Replied By Shemika (Hightstown, Nj) on 06/19/2010
I am grateful for Mary's story about topically applying acv to her head by mistake when she had a fungal infection and thus losing all her hair.
I unthinkingly slapped some acv on my head before bed last night as I do from time to time, but this time I woke up disturbed and vaguely recalling her post so I got up and reread it as well as Teds instructions about the subject since I hadn't read them in a couple years. I realized I was making the same mistake Mary had because I likely also have a fungal infection due to my parasite infection.
In Jan just when my hair was starting to see some real progress I absentmindedly put a little acv on it and continued to do so on occasion. Soon afterwards I was combing my hair and it started falling out in clumps. Not making the connection I continued over the past five months to put acv on my hair from time to time, wondering why it kept getting shorter and wouldn't grow any more. Sure enough, topical acv is likely part of the reason why my hair fell out and hasn't grown. I had credited it all to the meds I took about the same time which are known to cause hair loss, which is also likely part of the reason as well. Now I hope to get it right by using tea tree oil and the proper remedies instead. I will let that be a lesson I have to be more careful. Thanks for your site.
Replied By Mellberg (Co) on 11/04/2013
I'm sorry for your experience, however I would like to make a few notes. I am a licensed hair professional and it was not the apple cider that made your hair fall out, it was the peroxide. I wouldn't necessarily recommend ACV for a hair rinse regularly. I do use it on myself and have never had a problem with it. However, leaving peroxide on the scalp will cause breakage. It's a shame that you are having to deal with this issue because hair loss is such a delicate issue. Please look into a deep conditioning treatment which will help to preserve your hair and prevent further damage due to the peroxide.
Best wishes.
Replied By Bb13 (New Jersey) on 07/22/2015
I am a licensed beauty professional as well. ACV is not what made Mary's hair fall out, it was most certainly the peroxide. But I will say, unless it is a conditioner, I don't recommend leaving any product on overnight. Everyones skin is different, including your scalp, and will react different. Also, vinegars are cleaning agents, as are baking sodas...mixing these products together is essentially stripping the hair of anything. Salons use baking soda to strip the hair. ACV is a great product, but should not be applied to the hair in full strength (more is not better in this case). In fact, (I did not see it so I cannot be sure) but I would be willing to bet that Mary's hair did not fall out, but actually broke off. Am I saying not to use it, absolutely not, I love ACV, I use it all the time...use it in moderation...equal parts with water, do not leave it in overnight.