Say Goodbye To Build Up With Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

If your hair is weighed down by product build-up and oil, you'll love this clarifying DIY apple cider vinegar shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling squeaky clean and softer than anything else out there. It's super easy to make too!

As someone with suuuper fine hair, I’ve long used apple cider vinegar as a post-shampoo rinse when my locks get limp and a tad over-styled. With a bit of trial and error, I finally came up with a clarifying homemade shampoo that combines two steps in one!

Made with cleansing soap nuts this recipe is gentle enough for sensitive scalps or fine hair that may be easily weighed down by heavier shampoos.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Using Soap Nuts
• Storage
• Usage
• FAQ

Ingredients

Apple cider vinegar — Health enthusiasts have been singing ACV’s praises for years. Although it smells funky and tastes even funkier, it's said to do everything from lower blood sugar and help you lose weight to soothe an upset stomach.

And applying it to the skin has just as many benefits.

• ACV is antimicrobial and helps control the bacteria or fungi that can lead to scalp issues.
• It’s rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish hair
• Plus its alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the scalp and keep dandruff at bay.
• It’s also acidic and can be used to lower scalp pH and bring hair health back into balance.

Soap nuts — Soap nuts contain a natural detergent known as saponin. When mixed with water, saponin suds up like regular soap, and the mild cleansing lather helps remove dirt, oil, and buildup from the hair.

Because soap nuts are so gentle and soothing, they make the perfect soap base for homemade shampoo. Plus, they’re incredibly inexpensive, and a little goes a long way.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Hint: If your soap nuts didn’t come with a bag, wrap them in cheesecloth and tie it together with a piece of kitchen twine before boiling.

Using Soap Nuts

Unlike most commercial shampoos that use chemical detergents, soap nuts release a gentle, natural sudsing agent that cleanses hair without stripping it of moisture.

You should be able to get another 2–3 uses of your soap nuts before you need to replace them. Just know that each time you use them, they will create less and less saponin (soap compounds), so you might need to use less water as well.

You can also use soap nuts to make:

• Laundry detergent
• Dish soap
• Hand Soap
• Body wash
• Dog soap

Once your soap nuts have been used a few times, they'll turn grey and stop releasing any soap. At that point, toss them in your compost pile, if you have one, and let them break down naturally.

If you don't have access to soap nuts, your best bet would be to make a post-shampoo ACV rinse.

Storage

The shampoo will be runnier than you might be used to, so I like to store mine in a small squeeze bottle and apply it directly to my scalp. You can also store it in a jar and pour it into your hands before applying.

The shelf life of homemade apple cider vinegar and soap nut shampoo varies depending on the specific ingredients used and storage conditions. But, in general, it's best to use it within a few weeks to a month to ensure freshness and effectiveness.

Store any unused shampoo in the fridge or freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it out overnight, and store it in a small squirt bottle until it’s gone.

Usage

To use, apply a small amount to wet hair and gently massage it into your scalp. Let it sit for 5 minutes then rinse well.

As a general guideline, use the shampoo 2-3 times a week, but that can vary based on the needs of your hair and scalp.

FAQ

This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

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