Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Every so often its a good idea to give your hair a little at home TLC. If you are looking for an easy and quick way to add some luster to your hair, we have a simple, natural solution. Apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
If you are feeling a bit skeptical, don’t. Pouring a fermented apple concoction on your head won’t cause you to walk around smelling like vinegar hair. There are so many benefits to apple cider vinegar, both internally and topically. Our focus in this post is on using it as a hair rinse, and I promise you won’t smell like apple cider vinegar hair.
Hair 101
Your hair is a two-part structure which consists of a follicle and a shaft, also known as the cuticle. The follicle is a tunnel-like segment located in the skin and the cuticle is the visible structure that grows above the skin. Underneath the skin are sebaceous glands that secrete sebum through the hair follicle. The sebum lubricates hair and skin and is part of the acid mantle. Our acid mantle protects the overall health of the hair and skin and is critical to our hair’s appearance.
The outer layer of the cuticle is comprised of tightly packed overlapping scales. The acid mantle is instrumental in making cuticle scales lie flat, which gives hair a shiny, smooth appearance, and protects from moisture loss. This system is easily disrupted and is the cause of our bad hair day. Many hair care products contaminate the acid mantle because they are more alkaline (pH above 7) and our acid mantle is typically around a pH of 5.
When the acid mantle becomes alkaline, hair swells and the scales on the cuticle open, leaving it susceptible to breakage. It also results in frizzy, brittle hair which has a “dull” appearance due to the fact that the hair is absorbing light instead of reflecting it. The acid mantle is also disrupted by other factors, including poor diet and stress. So, proactively restoring our hair to its natural pH and maintaining the acid mantle is crucial for strong, healthy hair.
Unfiltered or Filtered
Apples are loaded with potassium, pectin, malic acid and calcium, and fermentation fortifies the end product with even more beneficial acids and enzymes.
We suggest you use Unfiltered (or raw) apple cider vinegar, (the by-product of the fermentation of the apples), over the filtered apple cider vinegar simply because the nutrients are left in the vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has a pH of 3 (acidic), and when properly diluted with water, it helps to balance the pH of the hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Benefits
- Restores the natural pH of the acid mantle.
- The acidity hardens the outer layer of the hair and flattens the cuticle giving your hair shiny, smooth, and easy to style.
- Removes dead skin cells from the scalp and build up that occurs from sweat and/or conventional hair products.
- Reduces itching and improves the appearance of hair.
- Relieves conditions of dandruff with its anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Recipe:
Ingredients
1-2 tablespoons unfiltered (raw) apple cider vinegar
8oz water (preferably distilled)
Optional – a couple of drops of lavender (all hair types), or tea tree (oily hair) can be added. Both are skin safe.
Directions:
Combine the cider vinegar with the water and pour the mixture into a spray or squirt bottle. After you wash and condition your hair, squirt or spray some of the cider rinse into your hair and throughout your scalp.
With both hands, rub the cider rinse through your hair strands and into your scalp, then rinse. Be careful not to get any into your eyes (Ouch!) How much you use depends on how long or thick your hair is. This rinse can be used every 10 to 15 days.
Product Recommendations:
Written By: Mary Ellen Wank, Wellness Advocate and Founder of LATIV, Natural Skin Revival. DISCLAIMER
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April 23, 2020 3:37 pm
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