Cantu Refresh Root Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil, 12 Fluid Ounce

I wasn't sure what to expect from this but I wanted something to give my hair a little pick-me-up occasionally. My hair is extremely fine and can sometimes start to look a bit lifeless and dull. I've never had scalp issues so I can't really say if this helps for those. I was just looking for an addition to my minimalist hair care routine that would reinvigorate my hair when it's not looking its healthiest and to give it some resilience against breakage. My approach to hair care is pretty basic so I wanted something affordable that wasn't overly complicated or time-consuming. This hair rinse checks all those boxes and I've actually had quite good results with it!It's very simple to use and works quickly. It adds very little time and effort to my usual routine. Before I apply it in the shower, I squeeze all excess water from my hair to ensure the treatment stays in it because its consistency is very thin. The bottle has a pointed nozzle I use to apply it directly to my scalp. A little goes a long way so I apply it sparingly at first, squeezing a small amount onto a few different areas and working it into my hair from the roots to the tips to judge if I need more. I aim to saturate my hair just enough so everywhere is covered but there isn't excess dripping off. This stuff is pretty watery so overdoing it is a waste since it will just drip out.After about 20-30 seconds I start getting a refreshing, tingly feeling on my scalp that I find very pleasant. I can already feel an improvement in my hair's texture by the time I start to rinse and any tangles just melt away. After my hair dries, I feel like it's noticeably shinier and healthier-looking overall and that effect is pretty long-lasting. It does have quite a strong apple and vinegar scent that I personally don't find overpowering but I admittedly have a poor sense of smell.I think this is quite a good value for a hair care product that actually has noticeable beneficial effects for me. I use it a couple times a week at most as some reviewers cautioned that it can strip your hair if overused but I don't feel I need to use it more than that anyway. I've already purchased it twice and will do so again. If you use it sporadically like me, one bottle will last several months.

So glad I found this for my itchy, dry scalp!Apparently dry scalp & dandruff are the same thing (according to my derm) so whatever you want to call it, it’s annoying & sometimes very uncomfortable . When my scalp is extra dry, I have drawn blood with my ferocious scratching. As soon as I start scratching, all the dead skin flakes up & no amount of washing removes it.For reference, I have curly, thin, dry Caucasian hair, that’s colored & I don’t have extensions, braids or anything else listed on the bottle. I’ve used various Rx washes from derms over the years & tried lots of different products. This is by far the best for me. Doesn’t just improve my dry scalp, but completely eliminates the flaky skin & the itching, right away.About the smell. I read some reviews complaining about the way this smells. Obviously, saying something smells good/bad is based on personal preference. If your bathroom looks like a Bath & Body Works or you only use stuff like Herbal Essences; then you prob won’t be crazy about the way this smells. However, since your rinsing it out & conditioning after...I don’t understand why it matters? Just throw your overly perfumed conditioner on after; problem solved.Personally, I don’t mind the smell & even if I did, I would rather deal with that vs scratching my head day & night like a crazy person or dealing w/ never ending flaky skin. Not to mention, this is by far the cheapest hair product in my bathroom. So it’s worth trying, if it’s not for you, you lose a few bucks.Here’s how I like to use it:1. Apply to dry scalp (meaning not yet wet, pre-shower). Wait about 5 mins or when I start to feel it tingle, then get in the shower & rinse my hair. It’s not an exact 5 mins; I’ll do a load of laundry, check my emails, throw on a face mask, whatever. I’m not looking at the clock or staring at my hair in the mirror, counting the mins.2. Rinse, squeeze excess water out of my hair, then reapply, starting at roots & then to the ends of my hair. Set the bottle down & lather it up, just like I’m shampooing. (While the directions on the bottle only reference using it on your roots, I’ve experimented over the past couple months & found this to work well for me.)3. Rinse. Skip the shampoo. Condition.My scalp feels sooooo good afterwards. Awesome, quality product.

I have long, fine, low-porosity, protein-sensitive, silicone-sensitive, wavy hair that there is also a lot of (argh)...so trying to find hair products that don't weigh it down or suck the moisture out of it is a constant uphill battle and I have probably wasted over $100 doing so. I was finding that clarifying shampoos were making my scalp sort of itchy/dry and drying out my hair. I'm not sure if I have any allergies but because of COVID I can't exactly go see a dermatologist or cosmetologist to try and find out, so I've had to just keep trying stuff. I was looking for something that would help to clarify my scalp and help the itch without dumping straight vinegar on it. I have a detangler by Cantu that I like, so I figured I'd try this.I got my hair wet and put it on for about a minute before shampooing. It really doesn't smell that bad, it's more like apples than vinegar. Then I shampooed and conditioned once, then put it on again, then conditioned again. It's kinda watery but it seems like a little bit goes a long way, which is good when you have a lot of hair!Anyway, I wrapped my hair up in a microfiber pillowcase and got ready for the usual nightmare of detangling and itch. But it never happened! I was amazed to find that not only has it COMPLETELY eliminated the itching, dryness, and even sensitivity of my scalp...like, I didn't even realize it was that bad until it was GONE. So that's awesome. AND, it seems to have made my hair a little easier to detangle.So I know everybody's hair is different, but if your hair texture is similar to mine and scalp issues are making you crazy, maybe give this a go. It's been about 3-4 days and my hair feels and looks great and my scalp feels normal. I wish I had discovered this product sooner!