Since the beginning of this year I’ve been working really hard at not washing my hair every single day of the week. I know that sounds like kind of a ridiculous thing to be “working hard” at, but it’s true! It wasn’t my stylist that finally inspired me to do it (even though she’d been telling me for months), it was the time it took to wash and blow dry my hair everyday. I finally got on the dry shampoo bandwagon and after trying, this kind, then this kind, and finally this kind- I’ve settled on the third. If you’re in the market for a dry shampoo, water killer is the best in my mind!
Things were all fine and dandy. I was chugging along at about 2 washes per week- my dream being one. And then my scalp started to get really really itchy. Like uncontrollably itchy. I didn’t want to use something like Head & Shoulders since it strips your color, so I decided to try a vinegar rinse this past weekend as I had read it removes build up (from all the dry shampoo) and helps relieve itchiness. I did a little research and found everything from mixing a half cup of vinegar with a half cup of water to mixing one tablespoon of vinegar with a full cup of water as proportions. Quite the difference! Here’s the method I settled on:
- Mix 1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar with 3/4 cup of water
- Place the mixture in a spray or squeeze bottle if you have it (I left mine in the measuring cup, and carried that into the shower)
- In between shampooing and conditioning your hair, pour or squirt the mixture on your roots and let it sit for 3-5 minutes, massaging occasionally. I shaved my legs during this time.
- Thoroughly rinse the mixture from your hair, and condition from root to end. This is something I never do, but my stylist said it was necessary following the rinse.
Upon blow drying my hair I could immediately feel a different- my hair was definitely shinier, silkier, and had more natural body. My scalp has also been much less itchy, and my hair overall- a lot less oily, causing me to use less dry shampoo. I loved the results! And I can’t believe it was all from vinegar- proves you don’t always need those pricey products.
I’m definitely going to make the rinse a weekly habit. Many sites suggest adding essential oils to the mix. Wouldn’t lavendar be yummy? You can even clean your hairbrush using vinegar.
Have you done a vinegar rinse? Any other natural hair remedies you can recommend? I’d love to hear!
Image Credits: 1 (anyone know original source?), 2
I’ve never done one, but I think you just sold me on the idea.
I’ve been wanting to try this for a while. I wonder about the smell? I mean, when you rinse the hair out does the vinegary smell linger??
Hi Alla- mine didn’t smell at all. I even had my mom smell it to double check! Even though the solution is diluted, you do smell it in the shower. But I just rinsed it out really well, then conditioned, and then rinsed that out well. You should be fine!
I am definitely going to try this with my apple cider vinegar I’ve had lying around. Need the shine boost – thanks for the tip!
I’m so happy you posted this! I normally wash my hair twice a week but I’m plagued with an itchy scalp no mater what product I use. I can not wait to try this out.
This will be a life saver!!!
This is a great idea. I can typically get away with 4 days between hair washes (using dry shampoo on the third and fourth days), and thankfully haven’t had the itchy scalp syndrome. However, I always condition my hair from roots to end, so maybe that helps? I like the idea of using this vinegar rinse to get rid of build-up though. Nothing like shiny hair!
This sounds like a great idea. I’ve never tried anything on my hair so natural. But my head is always itchy from lots of product. I might be trying this recipe this weekend!
Thanks for the tip. I love home remedies. I pretty much wash my hair daily. I know I shouldn’t but otherwise it just feels so dry and crap the next day. I’ll have to give this a go along with dry shampoos which I’m yet to try.
One of my home hair remedies is an avocado mask – http://www.dellie.ca/blog/2012/05/08/avocado-hair-mask/. It leaves your hair silky smooth and shiny.