If You Have Gray Hair, You May Want To Add This Kitchen Staple To Your Routine

If you have gray hair, you may be familiar with the haircare aisle at the grocery store and where to find the purple or silver shampoos and conditioners. Or, you may have cocoa powder in your cart because you're using the pantry ingredient to naturally cover gray hair. But there's another kitchen staple to add to your grocery list and routine if you have gray hair: apple cider vinegar. You may already be aware of the many ways you can use apple cider vinegar in your daily routine, but did you know it can also potentially make gray hair look shinier, stronger, and less noticeable?

As trichologist Penny James, owner of Penny James Trichology Center, exclusively explains to Glam, "Apple cider vinegar is often used on gray hair to remove unwanted yellow buildup. The acid helps clarify hair by removing mineral and product buildup that can cause a yellowish cast on gray and white hair." That "cast" can make the gray strands more noticeable and dingy-looking. She adds that by using this kitchen ingredient properly with her recommended steps, it will "leave your hair looking lovely and shiny."

So, you're intrigued by what apple cider vinegar can really do for your hair, but how do you actually use it? Bring a bottle of ACV into the shower and go to town? Not exactly. Speaking exclusively to Glam, Penny James details the steps to take and things to know if you have gray hair. "Apple cider vinegar is an acidic solution, with pH 2 to 3, where pH 7 is neutral. If used on the hair, it will need to be diluted with water due to its acidic properties, which can cause the hair cuticle to lift and lead to severe dryness," she explains. 

James suggests adding ¼ cup of ACV to 1 cup of water. "After shampooing, pour it onto your hair. Massage well into hair. Rinse thoroughly and apply conditioner immediately. The conditioner is also acidic at levels of pH 5 and will neutralize the effects that ACV leaves on the hair, smoothing your hair cuticles," she instructs us. From there, James recommends "a coconut-based conditioner," and her go-to shampoo and conditioner are from Tricotain, which is available on her website. She likes these products "because of the antioxidant ingredients that neutralize oxidative stress and free radicals on the hair caused by pollutants."

Now, you may be wondering how often ACV washes should be completed if your gray hair is looking flat, dull, or yellowish. "It can be done once a week," says James. Because the vinegar is also good for the skin, she adds, "Your scalp will benefit from the weekly ACV bath." A win-win sounds great to us!