Vinegar is a popular home remedy used for cleaning and disinfecting. Some people claim that using vinegar can help clean your scalp and remove buildup from hair products. But does vinegar actually clean your scalp? Here is a closer look at the evidence.
What is vinegar?
Vinegar is a liquid consisting mainly of acetic acid and water. It’s made by fermenting foods like grapes, apples, grains, or rice. The most common types of vinegar used are:
- White vinegar – made from grains like wheat or corn
- Apple cider vinegar – made from apples
- Wine vinegar – made from red or white wine
- Rice vinegar – made from fermented rice
Acetic acid gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It’s also what gives vinegar its antibacterial and disinfecting qualities.
Does vinegar have cleansing properties?
Vinegar has been used as a cleaning agent for centuries. Its acidic nature helps break down dirt, debris, and grime.
Some key ways vinegar can help clean include:
- Killing bacteria – The acetic acid in vinegar is antibacterial and can help kill germs and bacteria.
- Removing stains – Vinegar can dissolve alkaline-based stains and help clean surfaces.
- Cutting grease – Vinegar can help dissolve greasy, oily messes.
- Disinfecting – Vinegar is a mild disinfectant and can help sanitize surfaces.
- Deodorizing – Vinegar helps absorb and remove odors.
Thanks to these properties, vinegar is commonly used as a natural cleaner for things like countertops, windows, floors, and bathrooms.
But does it also work to clean your scalp and hair? Let’s explore further.
Can vinegar help clean your scalp?
Using vinegar on your scalp aims to:
- Clean hair follicles and exfoliate dead skin cells
- Remove product buildup from hair products
- Unclog hair follicles to stimulate hair growth
- Restore the scalp’s natural pH balance
Here’s a look at the evidence on whether vinegar may be helpful:
Exfoliating abilities
The slightly acidic pH of vinegar may help very gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells and grime on the scalp. This may help unclog hair follicles to some degree.
However, vinegar is much more mild than chemical exfoliating products. So any exfoliating benefits would be extremely gentle.
Removing buildup
The cleaning power of vinegar may help break down and rinse away any mineral deposits, styling products, and oils that have built up on the scalp over time.
This may help clean hair follicles and provide a deep clean. However, there are no studies to confirm vinegar’s specific effectiveness for this purpose.
Balancing pH
Vinegar is acidic, with a typical pH around 2-3. Some claim this can help balance out the scalp’s pH, which is naturally slightly acidic.
However, the scalp is very good at self-regulating its pH. And washing with regular shampoo is usually enough to maintain a healthy scalp pH of around 4.5-5.5 without the need for extra products like vinegar.
Stimulating growth
By removing buildup and unclogging follicles, some claim vinegar may help stimulate hair growth. But there is no research that confirms vinegar increases hair growth.
Overall, vinegar may provide a deep clean for the scalp due to its disinfecting and cleaning abilities. But any extra benefits for exfoliating, pH, or hair growth are not conclusively proven. Further research is needed.
How do you use vinegar on your scalp?
If you want to test out using vinegar on your scalp, here are some popular methods:
Vinegar rinse
Perhaps the easiest way is to add vinegar to your regular shampoo routine. Try this:
- Shampoo your hair as normal with your regular shampoo. Rinse thoroughly.
- Make a vinegar rinse by mixing 1 part vinegar with 1-2 parts water. For example, 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/2 cup water.
- Pour the vinegar rinse over your scalp. Massage it in gently. Leave on for 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse out the vinegar thoroughly with cool water.
- Condition and style as normal.
Use the rinse once or twice a week after shampooing. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar work well.
Vinegar hair mask
For a more intensive treatment, you can apply vinegar to the scalp as a hair mask:
- Shampoo and rinse your hair as normal.
- Make a hair mask by mixing 1 part vinegar with 2-3 parts water. You can also add other ingredients like oils, eggs, avocado, or banana.
- Apply the mask to your scalp and hair. Ensure your scalp is covered.
- Leave on for 5-10 minutes then rinse thoroughly.
- Condition and style as usual.
Use this vinegar hair mask once a week.
Pure vinegar soak
For a very strong vinegar treatment, you can soak your scalp in pure vinegar:
- Start with dry, unwashed hair.
- Soak a cotton ball or cloth in undiluted white vinegar.
- Apply the vinegar liberally all over your scalp. Massage it in.
- Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the vinegar on for 15-30 minutes.
- Wash out the vinegar and shampoo your hair as normal.
Only use the pure vinegar soak once a month to avoid over-drying your scalp.
Are there any side effects of using vinegar on your scalp?
Using diluted vinegar on the scalp is generally very safe. However, be aware of these potential side effects:
- Skin irritation – The acetic acid in vinegar may cause stinging or irritation on damaged or sensitive skin.
- Dryness – Vinegar’s acidic pH can dry out the skin and hair with overuse. Limit vinegar treatments to 1-2 times a week.
- Hair damage – High acidity and frequent use can weaken or damage hair over time. Dilute vinegar and use sparingly if you have color-treated or chemically processed hair.
- Eye irritation – Take care to avoid getting vinegar rinses in your eyes as they will sting. Rinse eyes thoroughly if this occurs.
Start by patch testing vinegar on a small part of your scalp to check for any irritation before wider use.
Additionally, vinegar has an unpleasant smell. But this fades as it dries.
The takeaway
Here’s a quick summary on whether vinegar cleans your scalp:
- Vinegar does have mild cleaning, exfoliating, and antimicrobial properties thanks to its acetic acid content.
- It may help remove some buildup and debris from the scalp and unplug hair follicles.
- However, there is limited research specifically on using vinegar for scalp cleansing.
- The benefits for scalp pH, exfoliation, and hair growth are unproven.
- Vinegar seems safe for most people when diluted and used sparingly 1-2 times per week.
- Try a vinegar rinse or scalp mask to see if it helps clean your scalp. But don’t expect dramatic effects.
While vinegar isn’t a miracle scalp cleanser, it may provide a deep cleaning boost a couple times a week. But be sure to dilute it and rinse it out fully to prevent dryness or irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use vinegar for hair?
Vinegar is used for hair because of its mild cleansing, antimicrobial, and exfoliating properties. It may help remove buildup, unclog follicles, balance pH, and stimulate growth. But benefits are unproven.
Does vinegar help hair grow?
There is no good evidence that vinegar boosts hair growth. Removing buildup and exfoliating may help follicles function optimally, but vinegar is unlikely to significantly increase growth rate or density. Consult a dermatologist if concerned about hair growth.
Can I leave vinegar in my hair overnight?
It is not recommended to leave full-strength vinegar in hair overnight. Diluted vinegar should be rinsed out fully after 5-30 minutes max. Overnight application could over-dry and damage hair.
Does vinegar remove hard water buildup?
Vinegar can help dissolve and remove mineral deposits from hard water that build up on the scalp and hair over time. Rinsing with a vinegar solution may help remove this buildup.
Should you wash your hair with vinegar every day?
No, washing hair with vinegar daily is too excessive and could irritate the scalp. Limit vinegar washes to 1-2 times per week at most, and always dilute the vinegar with water first.
Conclusion
While vinegar has some benefits as a mild cleanser and disinfectant, the evidence that it can deeply cleanse or benefit the scalp and hair is limited. Using diluted vinegar rinses or treatments occasionally may offer a boost, but they are no miracle solution. Anyone concerned with scalp health or excessive buildup should see a dermatologist. Be wary of aggressive vinegar treatments that could do more harm than good.