The amount of chemical products we use on our scalp is increasing day by day, along with the product build up on our scalp. Now new chemical filled shampoos are marketed to remove these product build up, which I find is very funny, as we are adding more chemicals to the scalp.
We can easily remove the product build up from the scalp using homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse. Though you can use regular white vinegar, apple cider vinegar is the best to remove product build up. Apple cider vinegar also improves circulation in the scalp, treats dandruff, prevents hair loss and gives a nice sheen to the hair.
Apple cider hair rinse can be made in different ways and I tried out 3 different apple cider hair rinses and it is all effective and very simple to make. To use, after your hair wash, apply this rinse all over your scalp, wait for few minutes, before rinsing it off.
The first rinse is made by making an infusion of neem leaves, water and apple cider vinegar. I really like this method because you get the added benefits of neem leaves, which has got amazing anti bacterial properties and neem leaves also treats itchy scalp.
The second rinse is made by infusing dried herbs in the apple cider vinegar and then letting it steep for 2 to 3 days before straining and using it. The third rinse is made by adding lemon juice to the apple cider vinegar.
The third method is great for treating dandruff apart from removing product build up in the scalp. Choose the method you love and use this hair rinse weekly once to remove product build up, especially if you are using a lot of styling creams and products on your hair.
3 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinses:
METHOD 1:
Boil 1 cup water, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and a handful of neem leaves in a pan. Once the neem leaves have slightly wilted, remove from the fire. Cool and use it as a hair rinse. This hair rinse treats itchy scalp along with removing the product build up in the scalp.
METHOD 2:
Take apple cider vinegar in a glass bottle and add your favorite herbs. Keep it in the sunlight for 2 to 3 days, till the vinegar is infused with the essence of the added herbs and strain. Mix about 1.5 tbsp of the steeped apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and use it as a hair rinse.
METHOD 3:
Mix equal quantities of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Take a tbsp of this mixture and add a cup of water and use it as a hair rinse. This rinse is amazing for treating dandruff.
NOTES:
- Use good quality apple cider vinegar for best results.
- You can even increase the amount of apple cider vinegar in the recipes to 2 tbsp for a cup of water.
- You can store the herb steeped apple cider vinegar well and add water whenever needed. The rest of the 2 hair rinses should be prepared fresh.
- Make sure to apply this apple cider hair rinse in such a way, that every part of the scalp is covered with the rinse.
- The dried herbs in the second method is your individual choice. Have fun using all your favorite herbs.
I have become great fan of your blog since it has all herbal remedies. I think the thickness of my hair is reduced considerably. In my childhood, I used to put 2 plaits when going to school and hair length was up to hips. Now its medium height(around 18") and the one full hair plait thickness is around 1 plait thickness of the 2 plaits of my childhood days. I mean its half of what it used to be earlier. I have seen your articles for hair but I want to follow a regular regime to get the thickness and allow hair growth. What will you suggest me? Well is it possible to achieve this goal at the age of 28?
Sandy,It is possible to stop hair fall and regrow our hair, if we follow a systematic plan of healthy eating, weekly oil bath, regular hair massage with homemade oils and hair packs. Choose a hair oil that you like and apply it regularly and always plait your hair, if you are at home to prevent hair loss due to tangling. Try having oil bath on Fridays and choose a hair pack that you like and try using it weekly once or twice, depending on your work schedule. Oil bath also relaxes us and improves the circulation in the scalp, if done regularly. Above all try eating traditional diet and take supplements if necessary. Hope this helps…….
Thank you Ramya. I apply oil regularly but I do not massage. Even if I massage slowly and softly, there is intense breakage immediately after massage.
I am now a total fan of your blog – I am suffering from the same plight – my hair has lost the thickness it had when I was a child without stress and too many chemical laden shampoos. Can I use this rinse instead of regular shampoo?
Another query I have for you – What`s your thoughts on using baking soda instead of shampoo for cleansing hair?
Though I have heard about it, I haven't tried it yet and from what I researched no one knows the long term side effects of using baking soda very often and some claim it has no side effects while others claim that it will irritate the scalp, so I am a bit hesitant to try it. Though vinegar rinses are good, try not to use them more than a week. Why not try soapnuts for washing hair?
Nice Tips Ramya….
Ramya our vet said to apply alum around our male dogs privates to keep him from licking.( he cut himself jumping through a fence). Is this safe? What do we mix if it is?
Hi, Alum is not poisonous when ingested in small amounts. Once they lick on it, they will never do it anymore..:)
I use boiled neem leaves then add apple cider vinegar as a final bath rinse for my dog. It is very effective on fleas & ticks plus it is a good deodorant. He doesn't need frequent baths! I don't have to buy those expensive anti flea drops like Frontline Plus anymore!
Thanks for sharing this information…
Please let me know -1) Whether prolonged use of alum as an after shave can lead to blackening of the skin ?2) It is safe & beneficial to use alum over the face in the morning and at night ?Thanks.Abhishek Lohia.
1. Alum does not lead to blackening of the skin….2. I would suggest using only once as alum can be drying on the skin. I would also suggest using a moisturizer after using alum…
Hi Ramya, I'm facing issue with hairfall… I thought it was due to hard water at my place and from your alum blog I thought of using alum for softening water. Is it good using alum for softening water and will it reduces hairfall? or using apple cider vinegar will reduce the hair fall….I'm in confusion…. Please let me know which is a better way to reduce hairfall
You can use alum, since alum binds to the minerals and settles down, we can easily scoop out the water on top but please be careful about the correct dosage. You can also buy the commercial water softening systems from the markets too. I would also suggest a gentle hair massage before hair wash with any one of the homemade hair oils from the blog and also a hair pack weekly twice…
Hello Ramaya,Can potas alum stone be used directly on the skin and armpits? Or it is to be used in the powdered form only? And also if I have psoriasis problem, will the usage of it even further irritate my skin?
You can use the alum stone directly on the skin. But alum is an irritant and is drying on the skin so it might irritate your skin especially if used regularly…