How to get smooth and silky hair with apple cider vinegar

This household item has a lot of nutrients that are great for building luscious locks.

Picture: iStock

Raw (or unfiltered) apple cider vinegar is simply the byproduct of the fermentation of apples.

Apples are loaded with potassium, pectin, malic acid and calcium, and fermentation fortifies the end product with even more beneficial acids and enzymes. Raw apple cider vinegar leaves all of the nutrients in the vinegar, which is why it’s the preferred option over pasteurised apple cider vinegar.

Because apple cider vinegar has pH of around 3 (meaning it’s acidic), when properly diluted with water, it helps to balance the pH of the hair, leading to many happy hair days.

Apple cider vinegar hair rinse benefits

According to the Coconut and Kettlebells website, while there is no formal research exploring the benefits of an apple cider vinegar hair rinse, there are many positive side effects that you may experience based on the properties of apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar has a lot of nutrients that are great for building luscious locks, including B vitamins, vitamin C and potassium. Because it is slightly acidic, it also serves to restore the natural pH of the acid mantle.

Exposure to this acidity hardens the outer layer of the hair and flattens the cuticle, resulting in hair that shines, “slides” easily, and is less prone to tangling or snagging.

Picture: iStock

Apple cider vinegar hair rinse

Ingredients

2-4 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
475ml cool water
1-2 drops lavender oil (optional)

Directions

1. After shampooing and rinsing your hair, mix the apple cider vinegar, water, and essential oil in a plastic bottle.

2. Leaning your head back, pour the rinse over your entire scalp, allowing the mixture to run through your hair. Be careful to avoid contact with your eyes.

3. Let the mixture sit on your hair for 1-2 minutes. Then, rinse throughly.

Watch this video to learn more about the goodness of apple cider vinegar for your hair whether its fine, silky or ethnic.