3 Vinegar Uses for the Hair

Aside from being a kitchen essential and a worker of small miracles in the bathroom, vinegar is also a dynamo in the beauty department. Applied externally, vinegar has long been used to make hair silky and lustrous. And contrary to intuition, it doesn’t leave a lingering waft of vinegar with each shimmy of your shiny mane.

You can use white distilled vinegar, but unfiltered raw apple cider vinegar contains the “mother” of vinegar. The mother occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules and is a rich source of probiotics. Vinegars containing the mother contain enzymes and minerals that other vinegars probably do not contain due to overprocessing, filtration and overheating.

Restore Shine
Vinegar works to restore luster by removing build up from other hair products. It leaves hair smooth and silky and is said by many to remove tangles. Depending on your hair type, you may want to use it once weekly, or as often as three times weekly. It may cause minimal dryness to hair, so some people like to condition first, then use a vinegar rinse. To make a vinegar rinse, add 1 cup vinegar to 2 cups warm water, add a a drop of essential oil if you like, and work into hair.

Hairbrush Cleaning
Remove old hair from brush. Make a mix of half water and half vinegar, add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil, and soak your hairbrush overnight. Rinse and brush.

Scalp Help
To clean your scalp, improve its health, and fight dandruff, rinse with a solution of ½ cup vinegar mixed with 2 cups of warm water after shampooing. You can add a few drops of sage oil, you can also leave the rinse on for up to 30 minutes. A scalp rinse can be done daily, and should be done at least once a week.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Duane B.

11:58AM PDT on Mar 23, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

March 23
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Cindy B.

12:43PM PDT on Oct 23, 2012

acv Also is good when you dye your hair and dont like it. pour acv over your head and let it soak for about 2 to 3 minutes(don't get into eyes) and then add shampoo and work it in your hair then rinse and then conditioner. i real works it takes out the dye makes your hair lighter and soft and fluffy.

October 23
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JL A.

2:53PM PDT on Jun 26, 2012

good to remember

June 26
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Jacqueline B.

9:36AM PDT on May 30, 2012

Thanks for all this info. I do not use many cemicals. Now I will stop buying denture cleaner.

May 30
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Alex R.

12:05PM PDT on May 27, 2012

While this article does address the major differences between raw, unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar it does not validate the necessity to use this more expensive version of vinegar to any real benefit while applied topically and subsequently rinsed off with little time for the vinegar to do more than remove the alkaline residue of the shampoo and soap products. So, I say, save the raw ACV for internal use and, most likely the 'regular' ACV and or white vinegars should do the job.

May 27
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Melissa R.

9:45AM PDT on Apr 17, 2012

I am so happy to have found this article! I have known about this little trick for years but never tried it because I could never find something or someone who could explain apple cider vs white vinegar affects on hair...until now! Thank you very much for clearing that up for me!

April 17
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health t.

2:29AM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

you have great information here , thanks :)

here is a link to the page i made on the same subject let me know what you think

http://www.squidoo.com/apple-cider-vinegar-information

hope you enjoy

March 27
send a green star

2:28AM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

Alison D.

1:00PM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

I put a cup of white vinegar in my bath every day.

My skin and hair are cleaner and my hair shines more.

The vinegar removes all soap residue, whether it's shampoo or body wash. It removes all the scent too so I can enjoy the scent while bathing but don't take it to work with me where people could be scent sensitive.

I also use white vinegar instead of laundry detergent. My clothes are cleaner, have no scent at all and are softer.

I'm not at all keen on the smell of Apple Cider vinegar, but swear by it when yeast rears it's ugly head. Drinking 2 tbsps with apple juice morning and night will stop a yeast bloom from the inside out.