Here’s Why Apple Cider Vinegar Is the Ingredient Your Hair Is Missing
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Apple cider vinegar doesn’t just belong in salads or wellness cleanses. It turns out, it’s also wildly effective when it’s whipped into hair care. It works as a clarifying agent to refresh your hair, imparts plenty of shine, and it also helps facilitate hair growth. That’s all thanks to the pH of apple cider vinegar, which is about 3—meaning it’s on the acidic side of the spectrum. Though it might seem like it would be harsh on hair, acid is actually really good for making your hair shinier and boosting your color’s longevity. “When [acid is] put on hair, it closes your cuticles,” says hairstylist Bobby Michael, co-owner of Manhattan’s Maverick House salon and R+Co global educator.
You can always get apple cider vinegar straight from the source, but there are also plenty of products like shampoos and hair serums that are made with apple cider vinegar. To learn more about apple cider vinegar and all of its benefits to hair, we spoke with experts to get their takes. Keep reading to learn all about apple cider vinegar, who it’s best for, and what it does for your hair.
Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Previously named Acid Wash, this R+Co rinse features the star ingredient to cleanse and purify, plus glycerin and tamanu seed oil for locking in moisture and fortifying strands. “I recommend this one especially for blondes,” Rugetti says. “I find it really cleanses the hair and makes lighter tones brighter when there’s buildup.”
Size: 6 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5
An Amazon reviewer says: “The scent is amazing, my hair is growing, less dandruff, and silky smooth hair. Every time I use this my co workers compliment me and how shiny and bouncy my hair looks. Because I loved this product so much, I decided to completely switch to R&Co for all of my hair care products.”
Detox Shampoo
Although this option is technically a clarifying shampoo, it is infused with ACV to prevent over-stripping the scalp of necessary oils. Additionally, it’s boosted with keratin to make your hair stronger and smoother.
Size: 1o fl. oz.
Sephora rating: 4.5/5
An ELLE editor says: “This is one of my favorite clarifying shampoos to reach for when I have product buildup. So many clarifying shampoos leave my hair feeling squeaky clean in a bad way (as if I stripped everything out of my hair and left it out to dry), but this one is gentle and works well to remove buildup.”—Katie Berohn, beauty editor
Strengthen and Restore Shampoo
If you do prefer a lather, try SheaMoisture’s Strengthen and Restore shampoo. It’s formulated with softening Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter, making it a particularly great option for curly, wavy or coarse hair types. The addition of peppermint oil gives the scalp a super fresh feeling, too.
Size: 13 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5
Our expert says: “This is the best wash day shampoo and conditioner combo for a pre-protective style instillation. It really helps strengthen thinning and damaged hair. This leaves my hair feeling so clean, soft, and shiny.”—Danielle James, beauty expert
Apple Cider Vinegar Clarify & Shine Scalp Serum
Renpure’s deep-cleaning ACV rinse offers all the purifying and shine-enhancing benefits you crave, as well as extra-smoothing perks thanks to the inclusion of argan oil and coconut. What’s more, it contains bacteria-fighting tea tree oil to ward off dandruff and ginger root extract to prevent free radical damage.
Size: 4 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.4/5
An Amazon reviewer says: “I wash my hair once, maybe twice a week and this works wonders as a scalp rinse on days in between washes. Hair feels soft and clean but doesn’t strip my hair like shampoo does!!”
The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Treatment 4 oz / 120 ml
This ACV rinse is perfect for those struggling with flakes. It removes excess oil and buildup without being overly drying thanks to a blend of apple cider vinegar and AHAs.
Size: 4 fl. oz.
Sephora rating: 4.6/5
A Sephora reviewer says: “I am beyond impressed with The Rootist! This pre-shampoo treatment has completely transformed my scalp care routine. The combination of AHA and apple cider vinegar works wonders—my scalp feels so much cleaner and refreshed without any irritation. What I love most is how it helps break down product buildup and oil. After using it, my hair feels lighter, and my shampoo lathers better, so I don’t need to use as much product. The scent is light and pleasant, not overpowering like some other vinegar-based treatments.”
Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub
A best-seller from dpHue’s popular ACV line, this pre-rinse scrub gently exfoliates to detoxify and invigorate the skin. “There are a lot of salt scrubs with larger granules that can actually scratch the surface of the scalp, which can in turn damage the follicle and cause it to die off,” Ruggeri explains. “The fine Himalayan salt granules in this product strike just the right balance to promote healthy skin and hair.” It also includes aloe vera for a cooling, soothing effect.
Size: 9 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5
An Amazon review says: “This is honestly my favorite beauty product I have ever purchased. I used to have super greasy hair and I felt like I had tried everything to fix it but nothing worked. Until I discovered this. I only use it around once every week or two and I don’t have any problems with oil anymore. And my hair feels softer than it ever has. It also doesn’t take much to do a treatment and it feels so good and clean. I’m always going to use it now. I don’t even care about the smell because magic doesn’t come without a price.”
Meet the Experts
Gregorio Ruggeri, a certified trichologist and creative director of Salon Ruggeri in NYC
Bobby Michael, co-owner of Manhattan’s Maverick House salon and Randco global educator
Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist and founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis — a digital platform that offers virtual scalp analysis consultations, treatments and guidance to help improve users' scalp health
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com editors spoke with hair experts about the absolute best apple cider vinegar hair products for every hair type. The authors personally tested a number of these products and scoured reviews for the top-rated products on the market.
What are the benefits of apple cider vinegar for your hair and scalp?
“ACV neutralizes and supports the natural biome of the scalp,” Hill says. “Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties to cleanse and natural alpha hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate to encourage cellular turnover and create an optimal environment for hair to grow. On the hair shaft, ACV closes the cuticle, sealing in moisture and adding optimal shine.”
It also helps if you have any sort of scalp irritation. “ACV is great for people with psoriasis because it can soothe the irritation and calm,” Michael says. “It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties.”
Because ACV seals the hair’s cuticle, it also helps reduce breakage and frizz, maintain elasticity, and lock in color to prevent fading, Ruggeri explains.
Among its other main benefits? Treating dandruff. Present in both dry and oily hair types, dandruff is a “yeastlike fungus that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults,” Ruggeri says. “Apple cider vinegar has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that make it effective in killing and preventing dandruff-causing yeast on the scalp,” he adds.
Additionally, both Ruggeri and Hill mention that ACV can support hair growth by removing product buildup, especially from commonly used items like dry shampoo. “ACV unblocks follicles in the scalp so that strands have freedom to thrive,” Ruggeri says. (Note: If you use dry shampoo, Ruggeri advises spraying it on the mid-lengths of hair, rather than the roots, to prevent clogging the follicle).
What hair types does apple cider vinegar work best for?
According to all of our experts, apple cider vinegar works for nearly every hair type and texture. And because of its smoothing and frizz-fighting properties, Rugetti mentions it’s particularly a favorite of people with thick, curly hair. But if you have super dry, over-processed, or exceptionally fine strands, they agree it’s best to avoid them.
“Since ACV is acidic, it can be a bit too strong for anyone who has mechanical damage—say from bleaching, excess sun exposure or overusing hot tools—very fine hair that’s naturally brittle or anyone who has difficulty growing their mane,” Ruggeri notes. “If your hair is breaking off, you can put ACV onto the roots, but it should never be applied to the ends.”
And if you’re ever in doubt whether or not ACV might be right for your hair type, both Ruggeri and Hill recommend performing a strand test first before applying the ingredient all over.
How often should I use apple cider vinegar on my hair?
“An individual’s unique scalp condition, hair type and texture will determine how frequently they should use ACV,” Hill says. “It can be used as a pre-shampoo scalp treatment that’s massaged in, processed for 10 to 15 minutes and shampooed out. It can be used as a cleansing agent on non-shampoo days to refresh and balance the scalp or applied up to three times a week to spot treat itchy or oily scalps.” If you shampoo, Hill recommends doing so two times a week and using an ACV rinse another time throughout the week (keep in mind that while ACV pairs well with most shampoos, you should avoid using it with those featuring salicylic acid, as the combo can be too drying). If you have more severe scalp concerns, she suggests using an ACV rinse two to three times a week.
What’s the difference between ACV and a clarifying shampoo?
While similar in function, clarifying shampoos and ACV rinses have a few key differences. “Clarifying shampoos are alkaline detergents and surfactants that remove residual product or oils, but that can also strip the scalp of healthy oils if used too often and leave the cuticle open, making the hair more prone to dryness and color fading,” Hill explains. “ACV, on the other hand, closes the cuticle to retain moisture while performing exfoliant tasks, such as introducing antimicrobial properties to reduce unwanted bacteria.” Some clarifying shampoos use apple cider vinegar to help remove product buildup without stripping.
How do I use apple cider vinegar on my hair?
While plenty of great ACV products are on the market (more on that below), if you’re on a budget, creating your own DIY rinse can be a more cost-effective option. You can customize your ACV-to-water ratio to modify the intensity of the mixture, depending on your hair type and the seriousness of your scalp concerns, however below is a great starting point for creating and applying an ACV rinse:
Mix 1 part ACV with two parts distilled water (avoid using tap water, Ruggeri says, as this can be very acidic).
Place the mixture in a clean bottle with a nozzle.
Shampoo and condition your hair (using a deep, nourishing conditioner, Rugetti advises), then rinse.
Blot your hair dry in the shower, then lightly apply the ACV mixture and gently work it through the hair shaft with your hands.
Place your hair in a ponytail or secure it in a clip atop your head and let the product settle in for a few minutes.
Use lukewarm to cold water to close the outer layer of the hair and lock in moisture.
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