Vinegar is a natural product found in almost every grocery store. It has many uses as an ingredient in recipes, for preserving foods and as a homemade cleaning agent. Vinegar can also play a role in your hair care by providing a refreshing, cleansing rinse at a very low cost.
How It Works
According to the Vinegar Institute, vinegar is created when yeast and bacteria act on sugars to create acetic acid. Various dilutions create different strengths of vinegar, with grocery store vinegars ranging in acidity from 4 to 9 percent. Vinegar's acetic acid cuts through the natural oils, product buildup and pollution that accumulate in your hair, stripping them away and leaving a clean hair follicle behind.
Benefits
Rinsing your hair with a solution of vinegar and water leaves hair free of the heavy buildup that makes it look greasy and lifeless, and it closes the hair cuticle. A clean, smooth hair cuticle reflects light, making your hair shine. The Vinegar Institute notes that rinsing with a mixture of ½ cup of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water will help fight dandruff.
What to Use
White and apple cider vinegar are both used in rinses at a dilution of approximately 1 tbsp. to 1 cup of warm water. Add a drop of essential oil such as lavender to give your hair a fresh fragrance. Or, enhance your hair color by adding an herbal infusion to the vinegar rinse. Use dried herbs such as rosemary and sage for dark hair, and chamomile and marigold for lighter hair. Infuse 2 tbsp. of dried herbs in 1 pint of boiling water for two hours, pour the infusion into a quart jar and add 1 pint of apple cider vinegar.
Frequency
Use a vinegar rinse once or twice each week to avoid drying your scalp. You can leave the vinegar solution in your hair or rinse it out. If you leave it in, the vinegar's smell will dissipate as you dry your hair.
Styling Tools
Hair care products such as hairspray and gel can clog your hair styling tools, including brushes, combs and headbands. This buildup deposits a residue on your hair, weighing it down or dulling its shine. Soaking your tools in vinegar strips the residue away. Fill a bowl with warm water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Place your brushes and combs in the vinegar bath and soak them for 15 minutes. Scrub your tools lightly with a soft brush, and rinse them in clean water. Do not soak electrical appliances such as curling or straightening irons or hot rollers. Instead, follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning these tools.
Lice
Some people believe that rinsing their hair with vinegar can kill head lice. But the North Dakota Department of Health notes that no research has been performed to demonstrate that vinegar or other home remedies kill lice. The Mayo Clinic advises shampooing with an over-the-counter lice treatment and then soaking to help loosen the nits. After soaking, use a fine-toothed comb or brisk toweling to remove nits from the hair shaft.
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