Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment for Dandruff

34 User Reviews

5 star (25)		74%
4 star (3)		9%
1 star (5)		15%
(1)		3%

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Posted by Natalie (Brooklyn, Ny, Usa) on 06/16/2011
★★★★★

Thank you so much for this REALLY simple remedy that REALLY works! My head was itching a lot, but I use hairgel and hairspray every day, so I thought it might be that. But to rule out dandruff, I tried this method. I put equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water in an empty hairspray bottle. I then shampooed my hair as usual and rinsed it. Then I sprayed (and poured) the mixture on my head and rubbed it in for about 4 minutes (careful not to get it in your eyes! ). Then I rinsed it out. Then I put in some Tea Tree oil conditioner I found at a nearby healthfood store, and rubbed that into my scalp. I let it sit for another 4 mins or so, then rinsed it out. I did this twice, about 2 days apart, and my head doesn't itch AT ALL anymore! and I still use my same hairgel and hairspray. What a wonderful cure! Thank you Earth Clinic for sharing it!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Wendy (Ontario) on 04/27/2011
★★★★☆

Perhaps the ACV works as a preventative, but Ted's other remedies perhaps have to be applied first to get rid of the dandruff? I use and have for years used ACV (raw with mother in, not pasteurized at the grocery store) full strength in a spritzer I keep in the shower. I only use shampoo about once a month but I do use a hypoallergenic scent free conditioner from the health food store as my hair is very long and curly. I spritz with the apple cider vinegar and always leave it in and on my scalp. Perhaps diluting it would be better? I do notice if I put too much in, then it gets 'heavy' and yes, almost greasy like or filmy and weighs down my curls ;-(

I am going to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Will post back! I have done tea tree oil neat (straight) on my scalp a bunch of times in the past and felt 'freaked' out, can't sleep, wicked headache etc. In my 'brain' area- too strong and too much absorbing into the brain? I haven't the nerve to do it quite like that again, so I will try diluting it. I have added it to our shampoos and stuff when I remember. My dandruff is not 'that bad' visually unless I put my head over a black cloth and scratch really good! LOL Mind you my scalp has been really itchy and burning lately- which could be food allergies but or mites/fungus etc. As spring as arrived... Right on cue! Thanks Ted for all your advice ;=)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by NC (Noveleta, Cavite) on 11/24/2010
★★★★★

Yes, I do agree with the dandruff treatment here. I am suffering from moderate dandruff as well. I've tried Nizoral and Selsun Blue but got little success with those. I tried mixing Nizoral with hot cream oil and I was dandruff free for a month. But then Nizoral is quite expensive for my budget so I looked for a substitute.

So I tried mixing hot cream oil and apple cider vinegar and my ordinary shampoo. Apply the mixture onto my scalp for 30 minutes and rinse it thoroughly. Tried this 3 times a week and it works for me.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ascha4 (Springfield, Il) on 10/22/2009
★★★★★

I didn't suffer from severe dandruff or have any scalp conditions but just had bad, very visible dandruff in my brunette hair. I used one application of half acv and half water, and was cured. I also switched to shampoo without any sulfates in it, that helps too for maintenance.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Noele (Charleston, South Carolina) on 08/20/2009
★★★★★

I tried the apple cider vinegar for severe dandruff, and was shocked that it worked so well.

I've had terrible dandruff my entire life--I cannot think of a time when I didn't have severe itching and a dry, flaky scalp. I also had little plaques of flakes all over my scalp, and if I scratched them they bled. It was really irritating.

I had tried every single dandruff shampoo and treatment available, and nothing helped AT ALL. I was at my wits end. When I saw the ACV cure here on Earth Clinic, I figured I would try it. Couldn't hurt!

I went to a beauty supply store and bought an 8 ounce hair dye applicator bottle. I filled it with 4 ounces of ACV and 4 ounces of water and shook it to mix the two. Then, in the shower, I washed my hair with an olive oil soap [I had cut out using shampoo, figuring the sulfates were drying out my hair], rinsed, combed out the tangles, and then applied about 2 ounces of the ACV mixture to my hair and scalp. I left it on for a minute or so and then rinsed.

It worked! When I dried my hair, ALL the dandruff was gone. My head didn't itch at all, and my hair was also very soft and shiny. I have continued to use this method for the past month, and the dandruff has never returned.

This stuff is a godsend. I can't believe how well it worked, and it's so inexpensive. Thanks very much, Earth Clinic!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Bernadette (Hong Kong) on 08/14/2009
★★★★☆

I was surprised at the benefits of using apple cider vinegar for the control of dandruff. It is brilliant. My dandruff issue, while not fully cured, is much, much better.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Rachel (Toronto, Ontario) on 05/11/2009
★☆☆☆☆

Please help! I am sure that apple cider vinegar actually made my scalp much worse and gave me horrible dandruff. I recently stopped using shampoo and instead tried cleaning with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar diluted with water. Dandruff worsened.

So I added tea tree oil and lavendar and still my scalp got worse. Also, I noticed my thick head of hair getting thinner because of hair loss.

I have stopped using baking soda and ACV - and now have to deal with a dry, itchy scalp. At least my hair has stopped falling out.

Replied by Kelly
(Seattle)
12/25/2021

The baking soda was probably the cause. It completely counteracts any benefits from the acidity of the vinegar. It's also possible that vinegar will seem to cause an increase in flaking, but that's a good thing -- it's getting rid of the dead skin that's infested with yeast and fungus.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Kenly (Dudley, NC) on 05/04/2009

Hi, I've been reading about the ACV treatment for dandruff. I'm really excited about trying it, but at the same time I have a bit of a concern. I have color-treated hair. I dye my hair rather frequently (well, as frequently as they recommend) and I don't want to waste money coloring my hair just to have what I'm doing for my dandruff condition stripping the color right back out. Is this safe for color treated hair?

Replied by T
(Maryland, USA)
05/04/2009

Easiest way to find out: Snip a lock of hair from underneath in back and apply the ACV to it. Hang onto the lock and apply the ACV over days like you would on your whole head (including rinsing it out) if you really want to be sure.

Replied by Rebecca
(Salisbury, Nc)
05/06/2011

I have color treated hair (due to gray) and use Apple Cider Vinegar every week to remove cigarette smoke smell cause I don't smoke but they do at the bar where I play pool. I have been doing this for about 4 months now and have not had any problems.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Eric (Henderson, Nevada) on 04/02/2009
0 out of 5 stars

So I read that using apple cider vinegar is good for dandruff and your hair so i started using it and after my hair felt really clean and soft but the next day i went to take a shower and a lot of hair came out a lot more than usual and it was like that for about a month maybe longer is there any reason this might have happened ? i used about 1/8 a cup and the rest was just water

Replied by Michelle
(Chicago, Illiniois)
05/04/2009

maybe you didn't mix it with any shampoo. my friend told me that you should first shampoo then put in the vinegar the shampoo your hair one more time

Replied by Spidey
(Mumbai, India)
08/30/2009

The hair fall after the use of ACV is completely natural and you do not need to dread it. Those are just those hairs which have been already loosened.

Replied by Wendy
(..., Canada)
04/27/2011

I just wanted to mention that I have used ACV for YEARS, at least 10... On me, the dogs, it was the only things I used on my 3 kids for the first 2 yrs of life and now as a rinse for them.. My oldest is 9. None of us have ever had any problems with hair falling out and I use it straight undiluted and lots of it. Now mind you I am not using the same brand as say the company who makes ketchup- I'm using raw unpasteurized stuff from the health food store, so perhaps that makes a difference?, although in a pinch I even used white vinegar for a time when and it seemed to be ok but it dried my hair out a bit ;-( Anyhow I put the raw apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle from the dollar store (like one you would use for household cleaner) and I spray it all over my scalp and then in the ends of my hair while I am in the shower so I can comb it through but then I leave it in. If I spray too much in it seems to get heavy around my scalp area or 'wet' looking like I have mousse or something in it LOL But the ends of my hair are super fluffy. I have wavy/curly hair and ALOT of it, it's at least 1/2 way down my back. I'm 42 and after stopping highlighting and bleaching my hair 11 yrs ago (after a lifetime of it) and switching to just the odd shampoo and using conditioner and then apple cider veingar every day in the shower, my hair looks and feels pretty amazing IMO ;-) ps hydrogen peroxide makes an excellent hair 'lightener' as does lemon juice in the summer- farrah fawcett did that for her highlights! LOL hth

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Victor (San Diego, Ca) on 10/28/2008
★★★★★

First of all, sugar cane "white" (clear) vinegar is better for topical use, as it does not make you stink after the shower. Use it full strength, do not mix it with anything. Just be careful not to get it into your eyes or on your teeth. I had dandruff and exema type problems on my scalp and face for decades, until I started using vinegar. I spray it and massage it 5 minutes before the shower, three times a week. It may take some time, but I am pretty sure you will succeed if you're persistant. For the first few days, you may do it every day, then every other day. I still have nightmares when I think about the times before I discovered vinegar: all the corticosteroids doctors had me use for years - they always gave me more side effects than relief...