Smoothing, toning, purifying, antifungal… Apple cider vinegar offers an abundance of beauty benefits that deserve a round of applause. While its rather acidic flavor isn’t to everyone’s liking, its many properties are set to give it a vacation from its spot in our kitchen cabinets, in favor of a place of choice on your bathroom shelf. Acquired through the double fermentation of apples, apple cider vinegar is thus enriched with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)—in this case malic and acetic acids—which are highly effective chemical exfoliants. Also made of minerals, trace elements and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, this mega-complete formulation is more than cut out to treat a wide range of beauty troubles. It’s drinkable, available in a number of formats, and features as the main ingredient in many products. Apple cider vinegar, in all its transformations, is a beauty elixir unlike any other.
Apple cider vinegar is created by crushing fresh apples and extracting the pure juice. The sugars in this juice are then turned to alcohol through fermentation with the addition of yeast. In the second phase, certain bacteria are combined with this mixture to transform the alcohol into vinegar. When the vinegar matures, it contains a cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called ‘mother’, which is a rich brownish liquid. This contains the concentrated bacteria and enzymes that gives apple cider vinegar its antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral healing powers.
High in essential minerals like selenium and zinc, apple cider vinegar has antioxidant properties that promote healing and improve the immunity of the skin. It also contains Vitamins A, C and E, which act as powerful antioxidants. Vitamin B2 promotes healthy skin and nails, while Vitamin B6 improves the overall health of the skin. Because it is naturally acidic, it contains many beneficial enzymes that help maintain the natural pH level of the skin too. You can use it for acne-prone skin, itchy skin, fungal infections, razor burn, and even ingrown hairs.
Since it is acidic in nature, the vinegar can be applied to the scalp as a last rinse after shampooing to lower the pH level and regain the health of your locks. Its antibacterial properties also help disinfect the scalp, thereby keeping a check on fungi that would otherwise lead to itching and minor infections. Being abundant in vitamins, apple cider vinegar also helps to exfoliate the scalp skin as an anti-inflammatory agent. Due to its acidic nature, it helps to smoothen out hair and works as an effective detangler, in addition to controlling dandruff by killing the bacteria that clogs pores and hair follicles.
Those suffering from dandruff and unattractive flakes can apply the vinegar to the scalp and wash it off after a few minutes for relief. To ensure the overall health of your tresses, mix a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water and massage the mixture onto your scalp after shampooing, and rinse off after some time. To return volume and shine to dry, lifeless hair, add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. If you’ve been noticing thinning of hair on the scalp, apply a mixture of cayenne with this vinegar and rinse after a few minutes.
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