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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Apple Cider Vinegar, a Girl's Best Friend


Recently, one of my customers sent me an email letting me know that she had mentioned one of my favorite products in an article that she wrote for a fantastic blog, called Truth in Aging. It was a small mention at the end of the article but it felt GREAT having one of my products mentioned with some of the great hair cair companies such as Aubrey Organics and Nutri-Lift. Check out Kim's article and the Truth in Aging blog here: http://truthinaging.com/hair/kim-my-hair-journey/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeandanna/

Vinegar, most especially Apple Cider Vinegar, is one of nature's finest gifts to mankind. All alcoholic
beverages, whether made from apples, grapes, hops, wheat, or plain white sugar will turn naturally to vinegar, once it is exposed to air.  Bacteria in the air  converts the alcohol in cider, wine, and beer, into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its characteristic sharp sour taste.

As far back as 5000 BC the Babylonians used the fruit of the date palm to make wine and vinegar. They used it as a food and as a preserving or pickling agent. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates,  prescribed apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for a variety of ills including the common cold. Roman soldiers drank a drink of diluted vinegar (posca) as an tonic to energize them, just as modern atheletes now drink "power drinks".

Apple Cider Vinegar has a long history of use for many health benefits, including being used as one of the earliest recorded hair "conditioners".

Renoir

The outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, covers the hair shaft and protects it like bark on a tree trunk. The cuticle on the shaft of the hair is made of overlapping layers of scales that lie along the surface of the hair like shingles on a roof. It is the condition of the cuticle scales that determine whether you are going to have a bad hair day. When the cuticle is in good shape, your hair has a smooth appearance. When the layers of the cuticle are tightly knit together, the light reflects off the cuticle. This is what makes hair shine! The cuticle opens when we shampoo our hair. When the cuticle layers are open and not knit together, the hair will feel rough, coarse and brittle. The hair will absorb the light rather than reflect it, which gives the appearance of dull and lifeless hair.

The use of Apple cider vinegar (ACV) helps to create healthy hair. The acidity of ACV is very similar to  natural hair. It is a great cleaning agent. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of styling products and inexpensive shampoos. Commercial shampoos contain conditioners that weigh your hair down.

The acids and enzymes in ACV kill the "bottle bacillus", a bacteria which is one of the main causes for  scalp and hair conditions such as dandruff, itchy scalp, hair loss and sometimes baldness.The bacteria clog the hair follicles which cause dry crusts to form that itch and flake.

For an easy treatment for dandruff and itchy scalp, apply about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of our Herbal Vinegar Rinse to your scalp, rub in, and leave on for a half hour to an hour BEFORE washing your hair.

We infuse all of our natural Vinegar Hair Rinses with nettles, plantain, calendula and horsetail for the benefits they give to your hair. Plantain has historically been used  for dry, irritated scalp, dandruff, and seborrhea. Horsetail or Shavegrass is loaded with silica to strengthen the hair shaft. Nettles contain
biologically active compounds that reduce inflammation. The astringent properties of nettles have been known for centuries and it is used for dandruff and overly oily hair and scalp.

Chamomile and Citrus is healing, soothing, and mildly antiseptic. Citrus will lighten hair, combat oiliness, promote microcirculation of the scalp and is great for blondes or light colored hair.


Rosemary & Lavender- Rosemary is stimulating and invigorating to the hair and scalp. It promotes healthy hair growth and shine. It is antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral. It is excellent for all hair types but especially good for brunettes. Lavender is a cleansing, balancing herb that has antibacterial properties.

Rose & Nettles- Rose is cooling and astringent, but very gentle and soothing. It has been used for centuries to treat skin wounds and inflammation. Nettles thickens hair texture, helps eliminate dandruff, aids in preventing hair loss and aids in restoring hair growth.

You can find these in our shop by themselves at this listing: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2092732

Or if you want to order our special all natural shampoo and herbal vinegar Hair Pair here:http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2044279