The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Courtney (Lewisville, Tx) on 08/11/2011
★☆☆☆☆
Ok so I have been keeping up with my treatment of the ACV and water for my scalp, and although the mixture feels really good on my scalp.... My flakes and dandruff have increased a lot! Before the flakes would be somewhat visible but mostly just to me.... Now when I brush my hair my shirt/shoulders are covered! I think this is great for people that it works for, but I just don't think that I am one of those people. I do like how soft my hair is, but the flakes getting worse I just can't handle. I did a spin class at the gym today and when I began to sweat I smelled like vinegar :( Oh well, I guess I am on to another product.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ging de Jesus (Singapore) on 09/04/2006
★★★★★
Hi to all. I just want to share with you my experience. My husband is having severe dandruff for quite sometime (about 4 years or longer) and we have tried different types of costly dandruff shampoo's but did not work, its so embarrasing specially when you are wearing black colour of shirt, my husband doesnt care at all because he cant do anything as he tried so many types of shampoos, and medicated shampoos and even tried coconut oil. but alas.... still the same, itchy, flaky scalp and hair looks very dry, I'm very much worried about it, as I feel that it reflect to me as a wife and it embarras me as well. I'm quite bothered by what people's might say, as i am very particular when it comes to personal hygiene. I said, I must do something about it, I decided to browse "how to cure dandruff" then your website came out, and I read about ACV, i said to myself, no harm trying. I bought Organic Raw ACV, its sting.....I put a little amount (20ml) to a container and dip the cotton balls and massage to my hubby's scalp, applied all over scalp, massage gently up to 10min, and leave it for about an hour and rinse with your normal shampoo, after I used it for about 4 times (every other day) i noticed the shines in his hair and i checked his scalp, to my surprise the dandruff is 90% gone, and i can see the shines in his scalp as well, now his hair looks healthy it is not dry anymore, i still continue using it as a maintenance (2x a week). My Hubby & I also drinks it 10ml dilute it into 8oz of water upon arising (do not brush your teeth yet, straight away take ACV - i noticed that it eliminates your Bad Breath and improve your bowel movement) mid morning and mid afternoon, I will share again the result after, specially for my husband's who has diabetes if there's an improvement. thanks so much for your sharing and i hope my sharing can help more people too who's suffering the same. more power to this website.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ann (Ma) on 12/19/2014
Sounds like scalp psoriasis. My sister has it, it's an autoimmune disease that is manageable.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sophie (Berlin, Germany) on 06/30/2012
Hello, is it normal that ACV worsens the condition in the beginning? I have severe dandruff since last year, I just know that it is NO fungus, but the rest is unclear to me. At the moment the worst areas are the ones over my ears and at my forehead. There, a very dry flaky condition even reaches into my face. But on my scalp, I am not even sure if it is a dry dandruff, the flakes are crusty and stick to the scalp, white and yellowy. I now tried ACV for the first time, I diluted it with water 1:1 and put it in a spray bottle, sprayed it on my dry scalp, waited for 15 minutes, went into the shower and washed it out. Now, the condition seems even dryer, the flakes are more visible, is it a bad or a good sign? Shall I proceed? Am I doing it right? Would love to hear about your experiences!
Apple Cider Vinegar
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 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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kelly (Seattle) on 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?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by T (Maryland, USA) on 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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rebecca (Salisbury, Nc) on 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
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
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michelle (Chicago, Illiniois) on 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
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Spidey (Mumbai, India) on 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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Wendy (..., Canada) on 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
