Best Hair Rinse EVER
I just discovered an incredibly effective hair rinse. This may sound dramatic, but it might have changed my life. For about 3 years now I have been suffering from a severely dry, severely itchy scalp. To alleviate it I have tried... EVERYTHING. From organic pine sap shampoos to expensive Aveda scalp sprays to good ol' Head and Shoulders to essential oils that I rubbed into my roots. Certain things would soothe my scalp for the time being, but nothing would cure it. I started to think maybe it was an internal allergy, something I was eating that was effecting the health of my scalp. I had pretty much given up on options. Until I came across a blog the other day talking about a hair rinse. I decided to try it because, well, couldn't hurt. And guess what?
IT WORKED. It's completely altered the appearance and feel of my scalp, left my hair feeling full, smooth and healthy, from the root down. I only need to treat my hair with it twice a week to benefit from the effects. And it costs...
$0.48 per treatment. Super fancy, huh? You wanna know what it is? *DRUM ROLL*
Apple Cider Vinegar.
RAW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Hair Rinse
2-4 tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
16 oz cold water
After shampooing hair, rinse with mixture.
It will be cold, haha, and it won't smell the most enticing, but that only lasts seconds compared to the amazing benefits that last for weeks.
So WHY does it WORK?
After the awesome results, I decided to do some research as to how and why this cured my poor scalp. Here's the how and why of it.
Let's start at the root of the problem. hee hee. The base of your scalp, the acid mantle has a very specific "homeostasis" of it's own and wants to live within a pH balance of between 4-7. However most hair care products sold in stores are highly alkaline, creating a pH balance of over 7. This obviously throws your scalp's pH balance out of whack, and can leave it either too dry or too oily depending on your scalp's response. You may have read about baking soda rinses to restore your hair however, this will not help! Why? Baking soda is highly alkaline. Yet again, throwing the pH balance of the scalp off.
Why is Apple Cider Vinegar so helpful? Because it's highly acidic due to it's fermentation process. The acetic acid is a potent antimicrobial that not only helps neutralize the highly alkaline pH balance of your scalp, but also could kill any sort of bacteria, fungus or dandruff on the scalp. It also has important vitamins that also could help to strengthen hair from the root, improving growth and condition of hair!
Want to RESTORE YOUR HAIR?
4 Quick Steps!
Check labels on your hair products. If your shampoos/conditioners contain sulfates or harsh chemicals or say their pH balance is above 7, throw them out.
Purchase organic shampoo and conditioner or make your own! I prefer this solid bar of shampoo. You can purchase it at Whole Foods or online. It's about $7 and lasts FOREVER.
Purchase Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, like Bragg's! $4 per bottle. Rinse hair up to twice a week with mixture. Feel free to add essential oils like tea tree!
Follow with natural conditioner of choice and ENJOY the feeling of a truly healthy scalp
I suggest using THIS conditioner! Tea Tree Oil + Peppermint leaves your scalp clean of any bacteria or build-up and peppermint soothes any irritation. Also, soy and gluten free, which I discovered recently is hard to come by! Hrmph, hair care industry.
smiles + protein,
Elizabeth
*UPDATE! It's now been three weeks since using the rinse and the above shampoo consistently. My hair makes me feel like I have a brand new head! LOL. My hair feels healthier, thicker, shinier and when I comb my hair post shower, much less hair is left behind. Rinse and repeat! LITERALLY!
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resources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/461672-how-to-restore-the-ph-of-your-scalp/#ixzz2PuGwBmjC
http://coconutsandkettlebells.com/apple-cider-vinegar-hair-rinse/
http://www.thankyourbody.com/ph-balanced-shampoo-recipe/
