What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Vinegar for Dandruff?

Vinegar can help relieve those annoying flakes known as dandruff. When using vinegar for dandruff, users have mixed reviews of how well white vinegar and apple cider vinegar work. Vinegar can effectively treat dandruff for a relatively low cost, and as an all-natural treatment, it is fairly gentle on the scalp and will not harm the environment. There also are some downsides to using vinegar for treating dandruff, such as its strong odor, the amount of time it takes and the number of treatments that might be necessary.

Dandruff forms when dead skin cells blend with the oils that exist naturally on the hair shaft. The mixture creates the white flakes that fall onto a person’s shoulders or clothing. The causes of dandruff include hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies and infrequent shampooing, and they depend heavily on the sufferer’s personal habits and physical makeup. Dandruff responds well to over-the-counter and homemade treatments.

When using vinegar for dandruff, a person can use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Sufferers can use the vinegar in full potency or dilute the liquid with water. There are several ways of applying the vinegar treatment. The user can add the vinegar to a spray bottle and spray the mixture directly onto his or her scalp, allowing it to dry. Alternatively, the user can pour the mixture directly onto his or her wet hair and allow it to sit for several minutes before washing the mixture out with water.

To its advantage, vinegar is an all-natural treatment. All-natural treatments do not contain added dyes, perfumes or chemicals, so they typically are gentler on the scalp than many over-the-counter treatments are. Vinegar contains only one ingredient, so it also reduces the chances of allergic reactions or skin irritations. All-natural treatments will not damage the environment, unlike manmade treatments that can pollute water sources.

Typically, a sufferer can purchase a bottle of vinegar at a lower price point than purchasing a manufactured dandruff treatment. Unlike the pre-made treatments, vinegar also can serve a variety of other purposes in the home. This might make using vinegar for dandruff more cost effective to buy and use than other treatments.

Both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar have a strong odor that most people find unpleasant. By using vinegar for dandruff, a person exposes himself or herself to this strong odor. Although the odor fades as it dries, some people might find the smell unbearable.

For the treatment to work, the sufferer will need to repeat the vinegar wash two or more times a week for several weeks. Applying the mixture, allowing it to rest and washing the mixture out can take 30 minutes or more. Some people might find this process too time consuming. Over-the-counter treatments exist that work as a daily shampoo or require only one application. These treatments might prove more time effective than using vinegar.