My hair tip sounds hippy-dippy but it makes my locks pretty – you’ll smell like a bag of chips but the chemistry works
SMELLING like a bag of chips is a small price to pay for luscious locks according to one beauty enthusiast.
She confessed her tip for making hair shiny and smooth was bizarre but reassured that it worked.
The beauty fan shared the hack on Reddit’s 30 Plus Skincare forum, which has almost 2 million members.
She wrote in response to a user asking for advice on how to make their “dull and boring” tresses look “pretty.”
“Alright this is going to sound hippy dippy but bear with me,” she said, writing under the handle Specific_stuff.
“I have a PhD in materials engineering which involves a lot of chemistry.
“Tap water in most parts of the world has a relatively high pH.”
According to her, the dissolved minerals and other treatments in city water make hair brittle.
“Your hair, on the other hand, is acidic – just like your skin,” she said.
“So when you put basic tap water on your acidic hair, you disrupt your hair’s natural pH by depositing excess negative charges (OH-) on the surface.”
She said the pH problem can be fixed by using an acidic product on hair while in the shower.
“I take a cup of white vinegar and dump it in my hair as a final step,” she said.
“You’ll smell like a bag of chips though.
“I also like to add a few drops of Olaplex no. 7 while my hair is a little damp.”
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ACIDIC ANTIDOTE
Many people upvoted the Reddit post to show that they were grateful for the advice.
The Redditor attempted to convince those who were still hesitant to try the hack not to worry about the vinegar smell lingering.
“The acid in vinegar is volatile so it’ll evaporate in 5-10 minutes and leave no scent once you are dry,” she said.
She recommended using white vinegar, however, apple cider vinegar (ACV) is more commonly praised by haircare gurus.
According to Medical News Today, the high acidity of ACV could help to maintain pH balance for “smoother, stronger, and shinier” hair.
Some dermatologists also believe the anti-inflammatory properties in the ingredient could be beneficial for preventing dandruff.
Two to four tablespoons of ACV can be mixed with 16 ounces of cool water to make a rinse that should be applied after the hair has been shampooed and rinsed.
The mixture should be left on for up to two minutes before rinsing out thoroughly.