If you’re looking for a natural way to lighten your hair, apple cider vinegar might be what you’re looking for. Not only is apple cider vinegar (ACV) great for your health, but it can also be beneficial for your hair and scalp.
Can apple cider vinegar give your hair highlights? I’m going to share effects of using apple cider vinegar on your hair color and share tips on how to use it to lighten your hair naturally.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apples. It’s a popular ingredient in cooking, but it’s also used for its health and beauty benefits.
ACV is packed with vitamins, minerals, and beneficial acids that can help soothe and heal the skin and scalp.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lighten Your Hair Color?
The acidic properties of apple cider vinegar can help to cleanse and restore balance to your scalp, remove product build-up, stimulate the growth of healthy hair, treat dandruff, and even lighten your hair color.
Apple cider vinegar works as a gentle yet effective bleach when applied liberally with water to lighten color treated or naturally dark brown or black hair.
To use it at home, mix three parts water with one part apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz over dry hair, concentrating on darker areas.
Leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly. Repeat this process twice a week for up to two months if you would like more noticeable results.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Give Your Hair Highlights?
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can be used to give your hair highlights without using bleach. ACV is a natural, all-purpose cleaning and cooking ingredient that has many uses beyond the kitchen.
It’s also known for its assistance with healthy hair and scalp, as it can help to remove product buildup, balance pH levels in the scalp and add shine to dull hair.
Using ACV as a form of highlighting agent is a cost-effective way of creating beautiful lightened strands without using any chemicals or harsh bleaches.
To do this, blend equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water together in a spray bottle, then spritz onto your dry hair from midshaft to ends.
You can leave the product on anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour depending on how much lightening you want.
Be sure to wear plastic gloves when applying the mixture to protect your hands against potential staining/discoloration of potentially caused by vinegar’s acidity.
After waiting about an hour, rinse out with cool water followed by shampoo and conditioner then style with your hair care products as desired.
How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Affect The Health Of Your Hair?
Apple cider vinegar can help balance the pH of your scalp, which can help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. It can also help remove product buildup and clarify your natural hair.
ACV can make your hair shinier and smoother by flattening the hair cuticle, making the hair appear flatter and brighter.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lighten Your Hair Naturally?
Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on your hair and leave it on for 15–30 minutes.
Rinse your hair thoroughly with water and condition as usual. You can repeat the process once a week until you achieve your desired level of lightness.
How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should You Use on Hair?
Don’t use undiluted apple cider vinegar on your hair. Mix equal parts ACV and water in a spray bottle or bowl before applying it to your hair.
How Long Does it Take to Lighten Your Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar?
Lightening your hair with apple cider vinegar can be a great way to achieve subtle highlights without exposure to harsh chemicals.
The process usually takes between 30 minutes and 8 hours, depending on how light you want the results to be.
Before applying an apple cider vinegar treatment to the hair, make sure to thoroughly wash and condition it beforehand in order for the product to adhere better.
Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl or spray bottle and apply it evenly throughout dampened hair.
Leave it on for at least thirty minutes before rinsing out completely. You can also leave the product on overnight if you are looking for dramatically lighter results but keep in mind that this may cause some slight damage, so only do this if you’re prepared for that possibility.
How to Keep Your Hair Moisturized When Using Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar can be an effective way of maintaining healthy, moisturized hair. To keep your hair from becoming dry and brittle, start by using a mild, pH-balanced shampoo to gently cleanse the scalp and strands.
Then rinse well with water and create an apple cider vinegar rinse; simply mix half cup of apple cider vinegar into one liter of warm water.
Pour the mixture over your damp hair after showering and allow it to sit for several minutes before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water.
This will help balance the pH in your scalp while locking in moisture so that long lasting hydration is achieved without weighing down your hair.
After rinsing, you should also treat your hair with a hydrating conditioner to replenish any lost moisture. A leave-in conditioner can work wonders between washes if needed as well.
Finally, always end styling with a heat protectant spray or serum to ensure your hair is getting enough nourishment and protection from daily styling.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Safe for Color-Treated Hair?
When used in moderation, apple cider vinegar can be a safe and beneficial addition to your haircare routine.
To protect your color-treated hair from damage, dilute the vinegar with equal parts water before using it as a rinse after shampooing.
Use only enough of the diluted mixture to coat your scalp and hair strands.
After rinsing out the solution, condition and style your hair with products suitable for color-treated hair to seal in moisture and strengthen the cuticle layer that protects and preserves your dye job.
Apple cider vinegar rinse should only be used once or twice a month as its acidic nature may strip away some of your dye if used too frequently.
How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Affect Different Hair Types?
While it’s not suitable for everyone, ACV can be beneficial for different hair types.
For those with dry or frizzy hair, ACV can help hydrate and nourish your scalp, as well as reducing tangles and making your mane easier to manage.
Adding ACV to your shampoo or conditioner on a regular basis helps retain moisture, resulting in softer looking locks without the frizz.
If you have an itchy scalp then adding a bit of apple cider vinegar to your routine can help alleviate irritation and discomfort due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Meanwhile, those with greasy hair might benefit from using ACV too – although perhaps in smaller amounts than other types more prone to dryness.
With other ingredients, such as baking soda or sea salt, ACV works great as a natural clarifying agent that helps remove build up from styling products and minerals from hard water.
Which prevent oils from naturally rising to the surface of the scalp – thus helping oily scalps self regulate over time.
What Benefits Can I Get from Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair?
Apple cider vinegar is an age-old natural remedy that can provide numerous benefits for your hair. It has high levels of acetic and malic acid, which help to close the cuticles on your strands and balance the pH level in your scalp.
This helps to lock in moisture, reduce dandruff, calm itching or other irritation, strengthen and volumize your hair, prevent breakage from heat styling tools, and even restore shine.
Apple cider vinegar is also incredibly nourishing for your scalp due to its antibiotic properties; this helps promote healthy hair growth by preserving essential oils and stimulating circulation throughout the skin.
When used as a rinse after shampooing, it can do wonders to clarify any buildup or residue from products like hairspray or gels without stripping away too many of your own natural oils.
Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Dark Hair?
Yes, you can use apple cider vinegar on dark hair, but it won’t significantly lighten the hair color. Its primary purpose is to nourish and cleanse the scalp and hair, providing a healthy shine, detangling and reduced frizz but not to create dramatic hair lightening effects.
How Can I Make My Hair Lighter Using Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is a great natural way to lighten hair without resorting to harsh chemicals. You can mix one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and then saturate your hair with the mixture.
Let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing out and shampooing. For best results, repeat this process once or twice a week until you reach your desired shade of lightness.
Another option is to make a leave-in conditioning spray by combining equal parts ACV and warm water in a spritz bottle.
Spray the mixture onto damp hair every day, comb through, let air dry, and you’ll slowly see the results of lighter hair over time.
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Strip Hair Color?
Some people believe it can naturally strip away hair color. While apple cider vinegar is thought to be a natural hair lightener, the truth is that it won’t actually strip away your existing color.
Apple cider vinegar does contain acetic acid, which may help lighten or fade hair over time when used consistently.
However, there’s no evidence to support its effectiveness in completely stripping dye from your hair strands.
When you use products with ingredients like bleach or peroxide to color your hair, these chemical ingredients bond with your existing strands and are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to remove without using a remover specifically designed for this purpose – even then results vary depending on the dye’s brand and age.
How Can I Safely Apply a Mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar on My Hair and Scalp?
To safely apply an apple cider vinegar mixture to your hair and scalp, mix one part ACV with one part water.
After shampooing, pour the mixture evenly onto your wet hair, saturating all strands. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. Avoid direct contact with your eyes.
How Does Using Vinegar on Your Hair Compare to Using White Vinegar?
While both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar have similar cleansing and acidic properties, apple cider vinegar is considered more beneficial for the hair and scalp due to its other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Its gentler nature makes it a preferable option for DIY hair treatments.
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Damage Hair?
Apple cider vinegar, when used correctly, won’t damage hair. Always dilute it with water (1 part ACV to 1 part water) to avoid potential over-drying.
Using undiluted ACV or applying it too often may lead to a dry scalp and damaged hair shaft. Pay attention to your hair’s reaction and adjust usage as needed.
Summary
Using apple cider vinegar to naturally lighten your hair can be an easy and inexpensive way to add some brightness to your hair. It can also promote healthy hair and scalp and bring out natural highlights. However, it’s essential to use it in moderation and listen to your hair and scalp’s needs.
Along with apple cider vinegar, other natural ingredients such as white vinegar can also help lighten your hair. Experiment with different ingredients and find a natural way to lighten your hair that works for you.
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