Struggling with dandruff, oily hair, or dry hair and scalp? Balance the pH of your scalp with this easy DIY apple cider vinegar hair rinse.

Before becoming a mom, I washed my hair daily. I struggled with excess oils making it look like I constantly had a wet scalp. Then motherhood arrived. While my hair looked great during pregnancy, postpartum was a totally different story. It was back to extremely oily hair and dealing with postpartum hair loss. I desperately needed a hair care routine that allowed me to lengthen the time between wash days, improve my overall scalp health, and result in healthy hair growth.
I knew there had to be natural ingredients out there that could help, and I discovered organic apple cider vinegar. Who knew a kitchen staple would become a staple for my hair as well!?
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples. While you will see raw apple cider vinegar used a lot in dressings and marinades, it is also a great alternative for natural hair treatments that improve the overall appearance of your hair. Check out just some of the benefits to making your own apple cider vinegar hair rinse:
- Balances the pH of all hair types
- Kills bacteria with its antimicrobial properties
- Improves overall hair health and scalp health
- Creates an environment for healthy hair growth
- Hydrates dry scalp and hair
- Softens hair and reduces tangles and frizzy hair
- Reduces excess oils and itchy scalp.
- Removes product buildup and dead skin cells
Raw apple cider vinegar is extremely beneficial to use during the transition from conventional hair care products to natural hair products. Many regular shampoo and dry shampoo products create product buildup on your scalp. Using a bottle of apple cider vinegar along with essential oils is a great way to eliminate many scalp issues and improve the appearance of your hair.
How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
This is probably the simplest DIY ever! Grab a glass cup or jar and combine the raw apple cider vinegar and water in it. Make sure to shake the apple cider vinegar well before measuring it out. Then, add the drops of your essential oils to the cup. While there are many more essential oils that are good for your hair, I would recommend adding 2 drops each of 2-3 different oils in your hair rinse.

Once the essential oils are added to the glass cup or jar with the apple cider vinegar and water, stir it up well to mix. Then, head to your shower.
Wash your hair well with shampoo first. Then, tipping your face up, pour your ACV rinse over the top of your scalp, letting it run back through your hair. You want to be careful not to get it in your eyes, so you will have to tip your face up pretty high. Next, massage the mixture into your scalp and hair well, making sure to get all the way down in the hair cuticle really well. Focus mostly on the scalp and roots because this is where the main source of oil, product buildup and itchy scalp is found.
Finally, rinse your hair out well. You can follow it up with conditioner if you like, but the apple cider vinegar and rosemary do help with split ends. So, you don’t necessarily need to use conditioner every time. If you notice that your hair is feeling a little drier, go ahead and add conditioner.
Lavender Essential Oil Benefits for Hair
Lavender has been shown to produce more hair follicles to help thicken and strengthen hair. It is a wonderful floral aroma that is very calming and relaxing.
Some of my other favorite uses for Lavender are for sleep support, and all things healthy skin! Think cuts, scrapes, burns, bites, etc.
Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits for Hair
Rosemary is a top oil for hair growth and thickness. It is great for either dry or oily hair and can also help to prevent split ends.
Peppermint Essential Oil Benefits for Hair
Peppermint is a great addition because it helps reduce the oiliness of hair. It also stimulates the hair follicles and encourages them to grow faster and stronger.
Peppermint has so many other uses! Headaches, energy, nausea…these are just some of the ways I have used it.

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. of organic, raw apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp. of water
- 2 drops of Rosemary essential oil
- 2 drops of Peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops of Lavender essential oil
- Other optional essential oils to substitute: Tea tree, Cedarwood or Frankincense
DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Instructions:
- Grab either a glass cup or jar and combine the raw apple cider vinegar and water in it.
- Add all of the essential oils to it.
- Stir well to mix it up.
- Hop in the shower and give your hair a wash. Then, tip your head back and pour the apple cider vinegar hair rinse over your hair and scalp, being careful to avoid getting it in your eyes. Using your fingers, massage it into your scalp and hair cuticles.
- Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with warm water.
- Finish with a natural conditioner.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse FAQ:
Because this DIY is so simple to make and includes apple cider vinegar, it is recommended that you make a small batch and use it all at once.
Yes! Mix everything up in a spray bottle instead and spray your roots until they are coated well with the mixture. For best results, apply the spray in the bathtub so you don’t have residue left on your floor.
When you are first starting out trying to get your pH balanced, I would recommend doing it 1-2 times a week. Once you feel like your hair and scalp are where you want them to be, doing a once-a-month maintenance hair rinse should be perfect.
Try doing the apple cider vinegar hair rinse first, and then washing with a natural shampoo after instead of the other way around.
Of course. Cedarwood, Frankincense, and Tea Tree are other essential oils that are beneficial to use for specific hair problems. Use the ones that address your specific needs.
Yes! It is very beneficial to use on color-treated hair because it removes product build-up which helps your color stay vibrant.
Check Out More Simple Hair DIYs:
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DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Materials
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar organic, raw
- 4 tbsp water
- 2 drops Rosemary essential oil
- 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil
- Cedarwood, Frankincense, & Tea Tree optional substitutions
Instructions
- Grab either a glass cup or jar and combine the apple cider vinegar and water in it.
- Add all of the essential oils to it.
- Stir well to mix it up.
- Hop in the shower and give your hair a wash. Then, tip your head back and pour the apple cider vinegar hair rinse over your hair and scalp, being careful to avoid getting it in your eyes. Using your fingers, massage it into your scalp and hair cuticles.
- Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with warm water.
- Finish with a natural conditioner.
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