natjtan A few weeks ago watching Chriselle Lim’s YouTube Winter Favourites video, I was curious try an apple cider vinegar (ACV) hair rinse she recommend by dpHUE. She used it on the days she didn’t use normally shampoo and helped her hair be more manageable. My hair’s fine, oily, somewhere in-between straight and slight wave, stubborn holding styles apart from straight at the hairdressers.
I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I can count on one hand how many times I used my hairdryer in the past year. Only once was to dry my hair, the others attempting to speed up drying pedicures and drying a top after removing a stain. My usual daily hair routine is shampoo, condition, centre part, spritz salt texture spray, twist and secure with grips the front parts for a little umpf and waves, air dry, remove grips, pray I didn’t leave them in long enough they’ve crimped, tousle, voila. It’s washed everyday as A, I can’t stand greasy hair, B, I workout out everyday it gets sweaty. I know it’s not recommended to wash it everyday, but seriously I can’t stand the way a day old hair’s greasy feel.
After looking into DpHUE ACV rinse and finding that no one ships it to Spain, I decided to look for an alternative. A Google search later revealed it promotes shininess, can help balance hair and balance pH level, has antibacterial and anti fungal properties, cleanses and clarifies, adds natural body, detangles, help reduce frizz by smoothing down the cuticles, reduce dandruff, decrease build up, reduce porosity of hair, help prevent split ends and stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss. If it does what is says on the tin, I’m in! If I did it on a Sunday, it won’t matter so much if it doesn’t work.
Recommend is an ACV with the mother in. It’s hard to find one in Spain with the mother in, but P’s been brewing his own for a few batches after recently on his travels purchasing a Bragg’s AVC. Realising it’s super easy to make your own, he started to make his own. (I’ve taken over the ‘care’ of it. Might not be so easy). Anyways, I have AVC with the mother and was game. 
I’ll point out the first time trying it, one site mentioned bicarb soda’s good for removing build up of hair products. I’ve done it before several times, not how they recommend but by, mixing about 1 tbsp of bicarb soda into my shampoo. My hair’s been feeling and looking brassy recently as I missed it’s Equinox cut*. My hair at the roots felt better for it, but felt nasty, so I shampooed again as normal. Up next, the ACV mix.
Recommended** is mixing 2-4 tbsp of ACV to 1 cup water depending on how dry or oily your hair is. I went for 3 tbsp as it’s not super oily. I was concerned it might burn my scalp but needn’t had worried as it’s diluted, but avoid the eyes all the same. You massage it in at the roots, comb/finger comb through the rest (or like dunk the ends in the bowl to soak it up, like me). Leave for about 1-2 minutes. I cheated a little as after rinsing I didn’t like the way the ends felt, so slapped on conditioner. Which turned out to be a mistake.
I’ll admit I was doubtful the rinse would live up to it’s claim, however I’ve never has such silky soft feeling hair, with body! I couldn’t stop touching it when it was dry. I always brush my hair before washing to minimise tangles and comb through afterwards, however my hair was tangle free combing. The ends well, shouldn’t have conditioned them and had faith in the rinse. They felt dry while the rest softer. The vinegar smell washes out. It wasn’t super gloss shiny but for me it had life, looked healthy despite looking 1 dimensional as it’s long over due a cut. I repeated it again about a week later minus the bicarb soda mix, skipping conditioning the ends and the same result. Soft, shiny, healthy looking hair not weighed down or brassy looking. The ends softer. Subsequent everyday shampooing and conditioning, even in need of a long over due cut, it’s hair’s still feeling light and soft.
Overall verdict: I’m adding an ACV rinse 2 times a week to my current hair routine. It’s inexpensive, cruelty free, gives me shiny hair, natural body and can help me use less plastic by using less conditioner, I’m in! Who knows, maybe it’ll replace my conditioner. Maybe go no ‘poo? We’ll see. Baby steps. I still want to try the DpHUE ACV shampoo and leave in conditioner. However if I can make it myself…
*I follow lunar haircuts and go about every 3 months around the solstices and Equinoxes to encourage long hair. I missed the last winter equinox so I’m hoping the Lunar New Year’s moon has some long hair magic.
** I can’t for the life of me find the page with the 2-4 tbsp AVC to 1 cup water, however most recipes I found are 2-3 tbsp AVC to 1 cup water. Trial and error until you find a mix that’s right for your hair.
Have you tired AVC as a beauty product? Have you gone no ‘poo? Was the transition easy?
I love ACV and I find it cures many things. It keeps my acne breakouts at bay, it cured my dandruff and I also use it for skin conditions such as cuts and rashes.
I’m going to have to expand its uses! I remember I used it to get rid of warts once. I don’t know if it worked, but I applied it neat and skin burned. Doh!
Now that my hair is longer, I skip washing it some days. I’ve been surprised with how well that works. My mother used to swear by vinegar
I’m definitely adding it to my hair care routine. Not sure if I want to skip washing yet. Did it take long to adjust skipping washes?
Yes and no. I’m not a morning person. The days when I’m behind schedule, skipping is a blessing. It was more of a mental adjustment for me. My hair is dry so skipping is good for it. With it longer, it works well for me and actually no one can tell. It looks fine.
I get you on the morning part! The mental adjustment element would be the work part for me too. I’ll have to take the plunge one day!