It does exactly that for me :D I love it, except the smell.
I will try white vinegar next.
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I started using ACV because I read it could help with an itchy scalp - in my case it didn't, which isn't surprising because I know mine is from hormonal causes.
Anyway, it does make my hair feel smoother and softer and I love the smell (I dilute it, obviously, but don't wash it out) I use it every time I wash.
Recently, because I'm attempting to lessen/remove my henna, I decided to try white vinegar instead. I'd read that ACV increases red tones for some people and I don't know if this is the case for me as I've only been using it while I've had red hair.
I don't like the smell of white vinegar as much, and my hair doesn't feel so nice. It definitely felt drier after the rinse (I didn't wash that out either and maybe if I had it would have given a better result for me - everyone has such different results with the same things)
I use ACV to define my curls and prevent frizz. I think that in high quantities it even makes it shinier and curlier. It definitely makes my hair less frizzy and shinier.
I use a mix of 4:1 water to ACV in a spray bottle. After I wash out the conditioner I squeeze out the excess water and then spray it with the solution. Then I squeeze that out and wrap it in a towel for a while. I usually put a little rapeseed oil on the very ends to help prevent frizzy ends. My hair has sleek defined curls with this.
The first time I used ACV I did not dilute it because the bottle said diluted to 5%. I poured straight ACV in my hair and combed it through (not recommending this at all) and followed with a tea rinse. My hair felt lighter, softer, and more manageable after, but boy did it smell :P. I think it only worked that way for me because I had so much build up and my hair is a tad coarse.
Vinegar diluted to 5% acidity has a pH of 2.5. Hair has a pH of 5. So you should dilute it. I've used a 50/50 vinegar/water rinse after a baking soda treatment, but that may be too strong for plain hair.
Yeah, this is not something I plan to do again in the future. Thanks for the information on how to do it properly :) .
I calculated the pH of different vinegar solutions. These assume the vinegar has 5% acidity (5% acetic acid) and the water has a pH of 7.
Pure vinegar (5% AA) has a pH of 2.4
1:1 vinegar:water (50% vinegar, 2.5% AA) has a pH of 2.6
1:3 ratio vinegar:water (25% vinegar, 1.25% AA) has a pH of 3
1:9 ratio (10% vinegar, 0.5% AA) has a pH of 3.4
1 Tbsp vinegar in 1 cup water has a pH of 3.6
1/2 Tbsp vinegar in 1 cup water has a pH of 3.9
1 tsp vinegar in 1 cup water has a pH of 4.2
1:99 ratio (1% vinegar, 0.05% AA) has a pH of 4.4
1/2 tsp vinegar in 1 cup water has a pH of 4.5
1/4 tsp vinegar in 1 cup water has a pH of 4.8
1/4 tsp vinegar in 2 cups water has a pH of 5.1
How much vinegar would you need for a liter then? According those calculations
I experimented with ACV in the past but found it very drying on my hair.