apple cider vinegar

I use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. I dilute it in water-I use one of those big yogurt containers and use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Since I use an Aveda oil on my hair (at least the ends) nearly every night-I usually do the vinegar rinse before my shampoo, then rinse really well with water to remove all of the oil easily. Plus it removes all the buildup of any products as well. Sometimes I will use the vinegar rinse after shampoo and before conditioner. I rinse really well and the hair is very ready to take the conditioner, and all of the shampoo is rinsed out. I have not found it to be drying at all, in fact my hair is in great condition. But I would not want to do it as a final rinse due to the smell factor. Hope this helps.

Hi Kim,

Any vinegar will do--there is nothing special about apple cider. The reason people suggest a final rinse is because vinegar is very acidic. Now that sounds scary but it does not damage your hair: The low pH actually closes the hair cuticle, thus making the hair shaft smoother and shinier. You would need to do this AFTER conditioning because rinsing again with water will simply wash away the vinegar, thus negating the pH-raising effect. The smell evaporates with time. Unfortunately, so does the shine and smooth appearance. Hair has a neutral pH and tends to return to its natural level, so there`s not a lot you can do to keep that from happening. Thus, the shine you get from a vinegar rinse is only temporary, and in my humble opinion, not worth the effort. I hope this helps!

I`ve been doing apple cider vinegar rinses for a couple of weeks now and love it. I rinse in between shampooing and conditioning. I`ve heard about the acidity smoothing out the hair shaft, but I also do the rinse to remove any product build up on my hair. I leave the mixture (1 part AC vinegar, 2 parts water) on my hair for a minute or so, then rinse well. It`s been working very well for me and I haven`t found it to be to much of a bother... the smell is a little tough to take in the morning though.

Hope this helps.
Becky