Clarify Your Hair Gently: Step-by-Step Guide
If you are following the Natural Hair Journey or Curly Girl Method and thereby avoiding harsh sulfates, then hair products, minerals in hard water, and chlorine will build-up on your hair making it dry, dull, frizzy, and lifeless. Your scalp can become greasy, flaky, itchy, and irritated by the build-up.
You need to clarify your hair to remove the build-up! The most gentle way of clarifying your hair is with a DIY apple cider vinegar rinse or lemon rinse.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Always dilute the apple cider vinegar (ACV) with water as applying it directly to your hair is too harsh and may irritate your scalp. Mix apple cider vinegar and water in the ratio 1:3.
For example, 1 dl ACV and 2 dl water.
How To ACV Rinse
1 Mix the ACV and water in a spray bottle or bowl.
2 Apply before hair wash, after cleansing, or after cleansing and conditioning - whatever works best for you.
3 Spray the mixture on sections of your hair and scalp, or dip your hair in the bowl and pour the mixture over your scalp. Massage it into your scalp.
4 Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
You can also mix ACV with your cleansing conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo in the same ratio (1:3), and use it as your cleanser during hair wash. Apply to your hair and massage it into your scalp.
Lemon Rinse
Squeeze the juice out of a few lemons or buy bottled lemon juice. The lemon juice should be diluted in a ratio of 1:1 with water.
For example, 1 dl lemon juice and 1 dl water.
How To Lemon Rinse
1 Mix the lemon juice and water in a spray bottle or bowl.
2 Apply before hair wash, after cleansing, or after cleansing and conditioning - whatever works best for you.
3 Spray the mixture on sections of your hair and scalp, or dip your hair in the bowl and pour the mixture over your scalp. Massage it into your scalp.
4 Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
You can also mix lemon juice with your cleansing conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo in the same ratio (1:1), and use it as your cleanser during hair wash. Apply to your hair and massage it into your scalp.
How Often Should I Clarify?
When you start understanding your hair's needs, you will know when it's time to clarify. Your hair will feel dry and unable to absorb products. Your hair is frizzy, lifeless, and lacks definition. Your scalp is greasy, flaky, itchy, and irritated.
If you follow the Natural Hair Journey, we recommend clarifying your hair 1-2 times every month with apple cider vinegar or lemon rinses.
If you have wavy, fine, or low porosity hair you may need to clarify more often, as these hair features are more prone to build-up.
How to find the right products?
Discovering the right products for your hair is simple with the Compar App. Our AI hair care advisor guides you through identifying your unique hair features and recommends suitable products from a range of brands, catering to all price points. Download the app today and let the perfect match come to you!
