. It will be diluted enough that it shouldn’t burn.
4. Allow the vinegar mixture to sit for two to five minutes.
5. Rinse your hair and scalp with cool water.
6. Follow this rinse with a light conditioner, nothing that will weigh down your hair.
7. Rinse your hair well, until you’re sure all product (and vinegar) is down the drain.

The Best Products With Apple Cider Vinegar

You won’t find yourself missing the lather with this shampoo alternative; it enhances hair, leaving it clean, smooth, and shiny. And if you’ve got a thick, coarse, or curly mane, rinsing twice with this ACV solution will gently remove product buildup and revitalize your strands. Double cleanses aren’t just meant for skin, after all.

Have hair that sheds? This shampoo is infused with apple cider vinegar to provide clarifying, deep cleaning benefits that stimulate a healthy scalp. Not only does it encourage new hair growth and minimize hair loss, but as its name suggests, it also promises oh-so glossy locks.

Apple cider vinegar along with argan and babussa oil blend to make for a hair-nourishing conditioner that wards off flyaways and seals hair cuticles. That, coupled with its budget-friendly price tag makes it a hair care must-have. For best results, leave in the conditioner for one to three minutes before rinsing out.

Use this cleansing rinse in place of shampoo or as a co-washing conditioner; either way, it will rid hair of product buildup (without nixing color) and impart a commercial-ready shine. Need we say more?

The secret to hair and scalp health is a balanced pH, which is exactly what this hair mask excels at. It takes texture from dry and frizzy to silky-smooth and gives limp strands a new lease on life. Amazon users—and there’s over 1000 of them—rave about its benefits for the scalp, including how it can help to clear seborrheic dermatitis.

«Clarifying shampoos are formulated to remove product buildup and excess oils as well as prep the hair for some types of color or hair treatments. However, when used alone it can fade color and make the hair feel dry and look dull, making following up with a good conditioner or treatment necessary,» explains Friese. On the other hand, ACV removes buildup with the added benefit of sealing in hair color and enhancing shine.

«The frequency of use depends on the individual and their hair type, but too much use can cause brassiness and damage,» warns Friese. De Souza adds that for most, using an ACV rinse a few times a week isn’t going to harm your color, though you should use it less frequently if your skin skews sensitive.

After an ACV rinse, your hair should not retain any odor once dried.

Источник

8 ways apple cider vinegar can benefit your hair, according to dermatologists

In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been touted by beauty experts and medical experts alike for its many health benefits , with many drinking apple cider vinegar as part of their beauty routine to help clear skin or even lose weight .

Like anything else, ACV probably isn’t a miracle cure for any health woes, but it might be an easy, affordable hack to help give you shiny, healthy hair.

Whether you’re buying products like shampoo made with apple cider vinegar or whipping up an at-home DIY hair rinse using ACV, INSIDER spoke with four dermatologists and they told us about the many possible benefits of this grocery store staple on your strands — no matter your hair type or texture.

It could potentially help ward off dandruff

«Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties,» board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman told INSIDER. » Fungus is what causes dandruff. [ACV] contains malic acid which is what helps to keep the pH level of the scalp balanced. Dandruff is a buildup on the scalp that happens when too much yeast is present on oily areas of the skin. Using a mix with ACV will help to avoid this build up on the scalp called dandruff.»

«It is useful in treating dandruff because it helps lower levels of yeast on the skin that promotes inflammation which leads to flaking,» said Dr. Joshua Zeichner , director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, touting its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

These same properties can possibly help with product build-up

Though they may seem like the same thing, dandruff is different than product build-up, which can happen as we wash our hair less often and rely on products like dry shampoo to last longer between washes.

Styling products can leave residue in hair, but as Dr. Jaliman said, apple cider vinegar is «an alpha hydroxy acid so it helps to exfoliate the skin. It also has a pH similar to the skin, so it helps to maintain a healthy pH balance of the skin and scalp,» possibly helping to clarify your strands after days of gels, mousses, and sprays.

«ACV is slightly acidic,» said Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas , MD, MBE, FAAD. «Our hair is also naturally acidic from the oils and sebum from our scalp. Hair products often disrupt the pH balance of our hair. When our hair is normal and in the slightly acidic range, the cuticle is smooth. When we add hair products, many of these attach to our hair by opening the cuticle slightly by making the hair more alkaline. By using ACV, the normal acidity of our hair is restored and the product buildup resolves.»

Try apple cider vinegar to ease scalp itchiness

There are several reasons why you might experience scalp itch , from dandruff to medical conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis and others. Though you should absolutely check in with your doctor or dermatologist for any unusual itching, Dr. Jaliman told INSIDER that ACV can help alleviate some of the itchiness, revealing that «the apple cider vinegar helps to rebalance your scalp’s pH. Balancing the pH of your scalp will help reduce scalp itchiness.»

ACV might help prevent hair loss and stimulate new hair growth

Adding apple cider vinegar to your hair care routine «will help keep your scalp healthy by warding off bacteria and keeping a balanced pH level,» said Dr. Jaliman, adding that «this will stimulate hair growth. ACV gently exfoliates the scalp which in turn will promote hair growth and healthier hair.»

Of course, any hair loss concerns you might have should be discussed with your doctor or dermatologist, but having a cheap, natural tool in your arsenal can’t hurt, as well.

It can help make hair feel smooth, soft, and shiny

Since we know that styling tools and products, as well as exposure to the elements, helps roughen up our hair’s cuticle, we’re often left with strands that feel dull or prone to tangles.

«Apple cider vinegar helps to close the hair cuticle,» said Dr. Jaliman. «In turn, your hair will be more manageable and much shinier. ACV helps to remove buildup on the hair,» which will also boost shine, she told INSIDER.

These same benefits can help prevent split ends and breakage

Just as ACV helps to close the hair’s cuticle, it’s working to keep hair healthier overall, which may help with breakage and split ends, said Dr. Ilyas, though it’s not a miracle cure.

«Using ACV occasionally will restore the acidity to the hair follicle. This will smooth out the cuticle and make it less weak. By doing so in moderation you may be able to prevent split ends and breakage.»

ACV might help restore hair’s natural texture

Although it’s not a cure-all for any and all of your hair woes, adding apple cider vinegar to your hair care routine might help restore your hair’s natural texture after damage from tools, products, and environmental stressors, said Kathleen Cook Suozzi, MD , assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. She told INSIDER that «ACV can help smooth hair strands via the alpha hydroxy acids it contains. AHAs exfoliate skin by removing dead skin cells and debris.»

She added, «Similarly it can help exfoliate and smooth hair strands. In addition, the AHA helps exfoliate the scalp.»

It might help ward off certain scalp infections

As with any medical concern, you should check in with your doctor, but our experts say that apple cider vinegar might be useful for certain scalp infections.

«ACV absolutely has antimicrobial properties so it can be an effective method to ward off scalp infections of some kinds,» said Dr. Ilyas. «There have been medical studies attempting to validate the common usage of ACV. At full concentrations, ACV is effective topically against bacteria, yeast, and fungus. However, once diluted it appears to maintain its effectiveness against bacteria down to a 25% concentration but loses effectiveness for yeast and fungi.»

«So, depending on what the cause of the scalp infection is, it may show some effectiveness,» she said, adding that «for bacteria on the scalp, the infection will appear as a folliculitis, inflamed hair follicles. Yeast will trigger seborrhea which results in itching and flaking. Fungus can attack the hair follicles and cause hair breakage and itching.»

Источник