Scalp buildup is usually associated with people who use many different types of hair products. While it is true that scalp buildup will be a bigger problem for you if you use a lot of hair products frequently, it is also true that you can get scalp buildup without using multiple hair products. The reason for this is that it isn’t just hair masks, hair sprays, hair gels, volumizers, or other styling products that accumulate on your scalp.
Even daily shampoos and conditioners can cause build up in your scalp. Further, depending on where you live and what kind of lifestyle you lead, you can get scalp buildup from the pollution and dust in your environment, excessive sweating, and even from hyperactive sebaceous glands. Regardless of how and where the scalp buildup comes from, it is one of the harsher truths of today because sooner or later, everyone has to deal with it.
The only way to deal with it is to clarify your scalp. While most people will reach for a clarifying shampoo when faced with scalp buildup, there’s a much more wholesome and healthier option available – apple cider vinegar. This comprehensive guide is devoted to this fix-all, age-old natural substance.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Product Type: Pure Apple Cider Vinegar |
| Volume: 2 x 16 ounces |
| Cost: $0.41 per ounce |
| A product that not only offers the maximum hair benefits of apple cider vinegar but also the flexibility of use at an unbelievably low cost. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Product Type: Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse |
| Volume: 20 ounces |
| Cost: $2.85 per ounce |
| A wonderful commercially manufactured rinse that offers the core qualities of apple cider vinegar without its inherent flaw of leaving the hair too dry. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo |
| 4.25/5.0 |
| Product Type: Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo |
| Volume: 12 ounces |
| Cost: $0.56 per ounce |
| The best shampoo that tries to augment the cleansing abilities of apple cider vinegar and minimize its tendency to leave the hair too dry. |
| Check Amazon |
In this guide, we’ve covered everything you’ll ever need to know about apple cider vinegar ranging from what it is and why it is beneficial for your hair to what are the various ways of using it. We’ve even reviewed some of the best products containing apple cider vinegar, in case you wish to buy one. Here’s everything you’ll find on this page laid out in an easy to click navigation panel.
- What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar Useful in Hair Care?
- Is Apple Cider Vinegar Right for You?
- Are There Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
- How Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair?
- 5 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Products Comparison Table
- Best Pure Apple Cider Vinegar: Detailed Review
- 2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- 2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
It is a type of vinegar made out of apple cider or juice. The most important component of apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. Most scientists and experts believe that the majority of apple cider vinegar benefits are a result of its acetic acid content.
Typically, good quality apple cider vinegar will have around five percent acetic acid. It is also important to remember that apple cider vinegar’s distinct taste or flavor is a result of its acetic acid content.
Apple cider vinegar is obtained from apples in two steps. In the first step, apples are converted to alcohols and in the second alcohols are converted into vinegar.
The first step requires the apples to be crushed and exposed to yeast. The yeast works on the apple’s sugars and converts them to alcohol through a process called fermentation. In the second step, this alcohol is converted to vinegar when it is exposed to bacteria. The bacteria used in the second fermentation step is specifically chosen for its ability to produce acetic acid.
There are no different types of apple cider vinegar but you will find some apple cider vinegar products that specify that they contain “mother”. Apple cider vinegar with mother is unfiltered and completely organic. As a result, it will always look murky and colloidal instead of clear or translucent.
“Mother” is a particulate matter that consists of various substances such as proteins, amino acids, enzymes, and friendly bacteria. Even though there’s no research on the subject, most people believe that “mother” in apple cider vinegar has multiple health benefits.
Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar Useful in Hair Care?
Apple cider vinegar is often touted as a cure-all for hair. However, scientifically speaking, there haven’t been many studies that support the numerous hair benefits of apple cider vinegar.
While it may not be able to cure all hair-related problems, it does have multiple benefits that cannot be ignored because far too many people say that it works and back their claims with personal stories.
Further, despite the absence of clinical trials and research, many benefits of apple cider vinegar can still be explained theoretically. For instance, most benefits of apple cider vinegar are a result of the nutrients it contains. We’ve delved into most of these benefits and how they work below.
It Clarifies the Scalp
The primary reason why apple cider vinegar has become famous in recent years is its ability to clarify the scalp. In fact, most people who have used it for this purpose say that its performance as a scalp clarifier is much better than shampoos developed specifically for cleansing and clarifying the scalp.
The clarifying ability of apple cider vinegar is because of a substance called Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA. AHA is found in apples and since apple cider vinegar is derived from apples, it is found in it too.
AHA is a gentle exfoliator that can penetrate even the toughest of scalp buildup. It is especially capable of dealing with natural buildup comprising dust, grime, sweat, and sebum but it can handle synthetic buildup too.
The best part about AHA and apple cider vinegar’s ability to clarify the scalp is that it does this without making the hair too dry. This is in direct contrast to the strongest clarifying shampoos available in the market. Those shampoos contain very strong exfoliating agents that not only exfoliate the scalp but also individual hair strands, resulting in dry, straw-like hair.
It Has Anti-Dandruff Properties
The fact that apple cider vinegar can exfoliate the scalp so well automatically means that it is great at removing dandruff and flakes from the scalp. In fact, it is not only able to eliminate but also prevent the growth of the yeast that is responsible for dandruff in most people’s scalps.
It does this owing to its built-in anti-microbial properties. These properties allow ACV to counter bacteria and fungus both. However, this is something that clarifying anti-dandruff shampoos can do too. These shampoos contain pyrithione zinc or ketoconazole which studies say are two of the strongest anti-dandruff substances known to man.
While apple cider vinegar’s anti-dandruff qualities cannot be compared to these synthetic substances, it is worth noting that apple cider vinegar is considerably gentler. As a result, it can be used more consistently and in larger quantities than commercial anti-dandruff shampoos.
In effect, the difference between apple cider vinegar’s anti-dandruff qualities and commercial clarifying shampoo’s anti-dandruff qualities is that ACV’s results are less aggressive but more long-lasting. This means that, unless your dandruff problem is very severe or resilient, apple cider vinegar will be able to give you results, provided you use it regularly over a prolonged period.
It Is Soothing & Calming
Another anecdotal benefit of apple cider vinegar that most users swear by is its ability to soothe and calm an itchy and irritated scalp. Most users attribute this ability to apple cider vinegar’s anti-inflammatory properties which are closely associated with its anti-microbial properties.
This benefit and its connection to the anti-microbial nature of apple cider vinegar is important. Most infections of the scalp, even simple ones that cause dandruff and flakes, also irritate the skin and cause itchiness. The fact that apple cider vinegar can nullify infections in the scalp while soothing and calming it means that it provides a complete solution to such problems.
It Helps Balance Scalp pH
pH is used to measure how acidic or alkaline something is. Acidic substances have a pH value under four while alkaline substances have a pH value higher than five. Between four and five, a substance’s pH is said to be balanced.
As we mentioned above, acetic acid is considered to be the most important component of apple cider vinegar. Acetic acid is important because its presence makes apple cider vinegar acidic. The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar is the main reason why it is so beneficial for hair and scalp.
Our scalp, like our skin, has an acidic layer called the acid mantle. The pH value of this layer ranges between three and five, making it slightly acidic to neutral. The purpose of this layer is to help protect our bodies against infections because microorganisms cannot survive in acidic environments.
Shampoos, however, are exact opposites of apple cider vinegar. They’re extremely alkaline. Some of them can have a pH value as high as nine. Therefore, when they’re used to wash hair, they can end up making the scalp alkaline as proven by this study published in the International Journal of Trichology.
This creates two problems. The first is that the scalp becomes more receptive to microorganisms and the infections they bring. One of the easiest ways of balancing the pH value of the scalp is an acid wash. Apple cider vinegar rinses are a type of an acid wash.
The other problem with too much alkalinity is related to the cuticle layer of the hair. When the scalp environment becomes too alkaline, the cuticles on the hair open wide. This can expose the internal infrastructure of the hair and make it susceptible to normally benign things like moisture, pollution, dust, and heat.
An acid wash and the resultant re-balancing of the scalp’s pH value results in the cuticle layer of hair closing again. As a result, every hair shaft becomes more resilient to all the benign conditions described above and everyday problems such as frizz, tangling, flyaway hair, and even split ends.
It Smooths Hair and Adds Shine
There’s another benefit of apple cider vinegar which is a direct result of its ability to re-balance the scalp’s pH level and push the cuticle layer of each hair strand to seal up. This is the fact that it makes the hair smooth and shiny.
If you equate an individual hair strand to a tower, the opening of the cuticle layer will be the equivalent of all the windows on the tower being opened at the same time. The open windows will make the tower’s surface incredibly rough as opposed to how smooth it will be if all the windows were closed. Further, the closed windows will also allow the tower to reflect more light.
This is exactly what happens with hair strands. When the cuticle layer is smoothed, it reflects light better and makes the hair shine.
Another side benefit of a smoothed cuticle layer is color protection. When you get your hair colored, the dye penetrates the cuticle layer and gives the hair color. If the cuticle layer is constantly open, the dye escapes faster and discoloration takes place. Therefore, when apple cider vinegar smooths the hair strand, it also prevents the dye from escaping which, in turn, ensures color longevity and vibrancy.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Right for You?
Even though apple cider vinegar’s hair benefits are well-established, this doesn’t mean that it can be used by everyone. There are certain situations and conditions that make the use of apple cider vinegar counterproductive.
For example, if you generally have very dry hair then apple cider vinegar may not be the best option for you. Apple cider vinegar rinses don’t work on very dry hair because they end up removing what little oil that maybe present in the scalp and hair.
In fact, even people with normal hair types with a slight tendency towards dryness can find that apple cider vinegar does more harm than good. The only way apple cider vinegar can be used on these hair types is if a rinse is followed by a very strong conditioner or oiling regime.
Another scenario in which apple cider vinegar may not be suitable for you is if you have open wounds on your scalp. These include anything from open cuts and blisters to boils. Using apple cider vinegar if you have these problems can aggravate the problem and cause considerable discomfort.
Are There Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider has immeasurable benefits when it comes to hair health but that isn’t all. Even if you look beyond its hair benefits, you’ll find apple cider vinegar to be an incredible substance.
This means that if you buy apple cider vinegar and find that it isn’t as suitable for your hair as you thought earlier, you can always use it for its general health benefits. Resultantly, your purchase wouldn’t go to waste even if your hair doesn’t improve.
However, using apple cider vinegar for its generic uses would only be possible with pure apple cider vinegar with mother. As to what these benefits are, we’ll cover them very quickly in this section.
Blood Sugar Management
Multiple studies have shown apple cider vinegar to be hugely beneficial for managing blood sugar levels. As a result, apple cider vinegar is incredibly useful in countering type 2 diabetes. The following studies show how it works.
- One study found that apple cider vinegar can reduce insulin sensitivity in a person by at least 19 percent and by as much as 34 percent.
- Another preliminary study involving five participants showed that apple cider vinegar can reduce blood sugar by as much as 31.4 percent. These results were backed by two other studies too (1 and 2).
- Further, one clinical trial revealed that apple cider vinegar can reduce fasting blood sugar levels by four percent.
Improve Heart Health
High blood sugar also contributes to various heart diseases and problems. Therefore, by helping control blood sugar levels, apple cider vinegar can help prevent heart problems too. In fact, it improves heart health in various other ways too as shown by these studies.
Appetite Suppressant
Finally, apple cider vinegar is proven to be effective against obesity. Studies have shown that it does this by increasing the feeling of satiety and suppressing appetite on the whole.
- This study showed how it increases satiety or the feeling of fullness by lowering glucose and insulin responses in the body.
- Another study showed that it reduces blood glucose levels after heavy meals.
- Scientists even found that apple cider vinegar reduces oxidative stress in the body which reduces the risk of obesity.
- A very comprehensive scientific trial conducted by Japanese scientists showed that apple cider vinegar “reduces body weight, body fat mass, and serum triglyceride Levels” in obese people.
To get these health benefits, you’ll need to ingest apple cider vinegar in the right amounts. There are two ways to do this. The first is to drink diluted apple cider vinegar and the other is to eat supplements containing apple cider vinegar.
How Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair?
Another great quality of apple cider vinegar is its flexibility. You can get its hair benefits by using it in its purest form, making a hair mask with it as one of the ingredients, and using hair care products that feature it as a major ingredient. We’ll talk about each of these, one by one.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar as a Rinse
If you want to get the most out of apple cider vinegar for your hair, you need to use it in its purest form. This means using it as a rinse.
A rinse is a solution that is used to wash the hair. It is different from a shampoo or shampoo bar because it doesn’t lather up. An apple cider vinegar rinse is very easy to make and use.
All you need to do is mix pure apple cider vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:5. This would mean that you put 10 ml of apple cider vinegar in about 50 ml of water. You can scale it up to 100 ml and 500ml also. If you have particularly oily hair, you can vary the ratio to 1:4 to make the rinse more potent at clarifying the scalp.
Whatever you do, don’t use pure apple cider vinegar in your hair. Diluting apple cider vinegar is important because it is too acidic and too capable of stripping your hair and scalp of oils.
Once the rinse is ready, you need to apply it to your hair after washing it with a shampoo. Pour or spray enough of the rinse on your hair and massage it into your scalp thoroughly. Leave it in for up to five minutes before washing it out and you’ll end up with a cleaner, shinier, and smoother hair. If you feel that the rinse leaves your hair too dry, you can even follow it up with a good conditioner.
Seeing the rise in popularity of apple cider vinegar rinses, many manufacturers have even released products with commercially developed apple cider vinegar rinses.
The formulae of these commercially manufactured rinses incorporate many more ingredients than just apple cider vinegar and water, though. The majority of other ingredients used in these rises are aimed at either reducing the dryness caused by apple cider vinegar or supporting its core properties with ingredients with similar benefits.
Using It as Part of a Mask
Apple cider vinegar is more than capable of delivering great results with only water but you can improve its effectiveness by adding other ingredients to the solution as well.
If you let the solution with multiple ingredients stay in your hair longer, you can augment the benefits further. However, any solution or mixture that you leave in your hair for longer than five minutes would be better described as a hair mask.
While you can add other ingredients to apple cider vinegar to make it more effective, it is also possible to push its benefits in a particular direction based on which ingredients you use and in what quantities. In simple words, you can create apple cider vinegar-based masks for specific hair problems. We’ve described some of the most common ones below with their recipes.
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Mask for Dandruff
This recipe will increase the inherent anti-dandruff and scalp-soothing qualities of apple cider vinegar. Its effects are cumulative which means that they’ll add up over time. Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients: ½ cup water, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 10 to 15 drops of tea tree oil, and 10 aspirins.
Method: Mix the water and apple cider vinegar with up to 15 drops of tea tree oil. Crush the aspirins into powder and add to the mix. Tea tree oil improves apple cider vinegar’s antimicrobial properties while aspirins contain salicylic acid which is known for its anti-inflammation qualities.
Apply this mask to your hair at least once every week with a sitting time of 20 minutes minimum. Once you’re done, wash and condition your hair normally.
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Mask for Itchy and Irritated Scalp
This hair mask is intended to considerably improve apple cider vinegar’s inherent ability to soothe and calm irritated scalps. Aspirins are optional in this recipe but will improve the mask’s efficiency.
Ingredients: ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cups aloe vera gel, and up to 10 aspirins.
Method: Mix apple cider vinegar and aloe vera gel thoroughly. The result will be a gel-like paste. Crush the aspirins and mix the resultant powder into the paste. Aloe vera has very strong soothing properties and apple cider vinegar supports those qualities in this hair mask.
Apply this mask onto your scalp and massage it in thoroughly. Let the mask stay in place for at least 30 minutes once a week before washing it off with your usual shampoo.
Scalp
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Mask for Conditioning Dry Hair
Apple cider vinegar is generally a drying ingredient because of its cleansing properties but it is possible to reduce this property by mixing it with other ingredients. For instance, this hair mask recipe will not only remove buildup but also leave your hair conditioned.
Ingredients: ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cup water, 1 ½ cup honey, and ½ cup olive oil.
Method: Mix all the ingredients in a single bowl. Make sure to whisk them thoroughly to ensure even distribution of all the ingredients. Honey is a natural humectant that is perfect at holding water. It ensures that the hair gets moisturized.
Olive oil is a great natural sealant that will ensure that the newly added moisture stays in place. Apple cider vinegar’s ability to smooth cuticles adds to these qualities.
Apply the mix into your hair and massage it deep into your scalp before letting it stay in place for at least 15 minutes. Don’t wash your hair with shampoo and don’t even use lukewarm water. Instead, wash your hair thoroughly with cool water before letting it dry.
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Mask for Countering Hair Loss
The fact that apple cider vinegar unclogs the scalp means that it also frees up hair follicles and makes it easier for them to grow healthier hair. This can boost hair growth to a certain extent and would dovetail well with other ingredients that are known to either slow down hair loss or boost hair growth.
As a result, apple cider vinegar can be very useful in an anti-hair loss mask. Here’s the recipe you can use to make such a mask.
Ingredients: 2 cups apple cider vinegar, 1 cup coconut oil, 1 ½ cup water, lavender oil (optional), jojoba oil (optional), peppermint oil (optional), nettle oil (optional), onion juice (optional), and rosemary oil (optional).
Method: Mix all the ingredients. All the mentioned optional ingredients help hair growth in various ways. Some have anti-dihydrotestosterone (anti-DHT) properties, which are crucial if you’re losing hair due to DHT sensitivity. Others improve circulation, provide relevant nutrients, and unclog hair follicles, etc.
Apply this hair mask to your hair and massage it into your scalp. Leave it to rest for a minimum of 15 minutes at least once every week. You can let it rest for a longer period or apply it more frequently for quicker results.
Using Hair Care Products with Apple Cider Vinegar
Another way through which you can get the benefits of apple cider vinegar is to use commercial hair care products that contain it. The effects of these hair products may take longer to become visible but this method doesn’t affect your existing lifestyle or routine too heavily.
Therefore, if you want to get the benefits of apple cider vinegar without changing your lifestyle, choose shampoos and conditioners that feature it as one of their ingredients.
5 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Products Comparison Table
| Product Name | Product Type | Volume | Cost (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother | Pure Apple Cider Vinegar | 2 x 16 ounces | $0.41 per ounce | Check Price |
| dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse | Apple Cider VinegarRinse | 20 ounces | $2.85 per ounce | Check Price |
| R+Co Acid Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse | Apple Cider VinegarRinse | 6 ounces | $5.33 per ounce | Check Price |
| Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo | Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo | 12 ounces | $0.56 per ounce | Check Price |
| WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo | Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo | 16.9 ounces | $1.18 per ounce | Check Price |
Best Pure Apple Cider Vinegar: Detailed Review
1. Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
This is one of the purest apple cider vinegar products you’ll find anywhere in the world. In fact, it is USDA certified organic. This not only means that the vinegar in the bottle is free from all artificial adulterants but also that the apples it is made from are organically grown. Further, this apple cider vinegar product is also kosher and non-GMO verified.
More importantly, this apple cider vinegar product is raw and unfiltered. This means that it comes with what most people call the ‘mother’. The term ‘mother’ is used to describe particulates that get created when crushed apples get fermented into apple cider vinegar. It makes the apple cider vinegar cloudy and murky in appearance.
The ‘mother’ consists of various things but the most important ones are related to the bacteria that are used to ferment the crushed apples. The bacteria themselves are present in the ‘mother’ along with various enzymes and proteins that they produce.
Because this product contains apple cider vinegar in its purest form, it delivers the maximum benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair. Moreover, it also offers flexibility in terms of how you use the apple cider vinegar. You can dilute it into a rinse, mix it into a specialized hair mask, drink a solution of it for more generalized health benefits, and even add it to salads for flavor.
Whichever way you decided to use it, diluting it will be very important. Dilution is important because it nullifies the biggest flaw of pure apple cider vinegar – its taste and smell. Pure apple cider vinegar has a very tart taste of vinegar that may overwhelm your taste buds. Further, its smell is also very strong and tart that can be unbearable even in a diluted state.
However, the saving grace is that neither the taste nor the smell lingers. They dissipate very quickly, leaving you feeling refreshed and tingling. The best part of this apple cider vinegar product, though, is its cost. It is unbelievably pocket-friendly. In fact, it is easily the most affordable way for you to use apple cider vinegar.
It even comes in different sized packs. You can get a single bottle on its own or buy a double pack with two bottles. Each bottle will contain 16 ounces of apple cider vinegar which means that it will last you a very long time. Additionally, since pure apple cider vinegar doesn’t go bad easily, you can keep the bottles for as long as you want.
Who’s it for: If you want maximum benefits from apple cider vinegar at the lowest price possible, get this pure apple cider vinegar with ‘mother’ from Bragg.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Pure apple cider vinegar |
| Product weight: 2 x 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Organic apple cider vinegar |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Pure apple cider vinegar with mother |
| USDA certified organic product |
| Can be ingested, used as a rinse, or in hair mask recipes |
| Non-GMO and Kosher verified product |
| Available in two differently sized packs |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Taste and smell can be very difficult to get used too |
2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses: Detailed Reviews
2. dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
If you buy pure apple cider vinegar, you’ll have to dilute it with water to turn it into a rinse. Further, homemade rinses only depend on apple cider vinegar for their benefits, unless you’re willing to buy and add other beneficial ingredients.
The easiest way to get an apple cider vinegar rinse that contains multiple other ingredients is to buy one from a reliable brand. This one from dpHUE is one of the best available in the market right now.
It offers many benefits of apple cider vinegar such as cleansing, smoothing, and shining along with its anti-microbial and anti-inflammation properties. However, in addition to the core qualities of apple cider vinegar, this rinse also offers benefits derived from other ingredients such as aloe vera, lavender, and argan oil.
Aloe vera supports the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory functions of apple cider vinegar but also adds moisture to the hair. Similarly, argan oil supports the smoothing and shining functions of apple cider vinegar while adding moisture. Finally, lavender helps the apple cider vinegar cleanse the scalp while slowing down hair loss with its inherent anti-dihydrotestosterone (anti-DHT) properties.
The fact that this apple cider vinegar rinse can cleanse the scalp while moisturizing the hair means that it can replace shampoos and conditioners both. This is a benefit that commercially produced apple cider vinegar rinses have over homemade apple cider vinegar rinses.
Another advantage this product has over homemade apple cider vinegar rinses is that it doesn’t have a strong, tart smell. While it does smell of apple cider vinegar, the tartness and strength of the scent have both been muted considerably.
The product itself is fairly clean and doesn’t contain any artificial chemicals or compounds such as sulfates, parabens, or silicones. It is even gluten-free and suitable for vegan users.
The biggest problem with this apple cider vinegar rinse from dpHUE is its cost. It is not only very expensive to buy but also to use. It has a very thin consistency which means that you’ll have to use a lot of it every time. As a result, you’ll not only pay heavily to get it the first time but also keep paying frequently for refills.
Even so, you can reduce your expenses by buying bigger bottles of this product because they’re cheaper on a per-ounce basis. The bigger bottle will contain 20 ounces of the rinse while the smaller ones only hold 8.5 ounces.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an apple cider vinegar rinse that moisturizes your hair too, get this one from dpHUE.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Apple cider vinegar rinse |
| Product weight: 20 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, argan kernel oil, African tuliptree flower extract, lavender extract, aloe vera leaf juice, macadamia seed oil, and dandelion leaf extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very easy to use pre-made rinse |
| Contains several other highly-beneficial ingredients |
| Doesn’t smell as tart and strong as pure apple cider vinegar |
| Available in two differently sized bottles |
| The Cons |
|---|
| A very expensively priced product |
| Has a very thin consistency |
3. R+Co Acid Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
R+Co is a luxury brand and they offer products designed for that very rare and discerning buyer. The uniqueness of its products comes from their formulae which feature rare ingredients or rare combinations of ingredients. Take this apple cider vinegar rinse from the company as an example.
It is based on apple cider vinegar but contains other ingredients such as aloe vera leaf juice and tamanu seed oil. The apple cider vinegar in this product, which the company calls ‘apple fruit extract’ for some reason, does most of the heavy lifting such as cleansing the scalp, softening the hair, and even making it shine.
However, the other ingredients contribute too. The aloe vera juice in this product soothes the scalp and even moisturizes the hair while the tamanu seed oil strengthens the hair from the inside and helps seal the moisture in.
Other than these and a few other natural ingredients, the formula of this rinse is completely free of synthetic substances such as parabens, sulfates, and silicones. The product is even gluten-free and rated to be cruelty-free.
This apple cider vinegar rinse also stands out because it doesn’t smell as tangy and sharp as pure apple cider vinegar. While it has the vinegar smell, the smell has been suppressed. Additionally, its scent also has distinct floral notes.
The biggest challenge you’ll face with this rinse from R+Co is its price. Being a luxury product, it is exorbitantly priced and would be beyond the financial reach of most people. However, if you can pay for it, it is well worth a try.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a premium-quality apple cider vinegar rinse, get this one from R+Co.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Apple cider vinegar rinse |
| Product weight: 6 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, aloe vera leaf juice, cranesbill extract, tamanu seed oil, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very easy to use pre-made rinse |
| Contains several other highly-beneficial ingredients |
| Doesn’t smell as tart and strong as pure apple cider vinegar |
| Its smell has floral notes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An incredibly expensive product |
2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
4. Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
It is also possible to gain the hair benefits of apple cider vinegar by using shampoos that feature it as the major ingredient. One of the best shampoos containing apple cider vinegar as an ingredient is the Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend from Aveeno.
This shampoo is hugely popular mainly because it tries to maximize the cleansing qualities of apple cider vinegar without leaving the hair too dry. It does both these things by adding other ingredients to the formula.
The cleansing properties of apple cider vinegar are enhanced with the addition of colloidal oatmeal extract to the shampoo’s formula. Oatmeal is one of the most well-known cleansers in nature.
The oatmeal particles absorb dust, dirt, oil, and grime in the hair, swelling up in the process. When the hair is being rinsed, these engorged oatmeal particles are washed away. Therefore, while apple cider vinegar frees up the buildup, the oatmeal absorbs and removes it.
This shampoo tries to prevent the hair from getting too dry by using hydrolyzed potato starch and silicones. The starch helps condition the hair while the silicones add a protective coating on the cuticle layer that is sealed shut by the apple cider vinegar.
Even though the silicones help protect the hair, they cause some problems too. For instance, they can prevent the cleansing from happening properly. The biggest proof of this is that many users complain that this shampoo tends to leave hair a bit too oily and greasy.
The formula of this shampoo is otherwise free of all artificial or harmful substances such as sulfates and parabens. It still manages to produce a good amount of lather, though.
One great thing about this apple cider vinegar shampoo is that it doesn’t smell like pure apple cider vinegar. It isn’t very tart or overwhelming. In fact, all the tartness has been removed from its smell, leaving behind a light, clean apple scent. However, the scent is a bit too sweet which comes off as a bit too artificial.
While we’re reviewing the shampoo, it is also possible to get this product as a conditioner or even a rinse. Whether you’re buying the shampoo, conditioner, or rinse, you won’t have to spend a lot of money because they’re priced very competitively.
It is also worth pointing out that the shampoo and conditioner will never be as strong as a dedicated rinse. Moreover, a homemade apple cider vinegar rinse will always be stronger than all commercially manufactured products because of its purity.
Who’s it for: If you want the benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair but don’t want to use a rinse separately, get this shampoo from Aveeno.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Apple cider vinegar shampoo |
| Product weight: 12 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal extract, apple cider vinegar, silicones, and hydrolyzed potato starch |
| The Pros |
|---|
| A shampoo with apple cider vinegar benefits |
| Contains oatmeal to support apple cider vinegar |
| Doesn’t smell tart like apple cider vinegar |
| Has a light, clean scent of apples |
| Lathers well |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A very pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t offer the same benefits as pure apple cider vinegar |
| Contains silicones |
| Can leave hair a bit too greasy |
| Its smell is a bit too sweet |
5. WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
This is one of the most popular apple cider vinegar shampoos available in the market. The primary reason why most people like this shampoo is that it offers more than the core benefits of apple cider vinegar.
It not only helps cleanse, smooth, and shine the hair but also works against hair loss. Its anti-hair loss qualities come from the fact that it contains two naturally occurring dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers – saw palmetto and nettle leaf.
In addition to these ingredients, it even contains almond oil and argan oil. While these oils aren’t present in large enough quantities to significantly condition the hair, their presence is enough to blunt the drying influence of apple cider vinegar. In fact, if your hair is oily to start with, their presence may result in this shampoo leaving your hair greasy.
While all these ingredients offer multiple additional benefits, they also combine to reduce the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar to the point that this shampoo cannot cleanse, soothe, smooth, or shine hair like pure apple cider vinegar.
At the same time, the reduced concentration of apple cider vinegar also means that this shampoo doesn’t smell strongly of vinegar. Instead, it has a sweet scent reminiscent of apples or strawberries.
This shampoo isn’t like mainstream shampoos because it doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals and compounds. It is free of silicones, parabens, and sulfates. Even with no sulfates, though, it produces a lot of lather. The shampoo is also rated to be vegan and cruelty-free.
The pricing of this apple cider vinegar shampoo is fairly competitive too. While not the cheapest, it is affordably priced and would appeal to the financial sensibilities of most people.
Who’s it for: If you’re dealing with hair loss and also want the benefits of apple cider vinegar, get this shampoo from WOW.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product type: Apple cider vinegar shampoo |
| Product weight: 16.9 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Provitamin B5, apple cider vinegar, nettle leaf extract, saw palmetto extract, almond oil, and argan oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| A shampoo with apple cider vinegar benefits |
| Contains multiple DHT blockers |
| Doesn’t smell tart like apple cider vinegar |
| Has a mixed scent of strawberry and apples |
| Lathers well |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| A vegan and cruelty-free product |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can leave hair a bit too greasy |
| Doesn’t offer the same benefits as pure apple cider vinegar |
Contents
- What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar Useful in Hair Care?
- Is Apple Cider Vinegar Right for You?
- Are There Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
- How Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair?
- 5 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Products Comparison Table
- Best Pure Apple Cider Vinegar: Detailed Review
- 2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- 2 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
