Why an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse is Life!

Apple Cider Vinegar is not just for brining your Thanksgiving turkey. It has many uses inside and outside of the kitchen. It’s loaded with many health benefits and there are lots of people who swear by its medicinal powers.

But did you know that ACV is a gem for our natural hair? Yes ma’am! I know it smells funny and it has a color that’s worthy of the slickest side-eye but trust me when I say, you’ll never want to have another washday without it!

So today, I washed my hair. I don’t use a lot of synthetic polymer products (aka silicones) on my hair so I don’t usually have a ton of buildup. However, I am a stickler for a clean, pH balanced scalp. Most of the shampoos we use lean toward the alkaline side and can alter the pH environment of your hair. This can lead to a host of issues for anyone if it’s not brought back into balance. During the shampoo process (because its more alkaline), hair swells and the scales on the cuticle open, making it more prone to breakage.

Anyhow, the main reason I love CV is because it kills greasy feeling buildup on my scalp. If you use a mixture of one part ACV and three parts water, you can use it as a back-up rinse after you shampoo. I like to use it after I shampoo versus before because I think that the shampoo process helps to break up build-up. Apple Cider Vinegar just seals the deal.

When I use our Black Soap Shampoo, my scalp never feels dry, which I love. Most other shampoos leave my hair feeling like straw. It’s important to use shampoos that are formulated for natural hair. Others can strip because they are designed to remove oils that weigh hair down. WE NEED OILS. But again, since shampoos are alkaline, we still need something to regulate the environment of our hair.

I took a cup of about 2/3 water and 1/3 ACV. I made sure the water was cool, and I had my hair parted in sections of 4. I poured the ACV mix onto my scalp and hair. Because I have lots of hair, I had to repeat this process two times. I massaged the solution into my scalp, which allowed me to work the mix through so that every area of my head received ministry. (yes, ministry! lol) With the massage, I had to make sure that I wasn’t creating any additional tangles. Slow and methodical motions without the fingertips leaving the scalp did the trick. In addition to working the mix through, I helped to stimulate my hair follicles.


What is apple cider vinegar? It’s basically fermented apples. Apples are full of potassium, malic acid, pectin, and calcium, and the fermentation fortifies the end product (which we know of as ACV) with additional acids and enzymes. ACV contains a pH of about 3 (on the acidic side of the pH scale). When we dilute it with water, it helps to balance the pH of the hair. I recommend adding this step after a good and thorough shampoo.

How has adding ACV to your wash day regimen benefited your natural hair?