Apple cider vinegar has so many benefits for your hair! Plus it is a non-toxic alternative to other hair masks, and we usually already have it in our home. Here are some of the benefits of apple cider vinegar:
+helps clarify your hair and scalp
+balances pH of your hair and scalp
+kills bacteria that can help reduce dryness, itchiness, dandruff, & infections
+helps fight split ends by smoothing
+reduces build-up
+adds body
+reduces frizz
+helps detangle
+adds shine & softens
+stimulates hair growth by removing build-up that clogs the follicles
I recommend a raw, organic apple cider vinegar. I specifically always buy Bragg. But you want that sediment that sits at the bottom of apple cider vinegar because it is full of beneficial bacteria and living enzymes. I think that is important no matter how you are using your ACV!
And then you have quite a few essential oils that do a lot for your hair too! Oils that support strength and growth, plus oils that help with greasiness or damage. So of course I wanted to add some to this hair rinse! In this recipe, I am adding rosemary (to support hair growth) and petitgrain (good for greasy hair). I will also include some additional oil options and what benefits they have below! You can choose whatever oils that you think would benefit your hair.
How to make the ACV Rinse:
In a mason jar, fill as much apple cider vinegar as you would like. This part does not need to be measured, as you will be diluting it for use! I use a 4 ounce mason jar. For that size jar, you want to add about 6 drops of essential oils. You would double that to 12 drops if you were using an 8 ounce jar, for instance. I am adding 3 drops of rosemary (to support hair growth) and 3 drops of petitgrain (good for greasy hair).
This mason jar of the infused ACV can be saved for a few months. Just store it in a cool, dark place and make sure it is sealed tight.
To use your ACV rinse:
You want to dilute the infused ACV with water when using…. 1-2 tablespoons into a cup of water. If you have thin hair or sensitive skin, start with 1 tablespoon in a cup of water. If you have thick hair, I would recommend 2 tablespoons.
You are going to shampoo first, rinsing well. The ACV rinse acts as a conditioner. So on clean hair, pour your mixture over your entire head, allowing it to run to the ends of your hair, and being careful not to get it into your eyes.
Massage into your scalp and let it sit for a couple minutes. Then rinse well. It may still smell a little like vinegar (and quite frankly, with rosemary and petitgrain, it smells like a marinade for some chicken), but it will go away as your hair dries. When my hair was dry, I just smelled a light lingering scent of the oils, no vinegar smell!
Be careful not to get any of the mixture in your eyes. If you do, rinse well immediately!
Oils that are good for you hair:
+Lavender - helps with dandruff, nourish dry or fragile hair, stimulates hair growth, soothes itching
+Cedarwood - stimulates hair growth, adds shine & volume
+Rosemary - stimulates hair growth, helps with dandruff
+Geranium - good for dry hair
+Sandalwood - good for dry hair
+Clary Sage - can help with fragile hair
+Thyme - stimulates hair growth, can help with fragile hair
+Petitgrain - helps with greasy hair
+Ylang Ylang - stimulates hair growth
+Peppermint - helps itching, can fight bacteria
My total hair care regimen:
When you transition to completely clean and plant-based products, sometimes your hair takes a little while to get accustomed to the change. There may be times where the strands feel dry or your scalp is extra greasy, as your hair gets rid of any buildup of toxins and your hair follicles “unclog.” But if you consistently push through those weird times for your hair, it will come out the other side incredibly soft and healthy!
First, I try to wash my hair as little as possible, usually shooting for every other day. Often, my workouts dictate otherwise, but you kind of figure out your hair’s most effective wash cadence. Second, I don’t style my hair much so I use very little heat on my hair. These two things will improve the health of your hair.
My routine:
+Wash with Young Living’s Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo*
+Condition with Young Living’s Copaiba Vanilla Conditioner*
+Spray my roots with a growth-supporting spray, “Mermaid spray”
+Spray my ends with a DIY detangling spray
+To style, use a DIY texture spray
+On non-wash days, use a DIY dry shampoo on my roots
+Once a week, use the EO-infused ACV hair rinse as conditioner
+When my hair needs a deep clean, use a clarifying wash (a mix of Thieves Cleaner and Thieves Dish soap…. Yes, you read that right!)
*I have diluted recipes for the shampoo and conditioner! I will post those in another blog post soon, but they are available on my Instagram page currently @earthandhand.co
Other hair care DIY’s I use:
Mermaid Hair Spray (growth supporting spray)
15 drops Lavender
15 drops Cedarwood
10 drops Rosemary
5 drops Geranium
5 drops Petitgrain
1 oz alcohol-free unscented witch hazel
Top with distilled water in a 4 oz spray bottle
Detangling Spray
15 drops Lavender
15 drops Cedarwood
10 drops Rosemary
5 drops Geranium
10-15 drops Mirah Lustrous Hair Oil (or another oil like argan oil or marula oil)
½ tsp (about one small squirt) Vanilla Copaiba Conditioner
Pinch of salt
Top with warm distilled water in a 4 oz spray bottle
Texture Spray
1 tsp Mirah Lustrous Hair oil
5-8 drops each of Lavender, Rosemary, and Cedarwood
1 tbsp of sea salt
Top with warm water in a 4 oz spray bottle
Dry Shampoo
2 tbsp baking soda
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp cocoa powder (for brunettes! Powdered ginger for blonde hair or beetroot powder for red hair)
5-7 drops of each of these essential oils: lavender, rosemary, peppermint, cedarwood, & grapefruit
Mix and fill a shaker jar
Other non-toxic hair care products I use:
+Mirah Lustrous Hair Oil - an amazing hair nourishing oil, especially before you apply heat; I use it on my ends when they need some extra moisture
+Young Living Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo & Conditioner - I add additional oils and dilute slightly, stretching the products further since they are already so concentrated!
Hair support supplements:
+Sulfurzyme - supports overall skin, hair, & nail health, plus protects cells & cell membranes, and helps maintain the structure of proteins; I mix the powder with 1 oz of NingXia Red and 8 oz of water for a refreshing drink
You can only purchase some of these products through the Young Living website (not recommended to purchase from any outside seller). Young Living members get a wholesale discount! I also only recommend using Young Living essential oils, especially topically. I trust their products both internally and topically because of their Seed to Seal Promise, ensuring the quality of the oils from planting the seeds to sealing the bottle.
Not sure how to become a member? Check out my post on the Young Living membership!
Let me know if you try this detox and how it works out for you! Everyone's hair is different, and I can help answer questions if you have any.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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