Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner

I did it. I finally took the plunge.

My Yes To Tomatoes conditioner finally ran out over the weekend. I went to the kitchen to get the apple cider vinegar, which has been patiently awaiting its chance to show its stuff.

I mixed the vinegar with water in a 1:4 solution (read: 1 part vinegar, 4 parts water, total 500 ml using 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup) and put it in the empty conditioner bottle.

I have two criteria for the apple cider vinegar conditioner:
1. It cannot leave my hair smelling like vinegar. Period.
2. It has to actually work…I need to be able to comb my wet hair without serious knotting, and it has to leave my hair soft.

So I was ready.

After my baking soda shampoo was rinsed, I grabbed the conditioner bottle. Now, the instructions for apple cider vinegar conditioner say to only use it on the ends of your hair, not on your scalp. Ok, whatever. If you have short hair, this isn’t really practical. So I just poured some all over my head, and rinsed.

I towel dried my hair and was ready for the first test: can I comb it easily? I found that yes, I could comb it easily. The conditioner did part of its job. The next test was to blow dry it to see if my hair was soft after using it. During the blow drying part, I could smell, ever-so-faintly, apple cider vinegar. I thought it was going to be a short-lived relationship. However, once my hair was completely dry, I couldn’t smell any vinegar at all. And my hair was soft. SUCCESS! I think next time I will just rinse a lot more to make sure it is all out of my hair so I don’t smell any vinegar when blow drying, I was kind of in a hurry yesterday when I did this because Wayne was taking me shopping for a summer dress.

This is one of the most economical changes I think I have made, and NO chemicals to deal with! The bottle of apple cider vinegar was $1.18 at Wal-mart, and that was the 16 oz bottle. I got the small one just in case it didn’t work, then I wouldn’t have a bunch of vinegar around that would be barely used. And since I am diluting it, it should last awhile. The REAL test will have to be in the winter, though, when I need conditioner to keep my hair from getting all static-y.