By morning, the difference was startling. Her hair, once coated in a dull, lifeless film, felt lighter and cleaner, as if weeks of buildup had finally been washed away. The constant prickling itch along her scalp had calmed, the angry flakes retreating, and her strands moved with a softness and subtle shine she hadn’t seen in ages. Instead of the brittle dryness she’d feared, there was a clarified ease—less frizz, more control, and a texture that felt genuinely reset rather than masked.

Yet as she ran her fingers through those newly cooperative strands, she understood this wasn’t some miraculous cure, but a precise tool that demanded respect. Undiluted or overused, the same acidic strength that soothed her scalp could tip into irritation, leaving hair parched and fragile. It would never replace deep conditioners or nourishing oils, but as a simple, low-cost clarifying rinse, it had earned a permanent, cautious place in her routine—diluted carefully, used sparingly, and never again underestimated.