I've read about using apple cider vinegar on your hair on lots of beauty blogs (most notably ohdeardrea), but it wasn't until my friend tried it and raved about the results that I was sold on giving it a go.
WHY If you live somewhere with hard water, like I do in London, chances are it's affecting your hair. Hard water causes the shafts on each strand of hair to stand up, instead of lie flat and smooth. When hair is dry, the soapy deposits in shampoo cling to the shaft and are less easily rinsed out, which means you are likely to get a build up of product that results in limp and lank locks. Using conditioner only masks the problem, using silicone and other chemicals to coat the hair shaft, creating a smoother look. But, as the cycle continues, the product build up will only worsen.
WHAT It might seem illogical to put something acidic like vinegar on your hair, but the results are really surprisingly. I did some research, and it turns out that apple cider vinegar is actually close to the pH of hair, which is naturally acidic, while shampoos and other hair products are strongly alkaline. The apple cider vinegar actually closes the hair shaft, unlike conditioner, resulting in a smoother finish, and it's also a natural detangler. I was sceptical it would get the knots out of my hair like conditioner does but when you rinse it through, it makes it really easy to comb through wet hair.
HOW I'm not ready to go no-poo just yet, so I wash my hair first with a gentle shampoo. To make your own apple cider vinegar rinse, mix 1 part vinegar to about 5 parts water in a jam jar with a secure lid so you can store it in the bathroom. I pour it over both the crown of my head, through the hair at my temples and over the ends, working through any knots with my fingers. Be careful not to get it in your eyes though, it really stings! Once you rinse it out, there is no smell whatsoever left behind. For extra conditioning, you can use it as a leave-in conditioner without rinsing it out. You might smell like a salad for a little while, but my friend assured me that the smell completely goes once hair is dry (and I smelled her hair - it's true!). I dry my hair with a towel using this helpful hair tip and leave it to air dry for a smooth, silky finish.
Would you try it? Let me know how you get on!
I think I will try this! Do you know if it has any effect on color-treated hair?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, actually! I would tread carefully. I'm absolutely no expert on the subject and I've never coloured my hair, but you could try it just on your ends the next time you're due to get your colour done again so that if anything does change, you know you can get it fixed soon.
DeleteI've never heard of this before, but it's definitely interesting. I've heard of the benefits of putting a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in hot water and then drinking it as it's supposed to be cleansing, but haven't tried it plain on my hair. Maybe I'll be brave and give it a go :-)
ReplyDeleteI've heard this too and I can certainly imagine it's true! My boyfriend takes a shot of vinegar for heartburn (I know..gross), but you could make salad dressing with it to make it a bit more palatable!
DeleteThanks for doing this research Catherine - I'm gonna try it! The hard water in north London definitely leaves my hair lank with a ton of build-up. Do you wash out the vinegar rinse with water from your shower? I heard that using bottled water can help with build-up too, but obviously that's pricey...xx
ReplyDeleteTamsin / A Certain Adventure
Yeah I just use regular shower water, but I've heard the same about bottled water, which would definitely be worth it for an event!
Delete"you might smell like a salad for a little while" haha this made me giggle. More seriously I had heard of using vinegar to make your hair shinier before but for some reason I never thought of apple cider vinegar. Interesting... I might try to give this a try and see. Only if I'm sure I'm not going out afterwards!! xx
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