This article was co-authored by Shun Pittman. Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".
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Centuries ago, people discovered that vinegar makes hair look silky and shiny. A simple mixture of vinegar and water smooths the hair cuticle and cleanses buildup. Using white or apple cider vinegar after shampooing your hair is an excellent way to revitalize its texture.
Steps
Using a Simple Rinse
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1Mix vinegar and water. Plain vinegar is too strong to use on hair, so it's important to dilute it with water first. One-fourth cup of vinegar and one-fourth cup of water should be enough for a single hair rinse.
- If your hair is quite oily, you can add an extra tablespoon of vinegar. If your hair is dry or you tend to have dandruff, add a tablespoon of water.
- Curly hair and color treated or permed hair should be treated with a much more diluted solution, anywhere from 2 to 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
- Either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar work well here. Many prefer using apple cider vinegar in the shower because the smell is less intense.[1]
- Apple cider vinegar can remove a lot of dead skin on your scalp.[2]
- Apple cider vinegar may also be a good choice if you have psoriasis or eczema on your scalp.
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2Shampoo your hair as normal. Go ahead and wash your hair with your normal shampoo. If possible, use lukewarm or cool water. Using hot water causes hair to look dull and frizzy. Cold water will help your hair shaft lie flat and contribute to the shiny, smooth look you're after.Advertisement
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3Skip the conditioner. Since you're using a vinegar rinse, there's no need to condition your hair after shampooing. The rinse will leave your hair soft and smooth.
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4Pour the rinse into your hair. Slowly pour it over your scalp and try to distribute it evenly over the top of your head. Use your fingers to massage it into your scalp and smooth it into your hair from the roots to the tips.
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5Wait five to ten minutes. This will allow the rinse to fully soak into your hair. Use the time to complete your shower routine.
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6Rinse your hair with cool water. Give it a quick rinse to remove the extra vinegar from your hair. There's no need to go overboard, since the smell of the vinegar will be gone once your hair dries.[3]
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7Dry your hair as usual. Either let it air dry or use a hair dryer to dry your hair. When you're finished, it will be silky and soft. The vinegar smell should be gone.
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8Repeat once or twice a week. You may love the results of your rinse so much you're tempted to repeat it every time you wash your hair. However, vinegar can dry out your hair if you use it too often. Use it just once or twice a week to remove buildup in your hair and restore shine.
Making a Custom Vinegar Rinse
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1Try adding a tablespoon of honey. Honey has both clarifying and moisturizing properties, making it a great addition to a hair rinse. This is especially helpful if your hair tends to be a little dry. Honey also smells fantastic and can combat the vinegar smell while you're in the shower. If you want to try adding honey, here's how to do it:
- Make your vinegar rinse with warm water to help the honey dissolve. Pour it into a container with a lid.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey.
- Put the lid on the container and shake well before use.
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2Use an egg white for extra shine. Egg whites, like vinegar, clarify hair and make it look beautifully shiny. Since you've already got the vinegar out, why not try adding an egg? You can also use an egg white in place of vinegar if you happen to be out when your hair needs a rinse. Here's how to use an egg white in your rinse:
- Mix up your vinegar rinse as normal. Place it in a container with a lid.
- Separate one egg, letting the white drop into the container with the vinegar. If you have dry hair you can apply the yolk to the ends for extra moisture.
- Place the lid on the container and shake well before use.
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3Consider using a little oil to moisturize your hair. If your hair is quite dry, you can massage a bit of oil into the ends before rinsing your hair with the vinegar. Try:
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon almond oil
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon olive oil
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4Scent the vinegar with nourishing herbs. If you're having trouble with this rinse because you don't like the smell of vinegar, you might want to try scenting it with herbs. The herbs impart a gentle scent that helps to mask the vinegar and make it more pleasant to use. Here's how to do it:[4]
- Mix your vinegar rinse as usual, and pour it into a small saucepan.
- Add a tablespoon of your favorite dried herb, like lavender, rose hips, sage, mint, or rosemary.
- Bring the rinse to a simmer and let the herbs cook for 10 minutes.
- Strain the herbs from the rinse and let it cool before use.
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5Try it with essential oils. Using essential oils is another easy way to mask the scent of the vinegar and make your rinse smell great. Some essential oils are even beneficial to hair in their own right. Mix up your rinse as usual and stir in 5 to 10 drops of one of these essential oils:
- Lavender. It has a soothing effect and is often used in skin and hair products.
- Tea tree oil. It can help combat dandruff and has a strong herbaceous scent.
- Lemongrass. This energizing scent effectively masks the vinegar smell.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan vinegar damage your hair?
Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistVinegar is not damaging to your hair but it could lead to dryness if overused. Only apply to wet hair, dilute it with some water, and don't use it more than once a week.
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QuestionWhat happens if you put vinegar in your hair?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistVinegar adds shine to hair by closing the cuticles. You should only add vinegar to wet hair.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat does apple cider vinegar do to your hair?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistCider vinegar (and any other type of vinegar) will reduce the pH of the hair which causes the cuticles to lie flat, creating a protective seal. On the downside, it can strip away some of your hair's natural oils.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
Warnings
- Do not get the solution into your eyes as it will sting.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Make sure the vinegar is mixed with water.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- White or apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Optional mix-ins, like honey, egg white, oil, herbs, and essential oils
References
- ↑ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/beauty-uses-for-vinegar
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 1 June 2021.
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 1 June 2021.
- ↑ http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/idascorner/shampoo-hair/make-your-own-natural-vinegar-hair-rinse
About This Article
To make your hair silky and shiny with vinegar, start by diluting ¼ cup of white or apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup of water, since vinegar is too strong to use by itself. Then, shampoo your hair as usual, using lukewarm or cool water, since hot water can make your hair look dull and frizzy. Next, pour the diluted vinegar over your hair, massage it into your scalp, and smooth it into your hair from the roots to the tips. Let the vinegar sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing your hair with cool water, and repeat the process 1 to 2 times a week for the best results. For more tips from our Beauty reviewer, like how to mask the smell of vinegar in your hair rinse with herbs or essential oils, read on!
