Apple Cider Vinegar: The Hair Care Doctor!
Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) is a beneficial natural hair care doctor treatment, regardless of your hair type; whether kinky, curly or straight. You may not be very familiar with this concept, or you may not be sure as to whether you’d like to wash your hair with ACV (understandable! LOL because this stuff has a bit of an order), so I will be exploring the mystery behind apple cider vinegar and how to go about doing a good ol’ AVC rise!
What Constitutes a Healthy, Well Balanced Scalp?
Your scalp is slightly acidic, as it has a pH of around 5 in its natural state. The cuticle layer of your hair has to be kept flat and closed hence the reason for the acidity. In addition, your cuticle layer results in smooth, shiny soft hair that frizzes less often. It prevents breakage, tangling and hair loss because it retains moisture which smoothens the hair strand and prevents them from tangling.
Many of the shampoos in the market are alkaline, with a pH of above 7. This results in disruption of the acidity environment on your scalp, leading to the opening up of the cuticle layer. In the end, your hair becomes dry, frizzes, tangles and prone to breakage. Who wants that? “Not me”, said the cat.
The ACV rinse plays a major role in regulating your scalp’s pH, thus reducing the effects of alkaline hair products. Even though ACV has a pH of 3, one can normalize this to the scalp’s acidity level by simply diluting it with water.
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Why do the ACV Rinse?
- ACV lowers the pH of your hair and scalp, thus flattening and closing hair Your hair becomes smoother, shinier, easier to detangle and which results on less breakage because it is more moisturized. Even though ACV will not lower the porosity of your natural hair or seal the holes formed on the cuticle layer due to chemical or heat damage, it will mitigate the effects of highly porous hair by flattening the hair cuticle.
- ACV maintains the health of the scalp by preventing fungal infections and bacteria growth. It helps with hair loss and dandruff by acting as an inflammatory since the main cause is usually bacteria.
- ACV benefits your hair with nutrients such as potassium, vitamins B, and C. We can all use more nutrients, right?
- ACV removes dead skin and product build-up, hence clarifying and exfoliating your scalp.
- Since ACV does not weigh down hair strands like silicone-based conditioners, it helps with curl definition and volume. Need I say more? I was sold at curl definition and volume.
- It increases blood circulation to your hair follicles hence stimulating hair growth. Sign me up!
- ACV preserves your hair because it does not contain any preservatives.
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The Magical ACV Rinse (How to)
- Your ACV of choice should be raw, organic and unfiltered. Go for one that is slightly cloudy rather than the clear one as the sediments contain a majority of the nutrients. Shake well before starting to use.
- Dampen your hair if you don’t intend to cleanse it, otherwise, do the ACV rinse just after shampooing your hair.
- Using the 1-3 ratio (ACV to water) mix the ACV with water.
- It is easier to apply the mixture using a spray bottle from the roots of your hair to the ends. Give your scalp a thorough massage while at it to enhance blood circulation and exfoliation.
- Allow the mixture to sit in for at least 5 minutes before thoroughly rinsing your hair.
Be sure to note how your hair responds to this treatment! You are free to repeat this once every week or every month. We recommend doing this ACV rinse every two weeks if you are just starting out before adjusting to a frequency that you feel would be best for your hair
