free calculator
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Calculator
Enter your bottle size and scalp type to get the apple cider vinegar to water ratio for a hair rinse, in spoons and milliliters.
How to use the Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Calculator
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Enter how much water you will use
Type the size of your applicator bottle or cup in fluid ounces or milliliters. Sixteen fluid ounces covers most heads.
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Describe your scalp and build-up
Pick sensitive, balanced or oily, then light or heavy build-up. Tick the box if your hair is color-treated, bleached or relaxed.
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Press “Get my rinse ratio”
You get the amount of apple cider vinegar in spoons and milliliters, the ratio, how long to leave it on and how often to repeat it.
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Mix, apply and rinse out
Follow the four steps under the result. Always rinse the vinegar out and finish with conditioner.
How the apple cider vinegar hair rinse ratio is worked out
An apple cider vinegar rinse is simply vinegar diluted in water and poured over the scalp after shampooing. The acid helps loosen residue from products and hard water, and a mildly acidic rinse leaves the cuticle lying flatter, which is why hair often feels smoother and looks shinier afterwards. The whole question is how much vinegar to use — and that depends on your scalp, not on a single recipe.
vinegar = water ÷ parts of water per part of vinegar
acidity = 5% × vinegar ÷ (vinegar + water)Three strengths
The calculator uses the three strengths that recipes are written in: 1, 2 or 4 tablespoons of vinegar per cup (237 ml) of water. That is 1 part vinegar to 16, 8 or 4 parts water. A balanced scalp with light build-up starts on the standard 1:8 mix. A sensitive scalp gets the gentle 1:16 mix, and heavy build-up moves you one step stronger.
Why treated hair gets a weaker mix
Color-treated, bleached and relaxed hair has a more open cuticle and less of its natural oil coating, so it loses moisture faster and fresh color can shift. For that reason the calculator steps down one strength and keeps at least two weeks between rinses when you tick that box.
Acidity, not pH
Grocery apple cider vinegar is standardized to 5% acetic acid. Diluting it 1:8 leaves roughly 0.56% acid in the bottle. The result shows that figure rather than a pH value, because the final pH also depends on your tap water. If you want to compare the rinse with your shampoo or conditioner, use the hair product pH checker.
What a rinse cannot do
Vinegar does not treat dandruff, repair damage or make hair grow. It is a clarifying and smoothing step. If your scalp is sore, broken or flaking heavily, skip acidic rinses and see a dermatologist. If the dullness is from minerals in your water, the hard water hair test will point you to a chelating shampoo instead.
ACV rinse ratio chart
| Mix | Vinegar : water | Per cup of water | Acetic acid | Leave on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentle | 1 : 16 | 1 tbsp per cup | 0.29% | 1–2 min |
| Standard | 1 : 8 | 2 tbsp per cup | 0.56% | 2–3 min |
| Strong | 1 : 4 | 4 tbsp per cup | 1.00% | 3–5 min |
Vinegar to add by bottle size
| Water | Gentle | Standard | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 1 tbsp | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup |
| 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | ½ cup |
| 32 fl oz (946 ml) | ¼ cup | ½ cup | 1 cup |
1 cup = 8 fl oz = 237 ml · 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 14.8 ml.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right apple cider vinegar to water ratio for a hair rinse?
Do I rinse apple cider vinegar out of my hair?
How often should I do an ACV rinse?
Do I use the rinse before or after shampoo?
Can I use apple cider vinegar on color-treated or relaxed hair?
Can I put undiluted apple cider vinegar on my scalp?
Does the smell of vinegar stay in my hair?
Sources
Last data update:
- Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. Overview of shampoos, conditioners, silicones, straighteners and their effects on the hair shaft.
- Robbins CR. Chemical and Physical Behavior of Human Hair. 5th ed. Springer; 2012. Reference text on hair structure, surfactants, conditioning agents, protein, heat and chemical treatments.
How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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