'Awapuhi (Shampoo Ginger) Vinegar

'Awapuhi (Shampoo Ginger) Vinegar

Shannon Wiener

🧴Awapuhi (Shampoo Ginger) Vinegar Batch 3

Brewed: May 18, 2025
Bottled: October 26, 2025

10oz

🌸 Overview

Awapuhi is a canoe fruit here in Hawaii, meaning it was brought here by the Polynesians. This means it was practical and held in high regard. 

The story goes that Paul Mitchell saw a woman slathering herself with awapuhi juice in Waipio valley and that is where he got the inspiration for his shampoo. I learned this story after making our vinegar rinse and had forgotten that he had made shampoo with it, but the internet most certainly remembered! 

I only use vinegar to wash my hair and have been doing so for the past year. I have not used conditioner in  4 years. I must say, this combo has a 2 and 1 vibe compared to the Aloe Vinegar Shampoo blend that I use daily. I have been using the Awapuhi combmo every other wash and it makes my hair so silky smooth. 

🍋 Batch Details
Batch Date October 2025
Fruit Pick Date April 2025
Fruit Source Papaya from Captian Cook, Awapuhi from Markley Farms
Fermentation Duration 4 months
Vinegar Type Hair Vinegar Rinse
Acidity ~4%

🌺 Story Behind the Batch

Awapuhi has been restoked!! Batch 3.

This is a rare ginger that only fruits for 1 month of the year. Extremely elusive. What a beautiful thing that vinegar can preserve such a precious substance and that both are really great for our skin and our hair!!! :)

I initially cut the awapuhi flowers and juiced them, and after the video going viral, I was instructed to juice them in place! Luckily I didn't cut all of them and was able to juice the remaining flowers 3 times. This batch is a combo of the 2nd and 3rd juicing! How cool this plant refills. And as sad as we are that it is not something we can make year round, it just a reminder that perhaps we should only be using it when it is in season. Maybe our hair only needs the awapuhi hydration for a couple months of the year :)

Here is the video where I cut them. 

Our neighbors and friends are the ones who have this patch. Mikayla has tried the juice in here hair before but has way too many to keep up with making shampoo plus she doesn't have the means to preserve it. Sometimes I think.. wow, anyone can make this .. its just vinegar and Awapuhi juice, but then I remember they would have to go buy loads of apple cider or white vinegar from the store and obviously that is what sets us a part. Yes, anyone can make our creations but not everyone makes their own vinegar. Like think about hot sauce... people may think they are buying from small artisan makers, and to a degree they are, but the majority of that sauce is store bought vinegar... just the chilis are likely grown by them. 

Pretty crazy that both vinegar and Awapuhi are phenomenal for your hair, just a match made in heaven. I debated whether to add rosemary to the mix because I wanted to preserve the scent of the Awapuhi but then I remembered the whole point is to infuse plant medicine into the vinegar so the more the better! Rosemary is another phenomenal hair ally. 

🌿 Health Benefits

  • Strengthens and nourishes hair: Awapuhi’s natural keratin-like proteins and polysaccharides help smooth the hair cuticle, reducing breakage and leaving strands soft, silky, and manageable.
  • Stimulates scalp circulation: Rosemary’s bioactive compounds gently increase blood flow to hair follicles, supporting growth, shine, and overall follicle health.
  • Balances scalp microbiome: Raw, fermented papaya and vinegar help maintain a healthy scalp ecosystem, preventing dryness, flakiness, and irritation while nourishing beneficial microbes.
  • Gentle clarifying action: Fruit acids and mild acetic acid lift excess oils, buildup, and impurities without stripping natural moisture, leaving hair clean, light, and vibrant.
  • Antioxidant protection: Awapuhi, papaya, and rosemary are rich in polyphenols and carotenoids, which help protect hair and scalp from oxidative stress, UV damage, and environmental pollutants.
  • Supports shine and elasticity: Awapuhi and papaya enzymes help smooth the hair shaft, enhancing natural gloss and bounce, while rosemary strengthens strands from root to tip.
  • Soothes irritation and inflammation: Rosemary and awapuhi reduce redness, itching, or scalp sensitivity, making it suitable for sensitive or reactive scalps.
  • Promotes healthy hair growth: By combining scalp stimulation, antioxidant support, and gentle enzymatic action, this formula nourishes follicles and encourages resilient, thriving hair.
  • Natural fragrance and sensory uplift: The aromatic combination of rosemary, awapuhi, and papaya creates a refreshing, spa-like experience that calms the senses and elevates daily hair care rituals.
  • Sulfate-free, botanical care: Free from harsh detergents, the shampoo preserves natural oils while delivering a nutrient-rich, restorative wash.

🍽️ How to Use It

  • You can either replace your shampoo with this entirely, just note it may take a few uses before your hair stops getting greasy, OR use this as a rinse after your normal shampooing
  • With soaking wet hair massage 2 tablespoons or more (depending on how much hair you have) into your scalp, really rub it in there then let it sit for a few minutes
  • This also makes a fantastic facial toner
  • Awapuhi is edible and its kind of tasty so feel free to sip it in the shower
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