Are you looking for an affordable way to boost your hair’s shine and volume? Apple cider vinegar might be the answer. The natural haircare ingredient has been gaining popularity among stylists and TikTok beauty enthusiasts as a clarifying treatment, and it is often infused in restorative shampoos, volume conditioners and shine sprays.
We reached out to professional hair stylists and experts for tips, and to learn more about the best apple cider vinegar-based products that can help you achieve luscious locks without breaking the bank.
Read on for suggestions and insight from Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Greg Decker, pro hair stylist and colorist, and Lauren Udoh, pro hair stylist and Hair Creative Director at WigReports.
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The Surprising Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Your Hair
Apple cider vinegar, Rivera explains, is a vinegar that is made from fermented apple juice. “Apple cider vinegar has had a presence in the beauty world dating almost as far back as can be remembered,” she adds. Rivera notes that the Babylonians “used it in 5000 BC as a tonic while history shows that the Egyptians utilized apple cider vinegar for health and wellness dating back to 3000 BC.”
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This common haircare ingredient can be used as a “natural clarifying treatment to remove build-up,” she continues, adding that this is a simple process of “applying to the hair and massaging from roots to ends.” Rivera also points out that the way apple cider vinegar “seals the cuticle” is another terrific benefit. “Due to the acidic pH, apple cider vinegar acts to seal the cuticles and enable the hair to retain more moisture which can leave it more hydrated and healthier,” she says.
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Decker agrees, and adds that it is “enriched with antimicrobial properties, which help in reducing scalp infections, and dandruff,” and even strengthen your hair. Also, it can help in “balancing the pH level of the scalp,” which may be beneficial for those with dry or oily hair. With that said, we rounded up three affordable apple cider vinegar-infused products to try.
3 Affordable Haircare Products Infused with Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Bellisso Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Conditioner Mask
Udoh says she recommends this product as a "hair rinse or conditioner mask for those just starting out with apple cider vinegar." She explains that it contains organic ingredients like apple cider vinegar and coconut oil that "nourish and condition" the hair.
"The conditioner is designed to revitalize dull, lifeless hair while giving it a natural shine," Udoh continues. It also helps to "improve scalp health, increase volume, reduce frizziness and split ends, plus it has UV protection properties," she points out. This $4.74 product is available on Amazon, and Udoh suggests doing an apple cider vinegar rinse "every other week for best results."
2. Avalon Organics Smooth Shine Shampoo With Apple Cider Vinegar
Decker recommends this natural brand and product since it contains ingredients such as acetic acid, which may "help remove buildup from styling products and conditioners and even prevent your color from fading (if you have any) while leaving your hair looking shinier and healthier."
For $12 via Amazon, you can pick up this shampoo that is naturally diluted, meaning it doesn't feature apple cider vinegar directly, which Decker says can actually sometimes do more harm than good. "If you are starting to use apple cider vinegar for your hair and are wondering how to get moving forward, I suggest opting for starting with a diluted solution to avoid any scalp irritation," he explains.
3. SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Leave-In Solution
This is another brand that many experts advise trying out, and this leave-in solution features natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar that combat and prevent dandruff year-round. This $18.29 solution at Target may be a tad bit pricier than the others in this list, but the hair health effects are more than worth it.
Ultimately, one goal of using this ingredient in your haircare products, Rivera stresses, is to prioritize your scalp health. This, she emphasizes, is what can make or break your hair in terms of shine and volume. "Once an apple cider vinegar product is applied and massaged through the hair, the reduction of buildup, and the removal of old product that is deposited on the hair will contribute to restoring shinier hair," she says.
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Udoh agrees, and adds that apple cider vinegar products like these help to "close down the cuticle of each strand of hair, which leads to more shine and less damage from environmental stressors."
They are able to "penetrate the hair shafts more efficiently than regular water due to apple cider vinegar's low pH level," which allows it to reach deeper into your strands. This, she concludes, ensures greater effectiveness in "nourishing your hair while providing hydration and volume." Sounds like it's worth a try!
