Hair Rinse/Conditioner

A real shampoo cleans your hair of build-up and residue.  Shampoos are naturally alkaline...they must be to accomplish this.  The alkaline properties of shampoo attract the dirt, but also attract the moisture.  When all of the moisture is pulled form the hair shaft, the cuticle is exposed.  The cuticle is made up of overlapping "scales".  Once your hair has dried, it has a brittle crunchy sound as a result.  It will even absorb light (rather than reflect it) and make it appear dull and lifeless.  This is not a result of a bad shampoo...its merely a result of your hair cuticle being left open and exposed. 

Vinegar simply removes the build-up of soap and oil (the same idea of cleaning stainless steel) but also closes the hair cuticle.  When the cuticle is closed, the hair is shinier because light can reflect off of it, its easier to brush/comb and simply feels more manageable.

To use:

• select a vinegar that you like.  I won't lie to you and say that the vinegar smell isn't off-putting, but I will at least tell you that once the hair dries, the smell vanishes absolutely.  I use plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (yes, the same stuff that is in my kitchen cabinet).  See, isnt it great that you don't have to buy anything special for your hair to look good?
• consider infusing* herbs to help highlight your hair color (rosemary for dark hair, chamomile for light hair, and even sage will help darken grey hair).
• consider infusing* herbs to condition your hair (calendula conditions, nettles for dandruff).
• consider infusing* herbs for a nice lingering scent (lavender, patchouli, etc).
• mix vinegar and water into a bottle and keep handy in the shower.**
• Spray on freshly-washed hair, rub throughout your hair, and let air dry.

* To infuse, simply steep the herbs (fresh or dried) into the vinegar and wait for a week or two.  Do not use essential oils.  Then, drain to remove the particles.
** If using a spray bottle, consider a 1:1 ratio of vinegar:water.  If recycling a shampoo bottle, use a 2T:1 cup ratio of vinegar:water.  But, experiment...the best solution for your hair will probably be something in between!

Note: some herbs can stain towels, so best to avoid those (but these will wash out, so the staining is temporary).  Some infused vinegars should be refrigerated if not used within a week.  An easy way to avoid both of these issues is to simply use a plain vinegar:water rinse, like I do. 

So, why do conditioners cost so much?  Simply put, they are acidic (like vinegar) but have a pleasant scent, and work well with colored hair.  The ONLY difference with the above is that this home-grown version is CHEAP, easy to replicate, eco/green-friendly and has an initially overpowering scent.  I'd say that the initial scent is a small price to pay for all of these benefits!