Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair: A Complete Guide to Shinier, Healthier Strands
Say Goodbye To Dull Hair With This Pantry Staple
Thinking about trying apple cider vinegar for hair? You're definitely onto something. This pantry staple has been a total game-changer for hair and scalp health way longer than you might think. Apple cider vinegar's clarifying and shine-boosting superpowers make it perfect if you're all about that clean beauty life.
But before you raid your pantry, there's actually some real science behind making this work. As your trusted source for all things beauty, we've done all the research (so you don't have to) to give you the real scoop on this trending hair hack. Ready to dive into the proven benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair, discover the best ACV products worth your money, and learn our favorite DIY tricks that'll leave your strands seriously shiny and healthy? Let's dive in.
Why Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair Is Trending
Two words—clean beauty. Apple cider vinegar (ACV for short) is a type of vinegar made from fermented apples, yeast, and sugar. Rich in vitamins C and B, live cultures, and minerals, it is commonly used as a dietary aid for gut health. The apple cider vinegar benefits for hair rest in its ability to restore the scalp's natural pH balance. To translate: ACV promotes the hair's cuticle structure to strengthen and add shine to hair.
ACV is having a major moment in natural haircare routines because it's incredibly effective at removing product buildup, dead skin cells, and pollutants from the hair and scalp. The clean haircare crowd even swears by using apple cider vinegar for dandruff treatment.
Top Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair
The acidic properties of ACV help balance scalp pH, which is honestly the foundation of healthy hair. When your scalp's pH is out of whack, it can lead to everything from excess oil production to irritation and even hair loss.
If you battle frizzy, dull hair, look forward to these benefits:
- Improves overall scalp health by promoting a healthy scalp microbiome and creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can thrive
- Reduces dandruff and buildup with natural cleansing properties that gently dissolve product residue and dead skin cells
- Adds shine and smoothness by flattening hair cuticles and removing dulling buildup that blocks light reflection
- May strengthen hair and reduce breakage by improving scalp circulation and creating optimal conditions for hair follicle health
- Antimicrobial and antifungal properties help address scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and fungal infections that can cause flaking and irritation
How to Make an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Before diving into some of our favorite ACV hair products, let's keep it simple with our go-to homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse recipe.
What You'll Need:
- 1 tablespoon raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with "the mother" (we love Bragg's or similar brands)
- 1 cup (8 ounces) cool or lukewarm water
- Spray bottle or squeeze bottle
- Optional: 2-3 drops essential oil for fragrance
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare your bottle: Choose a clean spray bottle or squeeze bottle that holds at least 8 ounces.
- Add the water: Pour 1 cup of cool or lukewarm water into your bottle.
- Add the ACV: Measure 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar and add it to the water.
- Add fragrance (optional): If you want to mask the vinegar smell, add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil like lavender or rosemary.
- Mix thoroughly: Shake or stir the mixture well to ensure everything is evenly combined.
- Use immediately: This recipe makes enough for a single use. We recommend making a fresh batch every time to avoid bacterial growth.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Hair
Now that you've got your homemade rinse ready, let's talk about how to actually use it. The good news? ACV works beautifully on color-treated hair, permed or relaxed hair, and even dry hair. Some people even swear that a little ACV helps extend their color longevity. However, the acidic nature of ACV can be irritating for super-sensitive scalps, so we always recommend doing a patch test on a small area before going full treatment mode. We also suggest keeping ACV treatments to just a few times a month for clarifying purposes—more isn't always better.
Pick one of the two methods below based on your hair goals.
Pre-Treatment Rinse
Do this on dry hair before shampooing to remove product buildup up to three times per week:
- Apply your ACV spray liberally (10+ squirts) to dry scalp and hair
- Massage scalp with fingers or a scalp massager for better penetration
- Rinse thoroughly with water
- Shampoo and condition as usual
Post-Shampoo Conditioning Rinse
Use ACV in place of conditioner once a week to let it coat and seal hair shafts:
- After washing hair as usual, apply your ACV rinse to scalp and hair shaft liberally
- Allow to sit for up to five minutes (great time for a quick face mask)
- Rinse well and style as usual
- If you have an aversion to ACV's vinegar smell, add a tiny drop of essential oil to your mixture
Tips for Using a DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Getting the most from your apple cider vinegar hair rinse is all about proper technique and consistency. We've learned a few tricks over the years that'll help you avoid common mistakes and maximize your results.
Give your tresses the most from ACV with these tips:
- Always do a patch test first to make sure ACV doesn't irritate your scalp
- Stick to three times a week max, overdoing it can lead to dryness and irritation
- Follow our earlier tip to only use raw, unfiltered ACV with the "mother" to get beneficial enzymes and probiotics that improve scalp health
- Avoid contact with eyes. While natural and safe, ACV can sting
- Customize your ACV spray with essential oils like rosemary when using apple cider for hair growth or tea tree oil if you want dandruff relief
Best Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Products You Can Buy
While we love a good DIY moment, sometimes you want the convenience of a ready-made product. Our editors have researched the whole apple cart when it comes to apple cider vinegar for scalp and hair to put together a curated list of shampoos, rinses, and scalp treatments with ACV. From investigating ingredients to analyzing formulations, we've done the legwork for you to compile the best ACV products for every hair type.
All products and deals are sourced by the Rank & Style team using data and expert insights. If you shop through our links, we may earn a commission—at no extra cost to you.
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos and Conditioners
ACV shampoos and conditioners are ideal for medium to oily scalps. Look for products offering gentle cleansing to remove buildup and soothe the scalp. For more sensitive scalps, check out our recent rundown of the Top 10 Shampoos.
We like dpHUE's Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo for daily use because it infuses apple stem cells and hyaluronic acid to support hair growth and reduce shedding. More importantly, it's free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, alcohol, silicone, and other drying ingredients.
We also like dpHUE's Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask made with ACV that's blended with essential fatty acids, rosehip, avocado, and coconut oils. A rich formulation full of B3, it uses plant-based emollients to restore elasticity for soft, lustrous hair. Get it with a Nordstrom promo code.
.png&w=640&q=75)
.png&w=640&q=75)
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinses and Treatments
Formulated to clarify, soothe, and reset the scalp, rinses are essential for removing product buildup to get shiny, weightless hair. Rotate them weekly or biweekly in place of shampoo.
One of our easy favorites for restoring hair to a clean state is R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse featuring apple fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, and tamanu seed oil.
If you need a purifier that's also a great detangler, FEKKAI's popular Apple Cider Detox Rinse resets hair with ACV combined with ginger extract, lavender flower extract, thyme extract, and other non-drying natural ingredients. Free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, this clean formula seals cuticles and brings the shine. Try this sustainable and luxurious rinse with an Ulta Beauty coupon code.
To add moisture back in after ACV treatments, grab a nourishing pick from our recent Top 10 Products for Natural Hair.
.png&w=640&q=75)
.png&w=640&q=75)
Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-In Sprays and Mists
If the goal is setting and forgetting, lightweight leave-in sprays and mists are perfect for detangling, smoothing, adding shine, or balancing the scalp between washes. Different spray formulations work for conditioning or cleansing. For oily hair, rotate between an ACV leave-in product and a pick from our curated Top 10 Treatments for Oily Hair.
When we want something as gentle as our homemade ACV spray with some added oomph, it's AG Care Natural Remedy Apple Cider Vinegar Leave On Mist every time. Made for all hair types, this hydrating mist turns our hair glossy and cleansed with lasting, locked-in moisture from ACV, spearmint oil, and nourishing fruit extract. Stock up with an Amazon promo code.
For shine and luster on the go, dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar WonderWorks Leave-In Conditioner works wonders for minimizing heat and styling damage. A combination of ACV, grape seed extract, and vitamin E leaves hair soft and manageable with comb-through performance lasting all day. We use up to 10 sprays over damp hair.
.png&w=640&q=75)
.png&w=640&q=75)
Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Serums and Scrubs
While our recent list of Top 10 Scalp Serums offers great picks for non-irritating cleansing and nourishment, concoctions with ACV are smart if you suspect your flaky, itchy, irritated scalp is owed to mismatched scalp pH. ACV scalp soothers can be paired with massaging applicators or scrub textures to remove buildup.
Like a scalp facial, FEKKAI's Apple Cider Detox Scrub cuts through visible scalp buildup to detoxify and purify without stripping natural oils. The formulation's salicylic acid dissolves scaly skin while rice extract gently exfoliates. Bonus points for the eye-opening scent of green apple, spearmint, creamy woods, and clean citrus. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment.
For an after-shampoo treatment, Renpure Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Serum penetrates hair cuticles for boundless shine and hydration. We like it for oil control and softness. Ginger root extract boosts scalp circulation and naturally conditions hair. The peppermint leaf extract leaves scalp tingling and invigorated in the best way. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and propylene, it's the perfect step between shampooing and conditioning.
.png&w=640&q=75)
.png&w=640&q=75)
Questions About Using Apple Cider Vinegar on Hair
We get a lot of questions about apple cider vinegar for hair, and honestly, we totally understand why. When you're putting something new on your precious strands, you want to make sure you're doing it right. Here are the most common questions we hear about using ACV on hair:
Is apple cider vinegar safe for all hair types?
Yes, ACV is safe for all hair types and textures (treated and non-treated). You should read labels of all ACV products to ensure other ingredients won't strip colored or treated hair. Do a patch test to verify your scalp isn't sensitive to ACV's acidity.
Can I leave apple cider vinegar in my hair overnight?
Anything that is labeled as a leave-in spray is safe for overnight use. Pure diluted ACV is also safe for extended wear, just be sure to do a patch test first.
Does apple cider vinegar remove hair dye or affect color-treated hair?
No, ACV used a few times a month shouldn't negatively impact color-treated hair. Many people find that ACV actually increases the color's vibrancy by removing dulling residue that can make hair look flat.
How often should I use an apple cider vinegar hair rinse?
Most hair experts agree that one to two times per week is the sweet spot. As time goes on, you may need to use it less frequently because your scalp microbiome's pH will balance out with help from ACV.
Should You Try Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair?
The R&S team always loves sharing a haircare hack that's natural enough to eat. Apple cider vinegar for hair is definitely one of our top picks for a natural, clean clarifying product that removes debris buildup and balances scalp pH. However, not diluting ACV properly can lead to irritation from its natural acidity. We don't recommend apple cider vinegar for scalp care if you have highly sensitive skin for this reason.
We love that ACV cleanses hair naturally and seals cuticles without harsh chemicals. We also prefer apple cider vinegar for dandruff and detangling over harsher products that contain ingredients that can actually dry out your scalp and make problems worse.
While our DIY apple cider vinegar hair rinse recipe is always in our back pocket, we're also fans of thoughtfully formulated products that merge ACV's power with other beneficial botanicals. Our editor-approved take? Start with a patch test, then experiment safely with some highly rated ACV haircare products to see if you notice that your hair feels shinier, smoother, and less weighed down by buildup.
