Does Apple Cider Vinegar Get Rid Of Buildup In Hair

If your hair looks or feels unclean you might be wondering

“does apple cider vinegar get rid of buildup in hair?”   Whether your hair is loose or in dread/locs, an apple cider vinegar rinse can help your hair!

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinses have been used on hair in general but people with dreads/locs

locked onto it for deep cleanses.  It is very effective to remove buildup from products, scalp issues and improve the shine in the hair.   In recent times I have had to ask for specific information for most of the requests for ACV washes.

Does apple cider vinegar get rid of buildup in hair?  Yes. But, it depends  on the type of buildup:

It is most effective with:

Product buildup from liquid gels, creams, shampoos and dirt that were not properly removed from the hair.

It is less effective with:

Removing lint, wax, glue, paint from the dread/loc. You have to physically pull them from the hair.   These things get sealed in the hair so removal can result in the dread/loc breaking at that point.

The most effective way to stop this buildup happening is:

• tie the hair when sleeping, sitting on sofas or while working with certain liquids that harden or working in places with lots of dust.  A durag or scarf helps if they are silk based.  
• Scarfs and many winter hats made from wool or cotton-based materials tend to snag in the hair.  
• If you have pets, daily hair removal is essential.
• If you have dandruff, remove them with a fine-tooth comb before shampoos and again before retwisting dread/locs..
• Wax based products have to be squeezed out while the hair is wet.  People who use lots of wax while installing or maintaining dreads/locs are doing a disservice to their clients because this will cause problems in the future.  Most times I have seen clients with this problem, they had to start over.

If you have lots of buildup and were wondering “ does apple cider vinegar get rid of buildup in hair, it will depend on the type.  Most of the problems stem from the person maintaining the hair not properly cleaning the hair/scalp before completing a a style or retwist.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & “Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest”