Apple cider vinegar is a household product known for its multi-use benefits, offering numerous advantages for various aspects of daily life.
Most recently, it has become a popular hair care ingredient that can be found in a variety of products, ranging from shampoos to masks and deep-cleansing treatments.
Apple cider vinegar is not limited to being included in other formulas, either; it has recently been praised for being able to be used on its own as part of your hair care routine.
Not only does the product possess deep cleaning properties, but it also strengthens and reinvigorates the scalp, helping to promote hair growth.
It is a product ideal for every hair type and texture, and is even safe for color-treated hair when used in moderation. In fact, apple cider vinegar can even help enhance hair color, especially lightened or highlighted strands, to achieve lighter results.
So, how do you use apple cider vinegar to lighten hair?
Apple cider vinegar is a great, natural alternative to lightening your hair. You’ll have to let it sit on your hair for 15-30 minutes, and while it will not give you platinum results, the hair may be lifted a few shades.
Below, we discuss the benefits of using apple cider vinegar in your hair care routine, how to incorporate it into your hair-lightening regimen, and the best ways to maintain the results after they have been achieved.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is made from a process of fermenting apples. The sugars from the apples convert to juice, which then turns into alcohol, and subsequently distills into vinegar.
The process produces a fermented cider that includes apples, sugar, and yeast.
ACV has numerous uses for home, health, and beauty care, and is frequently incorporated as a primary ingredient in various products.
The fermented cider is enriched with live cultures, minerals, and acids, which possess positive properties that aid in various ways. The main acids that are found in apple cider vinegar are acetic acid, lactic, citrus, and malic acids.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lighten Hair?
Apple cider vinegar is a great way to naturally lighten your hair. It is an alternative method to lightening your hair that does not involve any bleach or harsh chemical treatments.
Because of ACV’s acetic acid and alcohol content, it will work to lighten the hair up to two shades lighter than your existing color.
However, the results will not be immediate and will require consistent use to achieve the desired outcome.
Apple cider vinegar can also serve as a hair lightener, particularly if the hair is already lightened, especially with highlights, as it can yield more effective results.
How To Lighten Hair With Apple Cider Vinegar
The best way to lighten your hair with ACV is to establish a consistent application routine. To create the mixture, it is best to mix equal parts ACV and water together in a spray bottle for an easy and seamless application.
With the mixture, ensure you thoroughly coat the hair to completely saturate the strands for an even application.
Once the ACV and water mixture has been applied, allow the product to sit on the hair for anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes. It can also be helpful to sit in the sunshine while the mixture is on the hair for the allotted time to help boost the lightening process.
Rinse the hair after the correct amount of time has passed. The ACV mixture can be applied up to two times a week consistently until you achieve your desired results.
If you want to upgrade the ACV and water mixture, you can also add honey or baking soda to the solution, as both are ingredients known to have antimicrobial properties.
Other Hair Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a wide range of uses in your hair care routine, including balancing pH levels and strengthening the scalp.
It is a product that is both antibacterial and antifungal, which helps keep the scalp healthy. It is an ideal product to help detoxify the scalp from any product or oil buildup that can occur over time.
ACV helps to eliminate and reduce the appearance of dandruff, and can also deep clean the scalp and hair. When used as part of your hair care routine, ACV can help relieve itchiness or discomfort caused by scalp buildup or dryness.
For colour-treated hair, it can help to protect and extend the colour’s vibrancy by sealing the cuticle to reduce colour fading.
By sealing the cuticle, ACV also reduces the appearance of frizz, helping the hair appear softer and smoother. By softening the hair, it can also serve as a detangler, allowing for easy work through any mats or knots.
Apple cider vinegar also helps balance the scalp’s pH, which can have numerous positive benefits, including a reduction in hair loss.
With a healthy scalp and the removal of any excess product or dandruff buildup, the hair follicles are strengthened, leading to reduced hair loss.
Best Hair Types To Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Unlike some hair care products, apple cider vinegar is a versatile product that can benefit all hair types, producing numerous advantages. However, the way you use ACV on your hair can vary depending on your hair type. The type of product you are using will also determine the concentration of ACV for your hair.
For color-treated hair, it is safe to use without the risk of stripping the color. However, overusing the product may result in your color lightening or fading. With its ability to reduce the appearance of frizz, ACV can be especially beneficial for curly hair, as it helps smooth unruly strands.
If you struggle with an oilier scalp, apple cider vinegar also works well for your hair type, as it helps eliminate dandruff buildup that can occur more frequently in oily hair types.
Although it is a vinegar, dry hair can also benefit from using the product; however, be cautious of the concentration level. Too much vinegar can be drying for the hair, so it is best to dilute the ACV with water.
Side Effects of Using Apple Cider Vinegar in Your Hair
If you are using apple cider vinegar to lighten your hair, the results will not be immediate and may take several weeks to become noticeable. The results also are not permanent and will need to be maintained with the ACV and water mixture as well.
If you are using ACV on your hair as part of your routine without lightening your strands, be mindful of how much and how often you use the product.
Applying too much ACV to the hair can cause dryness and potentially lead to damage. It is best to use the ACV mixed with water to help dilute the solution, still providing the positive benefits without the risk of potential damage.
Although apple cider vinegar is safe for colour-treated hair and can be used as a natural lightening alternative, using too much of the product can cause brassiness to occur.
While it does work to lighten the hair colour, if you notice the strands are pulling warmer, brassy, or orange than desired, you can follow up with a colour toning shampoo or conditioner to eliminate the unwanted shades.
If you have sensitive skin or a sensitive scalp, using apple cider vinegar too often can cause irritation or itchiness to occur.
Conclusion
Overall, apple cider vinegar is an ingredient with numerous uses for the home, body, and hair, making it a valuable addition to a household staple if it is not already. While it has many uses unrelated to beauty, the effects it has on the hair are worth noting and deserving of celebration.
Not only does apple cider vinegar help to deeply clean the hair of excess product and oil buildup, but it also helps reduce the appearance of dandruff, minimise itchiness, and fight against hair loss by strengthening both the hair follicles and the scalp.
If you desire to lighten your hair but want to avoid damaging your strands with harsh chemicals or a trip to the salon, apple cider vinegar has proven to be an ideal natural alternative.
While your strands may not reach the lightest blonde shade, ACV can help lift your natural color up to two shades, providing you with a brighter appearance.
Using apple cider vinegar to lighten your hair is an easy, mess-free, and convenient way to achieve lifted locks without the use of bleach or ammonia.
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