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The reasons why you do not need vinegar rinse when using solid shampoo bar
Today I decided to talk about vinegar rinse, because I have been asked this question many times. I know a lot of you want to move to more eco friendly solutions, but quite often refrain from doing it because of prefabricated constraints like the famous need to rinse hair with vinegar. But guess what? Alghough vinegar rinse can be good for your hair, it’s not always necessary. I thought a small blog post will help to explain why you do not need vinegar rinse when using solid shampoo bar.
1- What’s the role of vinegar rinse:
Your scalp and hair has a natural pH level of about 5. The vinegar rinse (usually with apple cider vinegar or ACV) is advised when you need to lower / restore your hair and scalp pH after you washed it with an alkaline shampoo product.
If you use a shampoo bar, unless you do a vinegar rinse, your hair could keep the soap residue and look less clean than before your wash.
2 – What is the difference between shampoo bar (soap) and solid shampoo?
To well understand why you do not need vinegar rinse when you use solid shampoo, we need first to talk about the difference between a shampoo bar and a solid shampoo.
- Shampoo bar is the common name given to a soap especially designed for hair. They are usually made with oils that are hair friendly, like avocado oil, shea butter, castor oil, … Like any soap, they are very alkaline and can create a pH imbalance.
- Solid shampoo, also called solid shampoo bars, are made totally differently. They are a blend of solid surfactant, powders, clays and other cosmetic actives. Their pH is controllable (by controlling the portion of ingredient and using ingredients that help increasing or decreasing the pH of the overall solution). They are most of the time around 6 ou 7, or close to the hair pH.
For your hair to be healthy and look bright, you need a shampoo which pH is close to the hair pH. This is impossible with a soap bar. But to resolve this, you can rinse your hair with vinegar, which will lower your hair pH after you washed it. This vinegar rinse will also help closing your cuticule (allowing the nutriments and fat from your soap to remain in your hair fibre) and leaves the hair in a healthier state.
3 – The reason’s why you do not need vinegar rinse when using solid shampoo bar:
Unlike shampoo bars, most of good solid shampoos have a neutral or acidic pH level and do not disrupt the acidity level of the scalp. So if you use a good solid shampoo, the good news is that you do not need to use a vinegar rinse because your shampoo’s pH meets your hair’s need.
4 – Alternatives
If you use shampoo bars, you may find it very constraining to rinse your hair with vinegar. Let’s say you are at the swimming pool. Are you going to back your vinegar solution with you? And when you travel, the all practicality of shampoo bars disappear if you then need to bring with you a bottle of vinegar.
You may also use a solid shampoo and still want to put an acidic product on your hair to guaranty that your cuticules are closed and ensure the goodness of your solid shampoo is kept by your hair.
Instead of vinegar, you can use a solid conditioner with a acidic pH. A good condition will not only help you to detangle your hair and lower your hair pH. It will also nourish and make it brighter.
I hope this little explanation have helped you to clear your mind and understand if you need or not a vinegar rinse.
Select the solid shampoo that meet your hair needs
Our range of solid shampoo has been formulated to answer to multiple needs. Optimise your experience : get the best from your solid shampoo, discover our range of solid shampoo in more details.
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Check our solid conditioners
Our solid conditioners have an acidic pH thanks to a controlled level of naturally sourced lactic acid. They will help keeping the cuticle layer of your hair flat and closed. It will make your hair look shiny, smooth, soft hair, with less frizz. Thanks to this acidic pH and the other conditioning ingredients, our solid conditioner will also help detangling you hair. It will also help to prevent tangling, breakage and dryness. In fact, your hair should retain moisture and less likely to catch on each other.
Zero Waste – Essential oil free Solid Conditioner – Naked
£8.50
This solid conditioner is rich in organic shea butter. Essential oils free, it is specially composed for dry or damaged hair. During a wash, it softly untangles your hair and prepares them for further brushing. It is also a restorative care that nourishes and protects your hair from everyday aggressions.
Suitable for pregnant women and women breastfeeding a child.
Ingredients: unrefined organic shea butter, organic virgin coconut oil, pure castor oil, and a subtle tropical scent, using a natural fragrance
Natural vegan conditioner. No silicone, paraben or other preservatives of petrochemical origin.
Zero waste packaging: no plastic, 100% recyclable.
Zero Waste Solid Conditioner for Dry Hair – Ylang Ylang and Coconut
£8.50
Rich in unrefined and organic shea butter, pure castor oil and organic virgin coconut oil, this solid conditioner will nourish your dry hair thoroughly.
Untangles dry hair in seconds. Rich in rice protein, it will reduce your hair fiber. Its controlled pH will also close the scales of your hair and add brightness and vitality.
The ingredients in this conditioner were specifically chosen to nourish your hair and make styling easier.
100% natural ingredients
No silicone, paraben or other preservatives of petrochemical origin.
Vegan friendly and packaging without plastic
Zero Waste Solid Conditioner for Greasy Hair – Citrus
£8.50
This conditioner for oily hair cleanses the excess sebum off of your hair, thanks to the lemon and grapefruit essential oils. With just with a small quantity, your hair will shine brighter and be softer to the touch. This fragrant conditioner gently detangles and prepares your hair for brushing.
Ingredients: organic virgin shea butter, organic virgin coconut oil, castor oil, lactic acid of vegetable origin, rice proteins, emulsifiers, grapefruit essential oil and lemon essential oil
Natural vegan conditioner.
Zero waste packaging: no plastic, 100% recyclable.
Zero Waste Solid Conditioner for Normal Hair – Rose
£8.50
With this solid conditioner for normal hair, softly rose-scented, you preserve your hair’s natural balance and improve its resistance to the various aggressions suffered in everyday life.
The Rose essential oil revitalizes the fiber, for healthier hair. Plus, it helps prevent dandruff and speeds up growth.
Ingredients: unrefined organic shea butter, organic virgin coconut oil, castor oil, rice proteins, emulsifiers, lactic acid of vegetable origin, rose essential oil
Natural vegan conditioner. No silicone, paraben or other preservatives of petrochemical origin.
Zero waste packaging: no plastic, 100% recyclable.
