Apple cider vinegar is a wellness-trend main character—and for good reason. It’s most commonly known for supporting gut health, but using apple cider vinegar for hair also has some serious perks.
There are plenty of promises on HairTok, but vetted hairstylists, trichologists, and dermatologists all stand behind the potential benefits of adding apple cider vinegar to your routine. Incorporating it into everyday hair care products like shampoos, conditioners, and rinses may noticeably improve your hair and scalp condition—in both appearance and feel.
With expert-backed endorsements (plus, the DIY-friendly nature of ACV rinses), you might be tempted to add a store-bought bottle to your wash-day lineup. But first, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. We asked the experts to share everything you need to know about adding ACV to your routine.
- Insight from the pros on the benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair—plus, when you might want to avoid it
- ACV product recommendations and DIY rinse guidance
- Answers to additional FAQs about adding apple cider vinegar to your hair care routine
Featured in this article
.png)
Should everyone use apple cider vinegar for hair care?
Like most hair care ingredients, you’ll have to consider your hair and scalp type before using ACV. “Consider your hair and scalp condition before using apple cider vinegar,” trichologist and master stylist Dawn Bacchi tells Glamour. “If you have dry hair or a dry scalp, it’s advisable to avoid it as it may exacerbate dryness.”
Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, agrees, noting that ACV can be irritating for those with sensitive skin. “It’s important to avoid overdoing it to minimize any potential irritation, and best to avoid use if there are any open wounds or sores,” she says.
The benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair
“The hair benefits of apple cider vinegar are amazing,” Bacchi says. Hairstylist Adam Federico, R+Co vice president of technical education, says the same: “Apple cider vinegar is wonderful in so many ways. It leaves hair looking healthy and shiny.” Here’s why it works:
ACV is antibacterial and antifungal.
“ACV has so many benefits—way more than we realize,” says celebrity hairstylist and Pura D’Or partner Clyde Haygood. “Not only does ACV clarify the hair to get rid of any residual product buildup in our strands, but it also helps promote a healthy scalp because it has antibacterial and antifungal properties.”
It maintains pH balance.
“Research proves that human skin, including the scalp, is more acidic than human hair, but at the same time, many hair care products are too alkaline—meaning they have too high of a pH,” says Adam Bennett, a certified trichologist at IHS Hair Replacement in London. “The great news is that adding a lower pH [higher acidity] product like apple cider vinegar to the scalp can help tone the scalp. In other words, it helps maintain the scalp’s proper pH.”
It removes buildup without drying.
“ACV’s clarifying properties gently cleanse the hair, purging residues from styling products and environmental pollutants,” Bennett continues. Plus, it does so without drying your hair or skin out. “ACV can remove buildup without stripping the hair of natural oil, which can prevent moisturizing products from penetrating the shaft of the hair,” adds Federico.
It clarifies and cleanses.
“Applying this solution effectively eliminates environmental and product-residue buildup, leaving your hair exceptionally clean and shiny,” says Bacchi.
It soothes scalp itchiness.
Because ACV has anti-inflammatory benefits, it can improve the overall health of the scalp while also helping reduce itching, says Dr. Garshick. “ACV boasts natural acidity that balances the scalp’s pH levels, creating an optimal environment for healthy hair growth while warding off dandruff and itchiness,” Bennett adds.
It reduces flaking.
On that note, Haygood says dandruff sufferers can benefit from using ACV too. “It clarifies the scalp to help achieve proper pH balance, therefore reducing flakes,” he says.
It promotes shine.
“ACV removes buildup and closes the cuticles, which makes hair more light-reflective and shiny,” Haygood explains. “The cleansing capabilities of apple cider vinegar not only get our hair and scalp super squeaky-clean,” Bennett says. “They also help restore luster and shine to dull locks too.”
It combats greasy hair.
Apple cider vinegar works to balance the pH of the hair and scalp, leaving them primed for functioning optimally, notes Federico. “When the scalp functions optimally, it produces less oil,” he says.
It boosts volume.
“ACV is ideal for anyone who has fine, limp, lifeless hair that tends to get oily,” says Haygood. “This type of hair can benefit immensely from ACV because it helps rid the hair of oil and product buildup to give volume and lift.”
It reduces frizz.
ACV helps to smooth and protect the cuticle. According to Bacchi and Dr. Garshick, this can help to reduce frizz.
It detangles.
“The acidic nature of ACV can help smooth the hair cuticle, making it easier to detangle and manage,” Bacchi explains. “This, in turn, can contribute to reduced breakage and smoother, more manageable hair.”
It smooths and softens.
In addition to serving as a natural detangler, Bennett says that ACV smooths and softens the hair as well.
It combats breakage.
“It is universally proven that the lack of moisture in the hair may cause split ends and hair breakage,” Bennett says. “These two issues motivate the hair cells’ porosity, making hair fall more prominent in this situation. Using an apple cider vinegar strengthens the hair follicles and thus prevents split ends or hair breakage.”
It’s great for protective hairstyles.
ABV solutions can be especially useful if you wear your natural hair in protective styles, celebrity hairstylist TerraRose Puncerelli says. “ACV rinses can dissolve buildup from gels, oils, and styling products without harsh stripping. It also keeps the scalp balanced and reduces itchiness that sometimes comes with long-term styles,” she says.
According to Puncerelli, you can use ACV to deep-clean the scalp while wearing tight styles, like locs, without loosening them, and to achieve a clean slate between styles. If you’re adding length with braids, “soaking synthetic braiding hair in diluted ACV before installation even helps remove the alkaline coating that causes itching for many people.”
Is apple cider vinegar for all hair types?
Apple cider vinegar can work for all types and textures. “An apple cider vinegar rinse can be extremely helpful for those that have combination hair types, but in general it can be used on all hair types,” says Federico. “That’s because apple cider vinegar works to balance the pH of the hair and scalp, leaving it primed for functioning optimally.”
However, many stylists specifically recommend the treatment for anyone with fine, limp, lifeless hair that tends to get oily, in particular. “This type of hair can benefit immensely from ACV because it helps rid the hair of oil and product buildup to give volume and lift,” says Haygood.
How often should I use apple cider vinegar in my routine?
How and when you use ACV also depends on your hair type. “You can use apple cider vinegar on all hair types, but again, if your hair is on the dryer side, I would only suggest using it a few times a month diluted with water,” says Bacchi. “See how it makes your hair feel and go from there.”
How to use apple cider vinegar for hair
DO look for hair-care-specific products containing apple cider vinegar as a first step. An ACV shampoo and conditioner should be lathered and massaged into wet hair for about two minutes to allow the ingredients to soak in, then rinsed thoroughly. For the best results, Haygood recommends using both an ACV shampoo and conditioner together, like Pura D’or Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner.
DON’T apply apple cider vinegar directly to your hair or scalp. “It could cause irritation because it’s acidic and very strong,” says Haygood. “It’s best to use products that have ACV in them rather than using it alone.” You can also dilute a DIY apple cider vinegar hair rinse (more on that below).
.png)
.png)
There’s also the popular option of doing an apple cider vinegar rinse. “R+Co’s Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse is the perfect once-weekly treatment for restoring the ideal pH balance,” says Federico. “Though it’s great for all hair types, it’s particularly good for color clients, because while it removes buildup, it doesn’t remove color.”
Glamour is also particularly fond of Rizos Curls Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp & Hair Rinse and DpHue ACV Revitalizing Shampoo, while Dr. Garshick recommends Aveeno Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar In-Shower Hair Rinse. “This hair rinse works to both clarify and improve overall shine in the hair. It is especially good for those with oily hair,” says Dr. Garshick. “As an in-shower rinse, it is best applied after shampooing and prior to conditioning.”
.png)
How to DIY an apple cider vinegar rinse:
Haygood and Bacchi also suggest making an at-home hair rinse.
Dilute two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in eight ounces of water.
After shampoo and conditioning, pour the mixture over your hair and work it into the scalp.
Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes.
Rinse with cool or cold water to close the cuticle, boost shine, and reduce frizz.
Repeat regularly—but determine your rinse frequency by your hair type. “For those with thin or fragile hair, applying it every few weeks or twice a month is advisable,” says Bacchi. “Those with a sensitive scalp should consider using it only a couple of times a month. If you have long, thick hair, using it up to twice a week is an option. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice based on how the solution feels on your scalp and hair.”
At the end of the day, while apple cider vinegar has its benefits, it’s essential to be mindful. “Exercise caution if you experience any stinging, itchiness, or dry sensations after using apple cider vinegar on your scalp,” Bacchi concludes. “In such cases, it’s advisable to discontinue its use and opt for a salon product recommended by a professional.”
Additional FAQs
What are the potential side effects of using apple cider vinegar for hair?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re well aware of the “pros” of using apple cider vinegar correctly in your hair care routine. Still concerned about the drawbacks? Puncerelli weighed in further on the possible pain points:
Because ACV is acidic, overuse can strip too much natural oil from the scalp and hair, leaving it dry, brittle, or frizzy.
If not diluted properly, ACV can cause itching, redness, or even burns, especially with sensitive-skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
The acidity levels in apple cider vinegar may cause dye molecules to loosen, leading to faster fading.
Especially in thicker or porous hair types, a slight vinegar smell can linger if you’re using a DIY concoction.
It’s rare, but some people experience inflammatory scalp reactions to ACV. If you’re using a homemade solution, do a patch test before putting the diluted apple cider vinegar all over your head.
Should you use apple cider vinegar with other DIY hair care ingredients, like lemon juice and baking soda?
All three of these common household ingredients have hit the hair care trend cycle recently, but before you combine methods, it’s important to understand the different purposes they serve. Here’s how Puncerelli breaks it down:
- pH 3 (acidic, but gentler than lemon juice)
- Good for balancing scalp, smoothing cuticles, removing mild buildup
- Best for regular scalp refreshes and shine
- pH 2 (more acidic than ACV)
- Useful for scalp exfoliation, clarifying dandruff, and mild natural lightening (especially in the sun)
- Can be especially harsh and drying, so dilute heavily
- pH 9 (alkaline)
- Opens the hair cuticle, making it useful for clarifying heavy buildup or prepping hair for deep conditioning—this is why some people use it as a makeshift dry shampoo
- Overuse can cause breakage, dryness, and cuticle damage—should be used sparingly
What type of apple cider vinegar is best to use for hair?
If you’re making a rinse at home, Puncerelli recommends looking for a raw, unfiltered, and organic apple cider vinegar. She advises looking for a bottle at the store in which “the cloudy strands of beneficial bacteria and enzymes” are visible—clear solutions are generally less potent in the ingredients that make ACV effective, she says. With any DIY mix, dilution is key: “Another common mix is one to three tablespoons ACV in one cup of water—but you should adjust based on hair type and sensitivity.” Find customized guidance above.