Apple Cider Vinegar hair rinse

If you suffer from hair that is frizzy, dull or rough to the touch, then an Apple Cider Vinegar hair rinse may be the answer to all your problems! As you probably know, vinegar is acidic. An acidic solution will help to close the cuticles of your hair, thus resulting in smoother strands that look healthier and shinier. Also, since the cuticles are lying flat instead of up, they are less likely to catch on neighbouring strands of hair, so you will have less tangles too.

My recipe for the Apple Cider Vinegar rise is as follows:
1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar (I used Bragg's, which has "the Mother" in it)
600ml of cool water (room temperature is fine, I just mean not warm or hot)

Use this as a final rinse after your shampooing and conditioning. You may choose to leave it in or rinse it out. I personally rinse it out with cool water to prevent my towels from smelling of vinegar. However, if you choose to leave it in, rest assured that the vinegar smell dissipates as your hair dries, so you won't walk around smelling like a salad. =) Do take note that using cool water for the rinse is very important! Cool water also helps to flatten the cuticles for that smooth shiny look. Oh, and those suffering from itchy scalp? The vinegar rinse will also help cure it! (or at least help lessen the itch) It balances the pH(acidity level) of your scalp to its optimum level, which is slightly acidic, and helps to clarify any shampoo or conditioner residue left. I find that leaving in the rinse works better to curb the itch, so I rinse my length with plain water after the vinegar rinse, but leave my scalp alone.

As always, everyone's hair is different, so you may have to play around with the recipe to get the best results on your hair. Increase or decrease the amount of vinegar as you deem fit, but remember that this rinse should never leave your hair feeling rough and unmanageable! If so, it is likely that you are using too much vinegar.

Frequency of this rinse is up to personal preference. I use it every single time I wash my hair (ranging from everyday to about once every 2-3 days), and it never comes out feeling dry. I do know some others who only use it once a week, once a month, or even once every few months. Just experiment with it, and have fun!

Phytolactum+ Intelligent Shampoo

I will be reviewing Phyto's Phytolactum+ Intelligent Shampoo, which is a great shampoo for my sensitive scalp! But first, some details on the product:

Product Description
What it is:
A gentle, daily shampoo for medium to fine hair that helps maintain hydration as it soothes and calms the scalp.
What it is formulated to do: Phytolactum+ effectively treats the scalp's ecosystem by preserving its natural protective shield. It is formulated with a natural, clarifying base, which gently cleanses irritated and sensitive scalps providing fast relief. Hair and scalp are protected with each shampoo, leading the way to healthy, beautiful hair.

Ingredients
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate (Derived From Coconut Oil), Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Laureth-11 Carboxylate, Magnesium Laureth Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, Magnesium Oleth Sulfate (Derived From Coconut Oil), Xylitol, Zanthoxylum Alatum Extract, Lacitol, PEG-15 Cocopolyamine, Isostearamide Mipa, PEG-150 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride Glycerin, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Fragrance, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid.


My Review
As per the product description, this shampoo soothed my sensitive scalp, leaving it feeling clean and comfortable, with none of the itchiness! I also find that my scalp gets oily less quickly, meaning the shampoo is probably doing a good job balancing the ecosystem of my scalp.

However, I find that hair gets too squeaky clean when using Phytolactum+. After shampooing, I am unable to run my fingers through my hair at all, at least not until I apply conditioner. That said, it works very well as a clarifying shampoo to get rid of product residue on my strands.

I think the best way to use Phytolactum+ would be to alternate it with another more hydrating shampoo, and use this mainly for scalp washes or to clarify every once in a while.