How to Get Rid of Product Buildup in Your Hair

Get rid of sticky product buildup in your hair with white vinegar.

While a variety of hair products, from gel to mousse to hair spray, can pull your hairstyle together, over time these sticky products can cause a buildup on your hair that's tough to remove. Products can leave your hair limp, dry or damaged. The answer to repairing your stressed hair can be found not in your bathroom, but in your kitchen. Distilled white vinegar can help remove residue from the hair and get you back to a clean state.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• Warm water
• Spray bottle
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

Instructions

1. Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Take spray bottle with you into the shower.

2. Completely soak your hair with warm water.

3. Cover your hair with vinegar by spritzing it with the spray bottle. Spray the roots well. Use the entire cup of vinegar on your hair. Avoid getting the vinegar in your eyes.

4. Massage the vinegar into your scalp and roots thoroughly.

5. Let the vinegar sit on your hair for at least 10 minutes.

6. Rinse your hair and wash with shampoo and condition as you usually do. Rinse well after conditioning.

7. Dry and style your hair as normal. You should notice your hair feels lighter and cleaner. Apply the vinegar to your hair once a week to continue to remove the buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use this treatment if your scalp is abraided.

• Do a small patch test first to make sure you don't have an adverse reaction to the vinegar.

Resources

• Pastorelli Food Products Inc.: White Vinegar 101
• Chagrin Valley Soap & Craft Company: Natural Vinegar Hair Rinse