The 9 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos That Make Hair Look Thicker and Healthy After Just One Wash
ACV makes it easy to tackle all your hair concerns while showering
Apple cider vinegar is one of the biggest multitaskers you can keep in your home as it can be used in recipes, for cleaning, to relieve pesky health issues and more. But did you know it can also be a great addition to your hair routine? That’s because the pantry staple does everything from encouraging healthy hair growth to addressing dandruff to adding shine to all hair types. Sound good to you? Us too! And the easiest way to reap the hair-beautifying rewards is to use an apple cider vinegar shampoo. Read on to discover the best apple cider vinegar shampoo for you according to top hairstylists.
(Click through for more ways to combat thinning hair.)
Is apple cider vinegar good for hair?
The short answer: Yes. While research is scarce on apple cider vinegar’s impact on hair, experts in the field often find it useful to add to their clients’ routines. Lauren Paglionico, hair color specialist and founder of LRN BEAUTY salon in New York City, calls it “one of my favorite all-natural hair tricks. ACV helps balance your scalp pH and remove both dandruff and product buildup. It’s also the secret ingredient to shiny hair.”
And Justin Anderson, celebrity colorist and co-founder of dpHUE, promises that when using it regularly, “Your hair will be shiny, have less breakage and color fading and your hair will be healthier overall.”
The best apple cider vinegar shampoo picks for hair
- Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for an itchy scalp : dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Soothing Shampoo
- BEST APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SHAMPOO FOR HAIR LOSS : Pure by Rachelle Parker Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner Set
- Best apple cider vinegar detox shampoo : FEKKAI Apple Cider Detox Shampoo
- Best drugstore apple cider vinegar shampoo : Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
- Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for upping shine : R+CO Lost Treasure Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
- Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for adding volume : WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo & Hair Conditioner Set
- Best apple cider vinegar Clarifying Treatment : The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Treatment
- Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for dandruff : SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for dry hair : AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
What are the hair benefits of apple cider vinegar?
It removes buildup and increases strand shine
Many of the benefits of apple cider vinegar for hair start with one simple fact: It’s a clarifier. An astringent ingredient, “ACV helps remove product buildup,” says Paglionico. “This is because it’s acidic, and the acid in the ACV breaks down the gunk on your hair.” That means it can blast away dulling leftover particles from hair products and help keep your hair color looking vibrant. As a bonus, Paglionico also says that it “closes the hair cuticle.” Why that matters? “When the cuticle is smooth, it makes your locks super shiny!”
It cleanses hair with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects
Apple cider vinegar shampoos are also often touted for helping bust dandruff with its super-cleaning powers. “ACV has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits,” says Kerry E Yates, a trichologist and founder of beauty brand developing company Colour Collective. This is helpful as she says, “it can help control dandruff as a result of yeast growth.” But even better: “Added to a haircare regimen, it helps support optimal scalp health.”
It encourages healthy hair growth
Many apple cider vinegar shampoos are suggested for people experiencing hair loss or hair thinning, including the kind that comes naturally with aging. Here’s the thinking behind that: ”By keeping the [hair] follicles clean, and free from product build-up and excess sebum, follicle fitness is improved, thus leading to the optimal environment for new hair growth,” explains Yates. Plus, according to a 2014 study that looked into the pH of shampoos, high acidity formulas like those containing apple cider vinegar may help maintain your scalp’s pH balance, leading to stronger hair that’s less prone to breakage.
It also has yet another way of making hair look fuller. “The natural chemistry of ACV helps to alleviate excess sebum and eliminates product build-up from both the scalp and hair shaft, says Yates. “The lack of product on the hair shaft can lift up the cuticle making the hair appear fuller.”
How to use apple cider vinegar shampoo
The one thing to note is that since apple cider vinegar is astringent, it can make drier hair types feel parched with overuse. So start by swapping it once a week and then upping it from there if your hair can take it. Yates also suggests, “depending on one’s hair texture, you may need to add a bit of extra conditioner to mid-lengths and ends to enhance slip and shine.”
The 8 best apple cider vinegar shampoo picks of 2024
dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Soothing Shampoo
Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for an itchy scalp
Why we like it
- Packed with moisturizers
- Calms the scalp
One of the buzziest apple cider vinegar shampoos out there, this formula was a follow-up to the brand’s famous Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse. Yates has used it with good results, as have lots of fans, as proven by the glowing reviews on Ulta. Devotees love that it helps keep hair clean without stripping away their natural moisture, which it does thanks to panthenol and aloe vera. What’s more, it’s soothing to the scalp by way of ginger root and lavender extract, which makes it a must for anyone who deals with an irritated scalp.
Pure by Rachelle Parker Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner Set
BEST APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SHAMPOO FOR HAIR LOSS
Why we like it
- Organic ingredients
- Great for thinning hair
Hair getting thinner with age? This shampoo and conditioner duo is a great option to try. Not only does it contain apple cider vinegar with all its healthy hair benefits, it also has a DHT blocker to address the hair follicle–shrinking hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that naturally increases and can cause hair to grow in thinner. What’s more, it’s packed with sweet almond oil to up shine and increase elasticity for overall stronger, more beautiful locks.
FEKKAI Apple Cider Detox Shampoo
Best apple cider vinegar detox shampoo
Why we like it
- Ultra-clarifying wth salicylic acid
- Protects from environmental damage
Anyone who has been overdoing it with dry shampoo needs this formula in their life. It combines the power of ACV with salicylic acid to lift away hard-to-budge impurities and leave you with a clean slate — but that doesn’t mean that it strips away moisture. In fact, it’s one of Paglionico’s favorites because she notices it doesn’t dry out her scalp and hair. She explains, “This is due to the pomegranate seed oil, which nourishes your hair and scalp.” And antioxidant-rich pomegranate seed oil also creates an invisible shield over strands to protect it from outdoor hair-damaging elements like UV rays and pollution.
Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
Best drugstore apple cider vinegar shampoo
Why we like it
- Affordable
- Good for color-treated hair
An ACV shampoo that’s extra gentle on your hair and your wallet? Sign us up! This formula features Aveeno’s signature soothing oats to help calm your scalp skin as it cleans, leaving behind a healthier, happier scalp. It’s also made without a lot of irritating extras like dyes and those pesky color-fading sulfates, which makes it an especially great option for anyone who color-treats their hair.
R+CO Lost Treasure Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for upping shine
Why we like it
- Doubles as conditioning treatment
- Smooths the hair cuticle
Another formula to get a nod from Yates, this one stands out thanks to its multi-tasking nature. While it can be used as a shampoo, it can also swap in for conditioner since it moisturizes and seals the hair cuticle. It also works a bit differently than a regular shampoo or conditioner, as you apply it directly to your scalp and allow it to sit for one to three minutes before rinsing. Once out of the shower, all you’ll see is incredible shine.
WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo & Hair Conditioner Set
Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for adding volume
Why we like it
- Natural ingredients
- Slows hair loss
Why this dynamic duo made our list? It’s incredibly nourishing. Packed with keratin proteins and vitamins B5 and E, it helps hair grow stronger to give weak or fine strands an assist, addressing breakage as it eliminates the build-up that weighs hair down. The result over time is bouncier, fuller hair. We also love the quality of the ingredients. Not only does the AVC inside come from Himalayan apples, it contains nettle leaf and saw palmetto, two natural DHT blockers, that can help alleviate hair thinning as the years go on.
The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Treatment
Best apple cider vinegar Clarifying Treatment
Why we like it
- Vegan ingredients
- Tackles scalp build-up
- Good for flaky, dry, or oily scalps
This pre-shampoo scalp treatment that gently clears dirt, excess oil, and product buildup, and rebalances the microbiome for a fresh, clean scalp. It works on all scalp types to refresh, soothe dryness, remove excess oil and product, and balance the scalp’s pH without disrupting the natural microbiome.
SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for dandruff
Why we like it
- Infused with Apple Cider Vinegar, Salicylic Acid, and Fair Trade Shea Butter
- No parabens, no sulfates, no mineral oil or petrolatum
SheaMoisture’s Anti-Dandruff Collection is designed to care for your scalp’s microbiome and strengthen your hair. It helps eliminate flaking & itching associated with dandruff while also removing buildup, moisturizing hair, and providing overall strengthening for less breakage.
AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Best apple cider vinegar shampoo for dry hair
Why we like it
- Vegan ingredients
- Cruelty free
Sulfates can dry out the hair, but this sulfate-free option will gently cleanse the hair and scalp sealing the cuticle to enhance shine with apple cider vinegar, Argan oil, and an abundance of nourishing superfoods.
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