Is apple cider vinegar good for hair?

By Prof. Dr. Soner Tatlidede 2022-03-10

Using apple cider vinegar for hair has been, traditionally, seen as a home remedy that allegedly improves hair health, cleaning it and make it shine. However, many people doesn´t know very much about how to use cider vinegar for hair, or what its benefits are: does it help stop dandruff? Is it a remedy for oily hair? Can I use apple cider vinegar for hair loss? Should I stop looking for information on the cost of hair transplant, because vinegar is a solution?

Obviously - sorry about that - vinegar is not going to save us from alopecia; but, it is important to gather enough information about what vinegar can do, what types of vinegar are used for hair, what its real benefits are... and above all, how should vinegar be used, since applied improperly or in excess, it can end up causing damage to scalp and hair. Let's talk about it.

Is apple cider vinegar good for your hair?

Is apple cider vinegar good for hair? As we have just said, vinegar has traditionally been considered as a remedy for some hair problems. Among its benefits, usually scalp cleaning, PH regulation (which in part helps to stop hair loss), and hair shining, are mentioned the most.

Vinegar is also used for hair dandruff; and of course, its use against lice and nits is well known. However, it must be noted that not all vinegars are the same: white vinegar (or wine vinegar) - which is stronger - and apple cider vinegar are the most used, but each one has its own properties.

Using white vinegar for hair

Starting with white wine vinegar, among the benefits it has, we can mention the following:

• Helps to clean the scalp, as well as hair roots.
• Provides long-lasting shine to hair, by removing traces of any product applied before.
• Helps to eliminate dandruff, and prevents its appearance.
• Prevents oily hair.
• Ends frizzy hair, making it smoother.
• For generations, it has been used as a natural remedy to eliminate and prevent nits and lice.

You can also prepare a white vinegar mask for hair - by adding a similar amount of water and a tablespoon of lemon juice to vinegar - in order to make your hair stronger and shinier.

Apple cider vinegar: benefits for hair

The use of apple cider vinegar on hair is also well known as a home remedy for some hair problems. For example, apple cider vinegar is a powerful scalp cleanser; you can also prepare an apple cider vinegar hair mask to strengthen your hair. What else does apple cider vinegar do for your hair? Here it is:

• Regulates the PH of the scalp, and therefore improves its resistance to hair loss.
• Since it regulates the PH, it prevents oily hair, too.
• Provides B and C vitamins as well as trace elements, which strengthen hair and stimulate its growth.
• Thanks to its antifungal and antibacterial properties, vinegar also prevents the appearance of dandruff.
• Vinegar serves as hair conditioner.
• It is also possible to use apple cider vinegar against head lice.

How to use apple cider vinegar for hair

If we are going to apply vinegar to hair, we have to know how to do it to avoid causing any damage, since vinegar is a product that - although natural - has an acid PH that can harm our hair. For example, it is important to choose a quality vinegar (better organic) and wash your hair before; in addition, after spraying vinegar or applying a mask on hair, you should rinse apple cider vinegar from hair with plenty of water. Also, do not forget that vinegar never should be applied pure on hair - since it is too strong - but diluted with water.

Therefore, it´s harmful to directly rinse hair with vinegar, although on the Internet we can find many tips on washing hair with apple cider vinegar to make it shine, for example. Regarding how long should we keep vinegar in hair before rising it, opinions vary and it all depends on the sensitivity of our scalp: but as a general rule, we should rinse it after 5 minutes, and certainly not more than 10.

You can also use vinegar to remove hair dye; for example, if you have applied too much dye, you can use apple cider vinegar as hair lightener: you won’t be able to change the colour, but it will become lighter.

Washing hair with apple cider vinegar: side effects

Although, as we have mentioned before, vinegar has been traditionally considered as an ally of hair health, from a scientific point of view there is no consensus on whether its benefits are real, or whether they outweigh the potential damage that vinegar can cause to our hair. If we plan to apply vinegar to our scalp, it is important not to abuse it – e.g. it cannot be used daily - and, above all, you should consult a hair health specialist before.

Many experts actually believe that, nowadays, there are many products, shampoos and hair lotions that far exceed the supposed benefits of vinegar, and that do not have its risks. Improper use of vinegar can cause our scalp to become dry and irritated, altering the skin PH and weakening follicles, which - if we have hair problems - would only make situation worse. Also, we are sorry but if you are going bald, you cannot use apple cider vinegar for hair growth.

In summary, although using apple cider vinegar for hair can have some benefits, it also carries risks, especially if our hair is already weakened. Therefore, it is very important to consult an expert before using any treatment. Clinicana is the best hair transplant clinic, and we are specialised in all hair treatments. Do not hesitate: request a free consultation, and ask us for a free, no obligation estimate. We can help you with your hair problems!