Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Cleanser Apple cider vinegar may smell like you are putting salad dressing on your hair, but trust me, when it dries there will be no smell. Vinegar is a great pH balancer and will do wonders for your scalp, including the removal of flakes and dandruff. This is a no-poo formula that will not foam. To use this solution place two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and add one and a half cups of water. Turn the spray nozzle on and spray in sections from root to tip. Massage this into both scalp and hair, then wait about three to five minutes before rinsing it out. Yes, you will smell like salad, but that will fade as your hair dries. Within 30 minutes your hair will be odor-free.