Will you still be my friend?

I'm not sure if you'll still be my friend after I begin to divulge some of my health-maintenance secrets, but ... I'm gonna do it anyway. I'm getting healthy on you here ... I've not entered too many health-related posts on here (ever?) but can't stop the flow any longer. Taking care of the body I've been given is one of my greatest convictions/passions. Educating others in the pursuit of the same follows closely behind. This first entry finds me voicing my love of apple cider vinegar ... it serves as the base for most of my skin/hair care and diet needs. I've used ACV as a hair rinse (directions follow below) for close to two years now and will never stop using it. My hair thanks me for it ... thick, healthy, shiny. It looks infinitely better than with any other conditioner I've ever used and you can't compete with the price! I also use ACV as a facial toner twice a day and my skin has never felt/looked better. I'd even go so far as to say that it actually glows and my complexion is so much clearer than when I used over the counter product on it. ACV has a pH balance almost the same as your skin's natural balance which makes for a very safe, non-harsh cleanser for every skin type. You might balk at the thought of putting something smelly on your skin, but trust me, once its on and dried, you can't smell it. Besides, if it did, wouldn't you have noticed it on me before? :)

The following info was taken from a very comprehensive and helpful website, Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits.


Vinegar Hair Rinse – Natural Hair Care Product

Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).

On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline.

Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and inexpensive shampoos.

Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.

Don't worry about the slight vinegar smell you will notice after rinsing. It will disappear completely as your hair dries.

Make your own healthy after-shampoo hair rinse by mixing 1/3 of a cup (75 ml) of ACV into a quart (1 liter) of water. You can then store this mixture in a plastic bottle and keep it in the shower for ready use.

If you would like to prepare a smaller batch of this vinegar hair rinse recipe to experiment with, try mixing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup (250 ml) of warm filtered tap water.

Apply the vinegar rinse after shampooing and then rinse it all out, or for extra conditioning, you can leave the rinse on your hair. This natural hair care product can be used once or twice a week or more often as needed.

(Erika's note - I mix up the smaller 1 cup amnt of rinse and keep in the shower, using 1-2 times a week, and rinse it out. Praying the Lord's Prayer is usually a long enough time to get it rinsed thoroughly and doesn't hurt your heart-health either. :)

Facial Toner

Mix one teaspoon of cider vinegar and two tablespoons of water in a cup. Make as much as you want and keep in the toner bottle that you remembered to not throw away ... the one your old stuff was in (the stuff that you won't be using anymore). A funnel is handy for transferring the liquid. This mixture keeps well and works for all sorts of general cleansing purposes, scrapes, bug bites, ear piercings, armpits (well, that's for a whole separate post) ...

Let me know if you like it! Don't give up, it takes a little while to get your mind wrapped around it, but its so worth it!