While not exactly as popular as argan oil or even coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (ACV) is still an ingredient that gets a fairly regular mention in most hair care-related communities. The main reason why most people balk at putting vinegar in their hair is that it is a little weird to put something so tart and acidic in your hair. However, apple cider vinegar’s numerous benefits are well-documented.
This is precisely why so many big-name manufacturers in the hair care industry have started offering ACV rinses to their customers. Most of these ACV rinses are marketed at the Curly Girl Method Community. However, this doesn’t mean that they cannot transform your hair care regime drastically for the better.
In fact, ACV rinses can improve the hair health and appearance of virtually anyone under the sun. The key, of course, is to choose the right type of apple cider vinegar rinse and use it in the right way. This guide is dedicated to both these aspects of ACV rinses.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Creme Of Nature Argan Oil Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 3 x 15.5 ounces |
| Cost: $0.56 per ounce |
| An ACV rinse product that offers all the qualities of apple cider vinegar in addition to strong moisturizing qualities without costing a lot, makes the scalp tingle. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| FOUND Haircare Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Volume: 5 ounces |
| Cost: $1.78 per ounce |
| A great ACV rinse that is particularly useful for people with dry hair because it combines apple cider vinegar with multiple other fruit extracts. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 20 ounces |
| Cost: $2.85 per ounce |
| A very competitively priced premium ACV rinse that contains numerous ingredients considered to be highly beneficial for the hair and the scalp. |
| Check Amazon |
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know to be able to use ACV rinse properly along with in-depth reviews of the best ACV rinse products in the market right now.
We’ve even laid everything out in a neat, easy-to-click navigation panel for you. You can use this panel to skip sections that you feel are not relevant to you and even jump forward and backward in case you wish to revisit some sections.
- What Is an ACV Rinse?
- What Are the Benefits of Using an ACV Rinse?
- What Are the Drawbacks of Using an ACV Rinse?
- How Should You Use an ACV Rinse?
- Should You Make ACV Rinses at Home or Buy Them?
- Top 9 ACV Rinses Comparison Table
- Top 3 Budget ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Premium ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
What Is an ACV Rinse?
Before we move onto more complex aspects of the apple cider vinegar rinses, let’s first find out what it is.
An ACV rinse is like a shampoo in the sense that its primary task is to clarify your scalp. It does this without the use of suds or lather, though. This means that it doesn’t contain any surfactants. Instead, it relies on its inherent acidity to cut through the buildup, dust, grime, and grease on your scalp. When you rinse it out, this debris comes out too.
Even though its concentration may vary according to the rinse’s specific formulation, apple cider vinegar is the primary ingredient in most ACV rinses. In fact, their ACV content is responsible for their inherent acidity. Apart from apple cider vinegar, these rinses can contain several different types of ingredients.
Typically, the rinse developers choose the ingredients to either boost the primary action of the apple cider vinegar i.e., cleanse, or compliment it by moisturizing the hair.
Sometimes, it is also possible for the developers to add ingredients to apple cider vinegar for very specific purposes. For example, Pureology and Redken, both known for their colored-hair specific products, particularly offer ACV rinses that can protect the color and improve its radiance in the hair.
Similarly, there are rinses designed specifically to combat itchiness, dryness, dandruff, and buildup. Even though some ACV rinses may be designed to specialize towards particular benefits, you should know that they’ll offer these specialized benefits in addition to the core benefits of apple cider vinegar.
What Are the Benefits of Using an ACV Rinse?
One of the reasons why ACV rinsing is growing in popularity is that its benefits are diverse. The diversity of its benefits makes it suitable for almost everyone. In fact, the core benefits of an ACV rinse can be divided into three categories. These are cleansing, relieving, and beautifying.
Let’s take a look at them all one by one.
How Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanses?
Apple cider vinegar’s acidity is a result of its acetic acid content. Usually, acetic acid accounts for about five percent of high-quality apple cider vinegar. While it may seem a small percentage, it is sufficient to deal with even the toughest of buildup in your scalp.
The acidity of ACV allows it to penetrate and break up buildup in the scalp. In fact, it is considered to be one of the strongest, naturally occurring clarification agents in the world. Moreover, if you make your ACV rinse at home, you can even make it stronger than commercially available clarifying shampoos However, unless you’re very experienced with acid washes, we wouldn’t recommend this because it can lead to some side effects.
Fortunately, most commercially available ACV rinses are categorically designed to not be as strong as clarifying shampoos. However, they still excel when it comes to clarifying and detoxifying the scalp.
How Apple Cider Vinegar Relieves?
The clarification and detoxification that you get from apple cider vinegar rinses also help against problems like flakes and dandruff because, in the process of removing buildup from the scalp, the rinse gets rid of these things too.
Further, the removal of all the detritus takes away the raw material that microorganisms need to thrive and multiply. This is one of the main reasons why people suffering from psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and other similar infections are drawn to ACV rinses.
ACV rinses also possess the ability to relieve inflammation, irritation, and itchiness in the scalp. They’re good at soothing and calming the scalp for multiple reasons.
The first is that apple cider vinegar possesses strong anti-inflammatory agents. Further, in rinses, it is often supported by other ingredients with similar properties such as aloe vera, peppermint, and tea tree.
In addition to this, ACV rinses’ soothing ability comes from the fact that they can rebalance the scalp’s pH. To understand why this is important, we need to understand one key aspect of mainstream cleansers.
The majority of shampoos, shampoo bars, and soaps available in the market are hugely alkaline which means that they have high pH. Most of these commercial cleansing products tend to have a pH value closer to nine.
Our skin and scalp, on the other hand, are neutral, which means that their pH value is somewhere between four and five. When we use these commercial cleansers on our hair, they change the scalp’s pH value and make it more alkaline. This causes irritation, inflammation, and itchiness because the new pH doesn’t suit our scalps.
Apple cider vinegar’s pH ranges between two and three. Further, it is usually diluted in the rinse form which means that its pH value drifts closer to four. This brings it close to the pH range of our scalp. Therefore, if you use an ACV rinse, you will be bringing your scalp’s pH value to what it is supposed to be. As a result, all the irritation and itchiness will disappear.
How Apple Cider Vinegar Beautifies?
Too much alkalinity in the scalp has repercussions for the appearance of the hair too. In fact, high pH in the scalp is known to make the hair rougher and duller. Besides, it can lead to other problems such as frizz, flyaway hair, split ends, and even breakage. All this happens because of how the cuticle layer of the hair responds to the pH in its surroundings.
The cuticle layer of the hair is the outermost covering of every hair shaft. It consists of scale-like cuticles that are supposed to overlap tightly. However, the cuticle layer can also open up to make it easier for the hair to absorb water.
An alkaline environment in the scalp pushes the cuticles of every hair shaft to open up. This makes the hair rougher which, in turn, causes it to snag. This is how hair gets frizzy and flyaways develop. Further, the increased friction cause hair damage in the form of split ends and breakage.
The rebalancing of the scalp’s pH allows the cuticles to become tightly packed again. This makes the outermost layer of the hair smooth. The smooth outer layer not only makes the hair look shinier but also healthier. Further, smoother hair shafts are silkier and less prone to breakage.
What Are the Drawbacks of Using an ACV Rinse?
There are three drawbacks of using an ACV rinse. However, only one of these drawbacks is inherent to ACV rinses. The other two are related to the improper use of the ACV rinse.
The inherent flaw of using an ACV rinse is its smell. Apple cider vinegar, because of its acetic acid content, has a very strong, sharp, and tart smell. The majority of people don’t like this smell. Fortunately, this smell doesn’t linger. You can expect this smell to be the strongest at the point of application but it will fade away as you rinse your hair. By the time your hair is dry, the smell would be completely gone.
The two other flaws of using an ACV rinse are connected to how it is made i.e., the ratio of apple cider vinegar to other ingredients in the rinse.
If the ACV content is too high in the rinse and the user’s hair is inherently dry, the rinse can leave the hair very dry and feeling straw-like. Typically, this will happen with homemade ACV rinses if the user makes the rinse too strong.
An overly strong ACV rinse will also be more acidic than recommended. The excess acidity can push the scalp to become acidic too. This can result in the rinse causing irritation and itching instead of relieving it.
How Should You Use an ACV Rinse?
Using an apple cider vinegar rinse is very easy. Here are the steps you can follow.
- Shampoo your hair like you normally do
- Lean your head back before pouring the ACV rinse onto your hair.
- Make sure that the ACV rinse spreads through your hair and your scalp thoroughly. Rake your fingers through your hair or even a wide-toothed comb to ensure this.
- Allow the rinse to stay in your hair for up to two minutes. Anything less than 30 seconds would not do anything for your scalp or your hair.
- Thoroughly rinse the ACV rinse from your hair using cool water.
- If your hair tends towards dryness after using an ACV rinse, apply a conditioner or oil but still keep it towards the ends of your hair and away from your scalp.
How often you use the ACV rinse depends on your hair type and scalp condition. People with thick or oily hair are advised to use ACV rinses once a week while people with dry, fine hair should limit their use to once every fortnight.
However, if you’re trying to deal with problems like dandruff, psoriasis, or another type of scalp infection, you’ll need to use ACV rinses more often. In fact, people with such scalp problems are also advised to use larger concentrations of the ACV rinses along with letting them stay on their scalp longer.
Should You Make ACV Rinses at Home or Buy Them?
If you want to use an ACV rinse, then you have two options. You can buy raw apple cider vinegar and make your rinse at home or buy a commercially manufactured ACV rinse. Both these options have their pros and cons.
Homemade ACV Rinse
The two biggest advantages of making your ACV rinse at home are that it is cheap and that you get greater control over its formula. As a result, making it at home will not only help you save money but will also give you the option of changing the strength of the ACV rinse as per your preferences. Further, you’ll also be able to add essential oils of your choice every time.
The actual formula of a basic ACV rinse is fairly simple if you want to make it at home. It just boils down to mixing apple cider vinegar and water in the right ratio.
You can put anything between two to four tablespoons of ACV in about 16 ounces of water. You can also add essential oils into this mix to change its scent or even salicylic acid to give it strong antimicrobial qualities.
How much ACV you use will depend on various things such as:
- Length of your hair
- Thickness or fineness of your hair
- Dryness or oiliness of your hair
- The severity of irritation or dandruff in your hair
While the biggest strength of making ACV rinse at home is that you can play with the formula, it also happens to be its biggest flaw. There is the risk that your ACV rinse’s strength and composition will vary from one application to another. This can often mean the difference between good and poor results.
Further, making the ACV rinse at home requires effort. Experts suggest that homemade ACV rinses are most effective when they’re made just before the bath. This means that you’ll have to make your ACV rinse weekly. This could be a problem for busy people.
Commercially Available ACV Rinses
Commercially available ACV rinses offer the exact opposite benefits. They have a fixed formula which means that once you find one that works for you, there’s no risk of strength-related fluctuations. Even the added ingredients in their formula are fixed. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether the ingredients work for your hair or not.
Further, the fact that commercially available ACV rinses are so easy to get means that you’ll be able to get the benefits of ACV without worrying about putting in the extra effort before every application.
The biggest flaw of commercially available ACV rinses is their cost. The best ones almost always cost a lot of money, especially if you have long hair and need to use them weekly. Even so, there are a few good ones in the market that are available at fairly affordable prices.
We’ve reviewed the cheapest and the best, along with the ones that offer the best value below for your convenience. We’ve also reviewed the best pure Apple Cider Vinegar available in the market right now, in case you’re only interested in making your ACV rinse at home.
Top 9 ACV Rinses Comparison Table
| Product Name | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother | 2 x 16 ounces | $0.39 per ounce | Check Price |
| Creme Of Nature Argan Oil Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse | 3 x 15.5 ounces | $0.56 per ounce | Check Price |
| Aveeno Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar In-Shower Hair Rinse | 6.8 ounces | $1.03 per ounce | Check Price |
| FOUND Haircare Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse | 5 ounces | $1.78 per ounce | Check Price |
| Hair Food Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse | 6.7 ounces | $1.93 per ounce | Check Price |
| Renpure plant-based Beauty Apple Cider Vinegar Clarify + Shine Scalp Serum | 4 ounces | $2.00 per ounce | Check Price |
| dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse | 20 ounces | $2.85 per ounce | Check Price |
| Pureology Vinegar Hair Rinse | 8.5 ounces | $3.41 per ounce | Check Price |
| R+Co Acid Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse | 6 ounces | $5.33 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 3 Budget ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
1. Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
When making ACV rinse at home, you’ll have to pay a lot of attention to the ratios. However, even more important than the ratio is the purity of the apple cider vinegar you use.
If the ACV you use isn’t the purest, then it will not only result in your rinse being ineffective but can also cause dangerous side effects. This is why we’ve decided to review a pure ACV product in this guide on mixed ACV rinses.
We’ve chosen this product from Bragg to be the only pure apple cider vinegar product in this guide because of its purity. This product is made with organic apples which is why it has managed to get the USDA organic certification. In addition to being USDA certified organic, it is also a non-GMO verified and Kosher certified product.
In fact, this apple cider vinegar is completely raw and unfiltered. This means that it contains “mother”. “Mother” is a term used to define particulate matter in the apple cider vinegar that has been left behind from the fermentation process. To understand what it is you need to know how apple cider vinegar is made.
It is made through a two-step process. In the first step, apples are pulped and exposed to yeast. The yeast converts them into a mix of alcohols. These alcohols are then exposed to certain bacteria in the second step. The purpose of the second step is to produce acetic acid.
After the two-step fermentation process, most manufacturers filter the apple cider vinegar to remove the particulate matter which comprises enzymes, proteins, and friendly bacteria. However, the particular matter or “mother” is supposed to be healthy because of its probiotic nature.
The fact that this pure apple cider vinegar from Bragg contains “mother is the reason for its murky or cloudy appearance.
You can get this pure apple cider vinegar in either a single or double bottle pack. It doesn’t matter whether you buy the single or double pack, though, since the product, in general, is incredibly cheap. Each bottle holds 16 ounces of the product.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking to make your ACV rinse at home, this is the best apple cider vinegar to use because of its purity.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Organic apple cider vinegar |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Pure apple cider vinegar with mother |
| USDA certified organic product |
| Non-GMO and Kosher verified product |
| Available in two differently sized packs |
| An incredibly pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Has to be mixed with water to make a rinse |
2. Creme Of Nature Argan Oil Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
One of the biggest challenges people face when using ACV rinses is that they leave their hair dry and straw-like.
This happens because of the clarifying nature of apple cider vinegar. ACV clarifies by removing buildup in the scalp. Often, this also includes oils and sebum that the scalp and hair need. This is the main reason for the dryness problem caused by ACV rinses. However, in the majority of cases, this problem only bothers people with dry hair types.
There are two things that people with this problem can do. The first is that they apply a lightweight conditioner after using their ACV rinse and the other is that they get an ACV rinse whose drying properties have been nullified. This ACV rinse from Crème of Nature is the perfect example.
While ACV is still the most important ingredient in this rinse, it contains Moroccan argan oil too. Argan oil is one of the strongest hair moisturizers in nature and works to counter the drying properties of the ACV in this rinse. As a result, this ACV rinse will not only cleanse your scalp but will also moisturize it in the process.
The argan oil in this ACV rinse offers many other benefits. For example, its strong scent works well to mask the tart and sharp nature of the ACV scent. This is why this is one of the very few ACV rinses in the market that don’t smell of ACV. Instead, it smells of argan oil.
Unfortunately, this smell is quite strong and many people even describe it as a bit overpowering. People who like argan oil scent will love this ACV rinse but if you have no experience with this smell, we suggest getting a whiff somewhere before buying this product.
Another positive quality of this product is that it makes the scalp tingle. This quality comes from the fact that this ACV rinse’s formula contains menthol and green tea extract. Therefore, if you’re someone who likes this kind of tingle, you’ll love this product.
In fact, the formula of this ACV rinse contains quite a few ingredients that are scientifically proven to be healthy for hair. These include provitamin B5, hydrolyzed keratin, rosemary leaf extract, hydrolyzed rice protein, and vitamin E. Further, it is free from synthetic ingredients such as silicones, parabens, and sulfates.
Unlike the majority of its competitors, this ACV rinse also comes with a dispensing nozzle instead of a needle-nose applicator. However, the two aren’t that different and you shouldn’t have any trouble applying this product to your scalp.
You can get this ACV rinse in either a single pack or a triple pack containing bottles that can hold 15.5 ounces of the product. This is also a very cheap product, even though it is manufactured domestically.
Who’s it for: If you want an ACV rinse that also possesses strong moisturizing qualities at affordable prices, get this one from Crème of Nature.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 3 x 15.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Castor oil, apple cider vinegar, provitamin B5, menthol, argan oil, hydrolyzed keratin, rosemary leaf extract, hydrolyzed rice protein, vitamin E, and tea plant leaf extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with argan oil |
| Moisturizes well |
| Contains several other highly-beneficial ingredients |
| Doesn’t smell of apple cider vinegar at all |
| Makes the scalp tingle |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Comes with a dispensing nozzle |
| Available in two differently sized bottles |
| Made in the US |
| A very pocket-friendly product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Smells strongly of argan oil |
3. Aveeno Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar In-Shower Hair Rinse
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Aveeno is a company that has been around since 1945 and specializes in hair products that feature oats as their primary ingredient. As a result, it has become fairly synonymous with oats-based products.
The company has managed to combine ACV with oats to create a rinse that performs excellently when it comes to cleansing and clarifying the scalp. The oats also work well to counter the drying effects of the apple cider vinegar.
In fact, this ACV rinse doesn’t dry the hair at all. On the contrary, it moisturizes and even has the potential to make the hair greasy and oily. While oatmeal is partially to blame for this, the greasiness is also a result of this product containing a lot of proteins and silicones.
Silicones can be especially problematic for people with buildup prone scalps. Silicones, which are typically seen in conditioners, build up in the hair over time and can be particularly difficult to remove. Proteins can also make the hair greasy but they’re absorbed by the hair strands after some time.
Even though the formula of this ACV rinse contains silicones, it is without other synthetic ingredients found commonly in hair products such as sulfates and parabens.
Another great quality of this ACV rinse from Aveeno is that it doesn’t smell of apple cider vinegar. Instead, it smells only of apple cider. The scent is fairly light, sweet, and refreshing.
This is one of few ACV rinses in the market that don’t come with a pump or an applicator. In terms of pricing, this is a fairly cheap ACV rinse even though it is made domestically in the US.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an ACV rinse that specializes in clarifying scalp and have very dry hair, get this one from Aveeno.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 6.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal extract, silicones, apple cider vinegar, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with oatmeal |
| Cleanses well |
| Smells of apple cider instead of apple cider vinegar |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Made in the US |
| A fairly affordable product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Can make hair oily and greasy |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing mechanism |
Top 3 Value ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
4. FOUND Haircare Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The company, Found, focuses on using botanicals to create hair products. Their ACV rinse is based on ACV but also contains apple fruit extract. In fact, the formula incorporates extracts from multiple other fruits such as peaches and apricots too.
The presence of these fruit extracts means that this product is flush with the kind of vitamins that can help your hair. Additionally, the formula also incorporates conditioning agents designed to moisturize the hair.
As a result, while this ACV rinse performs well when it comes to removing buildup and cleansing the scalp without drying the hair, it might prove to be a bit too hydrating for some people. If you have normal to oily hair, then this ACV rinse may make your hair greasy and oily.
Despite this, though, the formula of this ACV rinse is free of the usual artificial ingredients. It doesn’t contain silicones, parabens, or sulfates. In fact, it is even rated to be cruelty-free which is something that will appeal to animal lovers.
In terms of smell, Found has managed to remove the tart vinegar smell without taking away the refreshing apple scent. The result is that this product smells fresh and clean like green apples.
Applying this ACV rinse is very easy because it comes with a needle-nose applicator. The needle nose applicator excels at getting through the hair to the scalp.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an ACV rinse that offers the benefits of multiple other fruits, get this one from Found.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, apple fruit extract, apricot fruit extract, and peach fruit extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with multiple fruit extracts |
| Smells of green apple instead of apple cider vinegar |
| Makes the scalp tingle |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| A cruelty-free product |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can make hair oily and greasy |
5. Hair Food Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
A lot of people switch to ACV rinses because they want to stop depending on mainstream hair care products. As a result, they try to replace their shampoos and conditioners with ACV rinses.
The inherent nature of ACV rinses is such that they’re ideal replacements for shampoos. However, with minor tweaks in their formula, they can replace conditioners too. ACV rinses that are supposed to replace conditioners tend to be very gentle and hydrating.
This Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse from Hair Food is the perfect example. It is one of the gentlest ACV rinses on the market. It is developed in a way that it offers all the benefits of apple cider vinegar in the mildest way possible.
With this ACV rinse, Hair Food developers have tried to keep the formula very simple as well. As a result, they’ve used the same ingredient to reduce the strength of apple cider vinegar and provide hydration. Unfortunately, that ingredient is silicones.
If you have very dry hair, the silicones in this ACV rinse can work wonders for you while the ACV cleanses your scalp. However, people with all other hair types will find their hair getting extra greasy because of these silicones. Additionally, these silicones can build up in your hair too.
The simple nature of this ACV rinse’s formula means that it contains only three major ingredients. Other than silicones and apple cider vinegar, it contains castor oil which contributes considerably to its moisturizing qualities. The formula doesn’t rely on other artificial ingredients such as parabens and sulfates.
One of the best qualities of this ACV rinse is that it doesn’t smell of apple cider vinegar. The smell is neither too sharp nor very tart. Instead, it is a clean scent that most people describe as refreshing.
Applying this ACV rinse is fairly easy because, like most ACV rinse products in the market, it comes with a needle-nose applicator.
Who’s it for: If you want an ACV rinse that can replace conditioners in your regime, get this one from Hair Food.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 6.7 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones, hydrogenated castor oil, apple cider vinegar |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with castor oil |
| Smooths hair well |
| Has a refreshing, clean scent |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Can make hair oily and greasy |
6. Renpure plant-based Beauty Apple Cider Vinegar Clarify + Shine Scalp Serum
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Even though Renpure doesn’t market this product as an ACV rinse and chooses to use the term “scalp serum”, it still performs the same functions. This product’s formula enhances the core functions of ACV rinses through the addition of multiple other ingredients.
The ingredients that offer similar benefits as apple cider vinegar are ginger root and peppermint extract. Both have similar anti-inflammatory properties as apple cider vinegar. The addition of these ingredients also allows this rinse to retain its cleansing properties without the sharp scent of apple cider vinegar.
As a result, this ACV rinse has a completely different smell from what you would expect an ACV rinse to have. Its scent can be best described as earthy, woodsy, and musky with a hint of mint. Many people, in fact, find it a bit on the masculine side. The peppermint in this ACV rinse means that this ACV rinse will make your scalp tingle too.
In terms of its core purpose, this ACV rinse performs well because it does cut through the buildup in the scalp. It does this without any artificial ingredients too. You won’t find sulfates, parabens, or even silicones in this ACV rinse.
At the same time, the formula of this ACV rinse incorporates hydrolyzed pea protein in substantial quantities. As a result, if you have slightly oily to very oily hair, you run the risk of greasiness if you use this product.
Like most ACV rinses in the market, this one comes with a needle-nose applicator.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a very strong ACV rinse that neither smells of ACV nor dries your hair, get this product from Renpure.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, larch tree, ginger root extract, peppermint leaf extract, and hydrolyzed pea protein |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with other similar ingredients |
| Cleanses well |
| Smells musky and woodsy instead of having an apple cider vinegar scent |
| Makes the scalp tingle a little |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can make hair oily and greasy |
| Some people find its scent a bit too masculine |
Top 3 Premium ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
7. dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
This ACV rinse from dpHUE is a premium-grade product which means it has all the qualities you would expect from a luxury item. However, unlike most premium-grade products, this one isn’t exorbitantly priced. In fact, if you compare it to other luxury ACV rinses available in the market, you’ll find it to be quite affordable and pocket-friendly. Even so, it is still more expensively priced than the budget options you can go for.
It’s competitive pricing, though, does not take away from its effectiveness and benefits. It is a great cleanser with superb antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities mainly because it pairs apple cider vinegar with aloe vera extract.
Notably, this great ACV rinse will work for most hair types with extremely oily hair being the only exception. This is because it incorporates argan oil into its formula. Argan oil is one of the best hair conditioning agents in nature.
Its inclusion in this product’s formula means that this ACV rinse doesn’t dry hair like most competing products. The argan oil is also the reason why this ACV rinse isn’t the best bet for people with very oily hair. If your hair is of this type and you use this product, your hair can end up even oilier.
This ACV rinse is domestically manufactured. Even the apple cider vinegar used in this rinse is sourced locally from George Paul Vinegary located in Nebraska. The company also specifies that the apple cider vinegar it uses is produced through traditional methods.
The ACV in this product is quite strong too which is why it retains its tart and sharp scent. However, the scent isn’t very strong and is very much on the milder side.
Further, this product is completely natural and doesn’t contain sulfates, silicones, or parabens. It is also available in two different bottle sizes. The smaller one contains 8.5 ounces of the product while the larger one has a capacity to hold 20 ounces.
Each bottle also comes with a needle-nose applicator that makes it easy to apply.
Who’s it for: If you would like to use a luxury ACV rinse but don’t want to spend too much, get this affordably priced premium-grade product.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with argan oil |
| Cleanses and moisturizes well |
| Contains several other highly-beneficial ingredients |
| Has a very mild apple cider vinegar scent |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| Available in two differently sized bottles |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An expensively priced product |
| Can make hair oily and greasy |
| Smells a little of apple cider vinegar |
8. Pureology Vinegar Hair Rinse
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
If you color your hair, it is highly unlikely that you’re not aware of Pureology because as a brand because it specializes in manufacturing products for colored hair.
While ACV rinses are generally good for colored hair, an ACV rinse that has been specifically developed will always be a better option. Vinegar Hair Rinse from Pureology is that product. It is intended to offer all the usual benefits of apple cider vinegar with special emphasis on two things. The first is making the hair shine and the other is improving the color radiance of the hair.
The best part is that this ACV rinse moisturizes the hair too. This is an important feature because people who color their hair often complain about excessive dryness. Effectively, this product is intended for people with dry and color-treated hair.
The moisturizing element in this ACV rinse’s formula is castor oil. In terms of color brilliance, this ACV rinse depends on cactus pear flower extract in a hydrolyzed form. This ACV rinse is also free from the usual synthetic substances you find in hair care products such as sulfates, silicones, and parabens.
The scent of this ACV rinse, though, still comes from its apple cider vinegar content. The good bit is that the scent isn’t strong. It doesn’t even linger and will dissipate as soon as your hair dries.
Every bottle also comes with a needle-nose applicator. The applicator can be very useful if you have a lot of hair and want to prevent wastage.
Other than its mild apple cider vinegar smell, the only other flaw of this ACV rinse is its cost. It is expensively priced as is the case with most hair products intended for colored hair.
Who’s it for: If you need an ACV rinse but have been holding back because your hair is colored, this is the product for you.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, hydrogenated castor oil, and hydrolyzed cactus pear flower extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with castor oil |
| Protects colored hair well |
| Boosts color radiance too |
| Has a very mild apple cider vinegar scent |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An expensively priced product |
| Smells a little of apple cider vinegar |
9. R+Co Acid Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
R+Co symbolizes luxury. All their products are intended for the discerning individual who wants the best and is willing to pay for it. The ACV rinse from this company typifies this.
It is a product that not only cleanses the scalp, relieves inflammation-related problems, and makes the hair shine but also one that does all this without drying the scalp or even making the hair greasy. In effect, R+Co has found the perfect balance in its ACV rinse.
While this is partially because they’ve found the right ratio for their ingredients, it is also because of the type of ingredients they’ve used. For example, even though the base in this ACV rinse is ACV, it contains aloe vera leaf juice and tamanu seed oil as well.
Aloe vera leaf juice complements the cleansing and anti-inflammatory nature of ACV and even combines with tamanu seed oil to moisturize and condition the hair.
Other than these ingredients, this product contains cranesbill extract and hydrolyzed vegetable oil. It is completely free of artificial ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and silicones. The product is even rated to be gluten and cruelty-free.
The scent of this ACV rinse is influenced heavily by the fact that it is based on ACV. However, the developers have managed to tone it down to a point where it is very mild. In addition, they’ve even managed to add floral notes to this smell, making it far more appealing than the tartness and sharpness of pure ACV.
Like most ACV rinses, this one also comes with a needle-nose applicator that can be used to apply the rinse straight onto the scalp.
As we mentioned earlier, this is a near-perfect luxury product. In fact, the only real problem with this product is its cost. It is unbelievably expensive and some people who have tried it believe that as good as this ACV rinse is, it isn’t worth the cost.
Who’s it for: If you want an ACV rinse that will cleanse and moisturize your scalp without making it either dry or greasy, get this one from R+Co.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 6 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, aloe vera leaf juice, cranesbill extract, tamanu seed oil, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Combines apple cider vinegar with several other highly-beneficial ingredients |
| Moisturizes well |
| Has a very mild apple cider vinegar smell with floral notes |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Comes with a needle-nose applicator |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An incredibly expensive product |
| Smells a little like apple cider vinegar |
Contents
- What Is an ACV Rinse?
- What Are the Benefits of Using an ACV Rinse?
- What Are the Drawbacks of Using an ACV Rinse?
- How Should You Use an ACV Rinse?
- Should You Make ACV Rinses at Home or Buy Them?
- Top 9 ACV Rinses Comparison Table
- Top 3 Budget ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Premium ACV Rinses: Detailed Reviews
