12 of the Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoos That Give You Crazy-Shiny Hair
Although you probably have a bottle of apple cider vinegar in your pantry right now, the fermented fruit juice is actually just as beneficial in your beauty stash as it is in your favorite recipes. The all-natural ingredient is revered for balancing the pH level of your scalp (especially when used as a shampoo), thanks to its acidic antibacterial and antifungal properties. What does a lower scalp pH get you? Smoother, more hydrated hair that's easier to detangle, looks shinier, less frizzy, and is less prone to breakage.
Ashwin Sokke, an expert in healthy ingredients for hair, face, and body products for WOW SKIN SCIENCE, tells us that apple cider vinegar shampoo "is excellent at breaking down build up of excess product, helping to deep clean hair follicles, and adding a super shiny finish to the hair. It is also a great option for those that have scalp acne, or a flaky scalp too."
Meet the Expert
Ashwin Sokke is an expert in healthy ingredients for hair, face, and body products for WOW SKIN SCIENCE, a brand that offers holistic care options to balance the mind, body, and spirit.
Since your pantry apple cider vinegar stash is likely already reserved for your morning shot, rest assured knowing you don't have to DIY your own concoction. The market is flooded with plenty of options to choose from in every price point and format, from bars to liquids and dry versions. Add one of these cult-favorite apple cider vinegar shampoos to your virtual cart and fast-track your way to healthier, more balanced hair IRL.
1. Best Cult-Favorite Option:
WOW SKIN SCIENCE Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo And Coconut/Avocado Oil Conditioner Pack
WOW Skin Science's apple cider vinegar shampoo and conditioner duo has 64,724 ratings on Amazon and a four-star rating. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, or silicones, this shampoo fights flakes, removes itchy buildup, and revives dull hair. Plus, it's even safe on color-treated hair.
2. Best for Dry Hair:
DP HUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
By now, you should know washing your hair too often can be drying, but that doesn't mean you should be doomed to wander the world with greasy roots. Instead of skipping shampoos altogether, swap every other shampoo session for a hair rinse. This hair rinse from DP HUE uses apple cider vinegar to gently clean your scalp without stripping natural oils from your hair. And since the shampoo is loaded with argan oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera, it won't leave your scalp feeling itchy or irritated.
3. Best for Flaky Scalps:
DP HUE Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub
Part scalp exfoliator, part cleanser, this scrub is made with a blend of cleansing apple cider vinegar and coarse Himalayan salt to give you a super deep clean. Massage the scrub into your scalp any time you need to get rid of dandruff, product buildup, or an itchy scalp—the added soothing ingredients, like aloe vera and avocado oil, will prevent overdrying.
4. Best for Processed Hair:
SHEA MOISTURE Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
This shampoo was crafted with natural, chemically processed, and heat-styled hair in mind. The apple cider vinegar and peppermint oil give you a tingly fresh feeling, while shea butter and Jamaican castor oil moisturize and strengthen processed hair.
5. Best Dry Option:
DP HUE Apple Cider Vinegar Dry Shampoo Powder
If you prefer your shampoo session in a can, this apple cider vinegar-infused dry shampoo will freshen up your roots in between washes. Sprinkle a bit on your scalp, massage it in, and brush it through for a non-chalky lift.
6. Best Gentle Formula:
RENPURE Apple Cider Vinegar Clarify + Shine Shampoo
Whether you have sensitive skin or you just prefer to keep things light, this primarily plant-based shampoo is packed with soothing ingredients like argan oil, manuka honey, and mint, so it’s always gentle on your scalp and strands. It's so gentle, in fact, that the brand says you can even get away with using the shampoo daily if you want to.
7. Best Affordable Option:
AVEENO Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
This baby is a major steal at $7 a pop. The drugstore must-have uses apple cider vinegar to clarify the scalp and soothing oatmeal extract to nourish your strands. And the best part is the balanced formula makes it an excellent choice for almost all hair types.
8. Best for Summer:
SUNBUM Detox Shampoo
Not only does the smell transport you to a tropical vacation, but the formula gently removes all traces of salt water and chlorine from your summer trips to the beach or pool. The apple cider vinegar and blue agave in this vegan shampoo team up to detox the scalp, so you’re left with no buildup at all—just a delicious, vacation-ready scent of coconut and banana.
9. Best For Buildup:
R+CO Acid Wash Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Sweat, product, and hard water can combine to create a difficult-to-remove buildup on your scalp. But this cleansing rinse gets rid of the bad stuff and leaves just the natural (and good-for-you) oils behind. Massage it into your scalp, let it sit for three minutes, and rinse it off to reveal soft, shiny hair and a healthy scalp.
10. Best for Colored Hair:
PUREOLOGY Vinegar Hair Rinse
Clarifying shampoos are great for, well, clarifying, but they can also strip your hair color along the way. Specifically made for colored hair, this hair rinse from PUREOLOGY makes sure to keep your color intact while it removes impurities.
11. Best Clean Formula:
AVALON ORGANICS Smooth Shine Apple Cider Vinegar
Whether you're the type to read ingredient labels from top to bottom or you simply prefer any product that works, this organic shampoo gives you the best of both worlds. Get the perks of apple cider vinegar shampoo without the stripping chemicals, and you’ll feel good about cleansing thanks to this super clean formula.
12. Best for Curly Hair:
BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA Deep Clean Shampoo
Sulfates tend to strip the hair of its natural oils, and since curly hair dries out faster than straight hair, it's just better to stay away from them altogether. This sulfate-free shampoo earns a top spot for nourishing the hair and scalp while leaving it refreshingly clean and shiny—giving bounce to your curls and a pep in your step.
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