Can you leave apple cider vinegar in your hair? Yes and No. If you’re reading this, you are probably one of the thousands of people trying out natural remedies for softer, silkier hair, good on you!
While apple cider vinegar is indeed natural; that doesn’t mean things cannot go wrong! Luckily, we’re here to clarify things and make the answer easier for you so by the end of this article, you a secret weapon in your hair care regimen… rather than a nightmare!
Apple cider vinegar will do wonders for your hair. There are tons of benefits that come with ACV rinses or making your own inexpensive ACV deep conditioners. The only thing with these natural ingredients is, they do not come with instructions! This often leaves you with some scary questions, like, How long is too long? Will my hair fall out if I leave it in too long? Can ACV damage my hair?
How Long Should You Leave ACV In Your Hair?
The optimum time to leave acv in your hair is 2-3 minutes. This amount of time ensures that your hair follicle’s root system has been penetrated so that it can make a deeper, faster revenue cycle.
You may need to wash and repeat if you have sticky or oily hair. For people with a sensitive scalp, they suggest diluting the ACV 50/50 with water before applying it.
Alternatively, you can use an apple cider vinegar rinse at least one time per week after shampooing as an alternative treatment that nourishes your hair without overloading it with junk from shampoo and conditioners.
When using this rinse on color treated or wet hair always make sure to use less than a third of the recommended amount if worried about stripping out too much natural sebums or moisture from your locks!
Can You Leave ACV In Your Hair Overnight?
Yes, you can leave Apple Cider Vinegar in your hair without fear of any adverse effects! In fact, it’s a great way to rid your hair of the sebum buildup that over time creates that sometimes greasy, limp feeling.
It also balances the scalp’s pH level and leaves hair less prone to tangles and shedding. The acidic PH brings an increase in moisture-retaining natural oils.
Now you know everything there is to know about leaving ACV in your hair, here are some of the benefits you stand to gain.
Benefits Of Using Apple Cider Vinegar In Your Hair
Apple cider vinegar contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. This, my friend, is one of the reasons why it is very effective in
helping prevent dandruff.
Shampoos containing pyrithione zinc and perhaps Ketoconazole is the first option for people battling with dandruff.
Apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, is as effective as these two. If you’re scared of it messing with your curls, the good news is that it won’t. And even if your hair is relaxed, it is in safe hands.
If you have an irritated scalp, you should try using apple cider vinegar on your hair. It does a great job of soothing your scalp.
This is possible because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Alongside preventing dandruff, it keeps your scalp calm and reduces itchiness and irritation.
ACV And Product Build-up
Moving forward, apple cider vinegar does a great job in removing product buildup on your hair. Yes! I said that. Many guys are obsessed with smooth edges and excess shine (I cannot stress this enough).
It’s also because of this excessive love for edge controls, serums, to mention a few, that you end up having product buildup.
With apple cider vinegar, they slide off with so much ease. You need not stress
yourself.
It cuts through the buildup regardless of what you may have applied to your hair that doesn’t seem to go off.
Because of the AHA contained in it (Alpha hydroxy acid), you can vouch that it won’t leave you with a few strands remaining on your hair.
Some people say it serves them better as a clarifying shampoo than the actual clarifying shampoo. This, however, is best proven by you.
It’s essential to not mess with the PH level of your hair and body in general. News flash- certain products do have a way of altering your ph levels.
This may result in hair loss, breakage, dry scalp, constant tangling, etc.
If this is you, you’re not entirely a lost cause. Introducing the ultimate apple cider vinegar that will work its way up in bringing back your scalp’s correct Ph level.
As we all know, Apple cider vinegar has an Acidic PH level, which makes it even more possible to close up those open cuticles.
We all want flatter cuticles, don’t we? I sure do. Nothing beats soft and shinier hair.
Now, as much as all of the above is very true, you may want to slow down the amount you pour on your hair which takes us to the next
section of this blog post.
Just How Much Is Too Much?
We don’t want to get scalp burns, do we?
The first thing you should know about using Apple cider vinegar on your hair is that it can damage your hair if used in excess!
After all, it’s “vinegar.”
The key to gaining all the benefits listed above is making sure the Apple cider vinegar is diluted.
By diluted, we mean 1ml ofapple cider vinegar to 5 ml of water.
However, you’re free to figure out what amount works best for you but make sure whatever amount you are putting on your hair is diluted.
Here’ a small process I like to follow;
- Fill up a large plastic bowl with water, 5ml, and add 1ml of apple cider vinegar.
- Shampoo your hair to get all the dirt out.
- Slowly pour the mixture on your hair, making sure it gets to all parts.
- Let it sit for about a minute.
- Rinse and condition afterward.
It’s okay that your hair may smell like vinegar for a while, but it will fade off once your hair gets dry.
Conclusion
Now you know a bit more about leaving apple cider vinegar in your hair as well as the benefits and dangers of doing so. For best results, always use the diluted substance and time yourself so know know how much time has elapsed.
References
Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair: Growth, Dandruff, Rinse – Healthline
