This apple cider vinegar hair rinse really works and is super easy to make. Just mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, massage into your hair, and rinse off.

This simple but effective apple cider vinegar hair rinse is a brilliant natural cleanser I got from The Apple Cider Vinegar Companion by Suzy Scherr. I’ve been using this hair rinse a lot this summer as I’ve been spending time out in the sun at the beach, on the lake, and hiking in the sunshine. I’ve been swimming in salt water and chlorinated water, and I feel like my hair has been taking a thrashing.

Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you shampoo your hair (even with your favorite tried-and-true product) you can’t quite get your hair to feel clean and look soft and shiny. This lack-lustre hair hiccup could be due to diet and poor health, weather, water quality, or weather damage. However, the culprit could simply be residue buildup from using styling products that can weigh hair down and cause dullness.

This simple apple cider vinegar hair rinse of equal parts apple cider vinegar and filtered water works magic on cleaning hair. Not only does it help remove buildup, it also works as a natural detangler and general revitalizer. Suzy recommends using this hair cleanser twice a month, after shampooing for softer, smoother, and shinier hair. I followed her advice and have noticed a fantastic difference in my hair this summer.

I’ve been using apple cider vinegar in a variety of ways for many years. I always have a bottle of Bragg ACV in my pantry. I add 1 tablespoon to a 16-oz glass of water many days to alkalize my body and dial up detox. I also use ACV a lot to add a tang to smoothies, salad dressings, dips, cleaning products, and other recipes. But, I’d fallen off the wagon when it came to my hair regime! So, I loved getting back into the practice when I was making my way through Suzy’s book rediscovering all of the ways to utilize “nature’s miracle cure”.

Apple cider vinegar has trended heavily the last few years with hundreds of articles, infographs, and recipes touting the myriad of health benefits. And it’s certainly not all hype. Generations of devotees have sworn by the medicinal powers of apple cider vinegar: swigging it, cooking with it, using it for natural skincare and cleaning products, and taking advantage of its healing potential to relieve a variety of ailments from indigestion to muscle soreness to bug bites,  We’ve seen a surge in popularity of apple cider vinegar with the rise of the natural foods movement and heightened awareness of environmental issues. More and more consumers are moving away from using products containing highly processed and toxic ingredients and choosing natural alternatives.

The Apple Cider Vinegar Companion is a fantastic guide for making the most of your trusty bottle of AVC. Suzy opens with ACV 101 sharing the basics of what apple cider vinegar is, how it can benefit you, tips for buying and storing it, and a recipe for making your own apple cider vinegar.

Then, there are recipes for health and wellness, beauty and grooming, household cleaning, and food. Check out the energy booster, tummy tamer, cough syrup, itchy skin reliever, muscle soak, hiccup cure, sunburn soother, breath freshener, dandruff remedy, acne treatment, facial toner, and deodorant. I’ve been trying out the natural household cleaners and deodorizers, and definitely try using apple cider vinegar as a fabric softener, cutting board cleaner, and fruit and vegetable wash.

I also love the ginger molasses elixir, fire cider, sports energy drink, and all of the shrubs and smoothies. There’s also fantastic recipes for staples like mayo, ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustards, marinades, and salad dressings, as well as recipes for salads, pickles, vegetable sides, pancakes, waffles, cakes, and cookies. I’m going to try Suzy’s recipe for warm apple cider pancake syrup this weekend for our brunch!

How are you using apple cider vinegar?

Get your copy of The Apple Cider Vinegar Companion, and learn more about Suzy Scherr.