It seems the best beauty products are always right in front of you—or at least sitting in your kitchen cabinet. You should never be afraid to try a little DIY with tried and true back-to-basic ingredients. This rings true when wanting healthy, shiny hair.

Perhaps you've tried TikToks favorite hair hack: rice water hair treatments. Or maybe you've decided to make your very own banana hair mask. But what about at-home solutions for detoxing your scalp? The solution may be in the form of apple cider vinegar (ACV), which is made from fermented apples, and it should definitely be a part of your hair care routine.

“Apple cider vinegar is just one of those gifts from Mother Nature that's just too good to not utilize for everything, including your hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Michelle Cleveland. But what, specifically, is it great for, aside from making a killer salad dressing? Ultimately apple cider vinegar benefits all go back to one word: balance. From reducing frizz to adding shine and exfoliating the scalp, ACV does (almost) everything. The hype may be real—but before you raid your pantry, read on to find out the benefits of the ingredient and exactly how to use it.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

It Can Balance & Soothe Your Scalp

It Will Remove Buildup

It's Antimicrobial while Healing a Dry & Itchy Scalp

It Can Reduce Hair Loss & Repair Breakage

How to Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse, Step-by-Step

1. Shampoo and condition hair normally.

2. Mix three tablespoons of five percent ACV with 1 3/4 cups of water. Dr. Harth notes If you have oily hair or struggle with dandruff, you can use four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

3. Massage the mixture into the scalp and leave it in for up to five minutes. It shouldn't burn if properly diluted, but if it does, rinse it out immediately.

4. Rinse it out thoroughly with cool water to help seal your hair's cuticle.