Assessing the Merit of the Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Method for Synthetic Hair Extensions

Synthetic hair extensions are made from materials that can expose patients who engage in certain styling practices to high levels of carcinogens beginning in early childhood. The apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse method is an anecdotal remedy lacking data validating its ability to mitigate adverse reactions and complications associated with synthetic hair extensions, including carcinogenic exposure to the materials they comprise. We conducted a literature review of studies investigating the effects of the ACV rinse on the carcinogenicity of synthetic hair extensions that revealed a notable deficit in the literature regarding scientific studies assessing this practice. Future studies are needed to investigate how, if at all, ACV rinses alter the most potentially harmful components of synthetic hair extensions.