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The Effect of Shampoo pH on Hair Health

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It is better to use a product with balanced pH for your hair. Read the article to know how the pH of shampoo affects hair health.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Dhepe Snehal Madhav

Published At January 2, 2023
Reviewed AtJuly 26, 2023

Introduction

Every woman's desire is to flaunt their strong, healthy, and shiny hair. To maintain healthy hair, women search around for different hair care products labeled as anti-hair fall, frizz-free, smooth and silky hair, and so on. The women who look around for these labels should also look for the pH level of the shampoo. It is good to purchase a shampoo with balanced pH to prevent hair damage.

What Is a pH Scale?

The pH scale determines the amount of hydrogen in the solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14. Water has a neutral pH level of seven. The substances with a pH below seven are acidic, and those with a pH above seven are said to be alkaline.

What Are the Types of Shampoo?

Based on different types of hair and scalp, shampoos also have different types. They are,

  • Acid Balanced Shampoo: This shampoo has a balanced pH and is recommended for colored hair.

  • Clarifying Shampoo: The pH of these shampoos is acidic and maintains smooth and shiny hair.

  • Balancing Shampoo: They are commonly used for individuals with oily hair to clear away the excess oil on the scalp.

  • Conditioning and Moisturizing Shampoo: They help in restoring moisture to the hair and maintaining the smoothness of the hair.

  • Medicated Shampoo: This type of shampoo has some special ingredients, drugs, or chemicals to treat itchy scalp, dandruff, and eczema.

  • Color Enhancing Shampoo: They are generally used to enhance and brighten the color of hair.

  • Dry or Powder Shampoo: This type is rarely used and is used in combination with water to remove dirt from the scalp.

How Do You Check the pH of the Shampoo?

Generally, the pH levels of the shampoo are mentioned in the packing. In case if not available, then you can check its pH on your own. For that, you will need litmus strips and the pH scale. You might have heard about these litmus papers in your chemistry lab activities. It is the same strip we use here. Dip the strip into the shampoo and notice the color change in the strip. Then compare it with the pH scale provided along with the strips to identify the pH of your shampoo. There is a device called a pH meter which they use in labs to check the pH during manufacture.

What Should Ideal pH for a Shampoo?

The ideal pH of the shampoo would be slightly acidic with a balancing pH of around 4.5 to 6.

The pH of the shampoo can be determined by the usage of hair styling products. If you use too many products, use shampoo with strong ingredients but keep in mind that the more acidic the pH, the more damage to your hair.

Why Is a Shampoo With Balanced pH Preferred?

The pH of the shampoo has an influence on the cuticles of the hair. Cuticles are the structures that cover the outer cortex layer of the hair. When the pH of the shampoo is alkaline, the cuticles open up and expose the cortex leading to damage to the hair. When the pH is acidic, it contracts the cuticle, and friction between them leads to damage to the fibers in the hair. But when a shampoo that is slightly acidic with a balanced pH will close the cuticle and lock the moisture in the hair thereby maintaining the hair health effectively.

How Does the pH Level of the Shampoo Affect Hair Health?

  • Affects Keratin: A slightly acidic and balanced pH can only maintain hair health. If the pH is alkaline, it causes damage to the keratin which is the protein content in the hair. If the pH is too low, it can tangle your hair and make it frizzy.

  • Retains Moisture: The sebum that is naturally produced from our scalp has natural oils that maintain the hair healthy and shiny. If a shampoo with alkaline pH is used, it opens the cuticles and washes away all the natural oils and leads to dryness of the hair. So a shampoo with a balanced pH is the best to retain moisture in the hair.

  • Antimicrobial Effect: Microorganisms can live only at a particular pH. So we should maintain the pH of the scalp and hair in such a way that it does not house bacteria and fungi in it.

  • Depends on Water Hardness: Hard water is one that contains considerable quantities of dissolved minerals in it. It has an alkaline pH of around 8 or greater. In such a case if you use an alkaline shampoo with hard water, you cannot achieve the shampoo experience. So it is better to use shampoo with an acidic pH to balance the alkalinity of water.

  • Manages Itchy Scalp: A pH-balanced shampoo helps in managing dry and itchy scalp. This in turn helps in achieving healthy hair.

  • Supports Hair Growth: Your hair becomes dry and frizzy as it loses moisture. Using a balanced shampoo helps in maintaining the moisture content of your hair and this moisture content adds nourishment and supports your hair growth.

  • Prepares The Hair for Treatments: As we know shampoo with alkaline pH opens the cuticles and exposes the hair cortex. This mechanism helps during the treatment of hair as it allows easy entry of hair styling products into the hair. Thus before any hair treatment, it is recommended to wash hair using shampoo with alkaline pH.

What Is the pH of Hair and How Can It Be Maintained?

The pH of the hair and scalp are important factors to maintain healthy hair. The natural pH of the hair is said to be around 4 to 5.5.

The pH of the hair can be maintained by,

  • Knowing the type of hair.

  • Checking the pH of the hair products.

  • Trying new home remedies to balance the pH of hair.

Conclusion

People usually get worried when their hair falls day by day but they are always negligent in finding out why it happens. To reduce hair fall, the first and foremost step is to identify the hair texture, identify its pH, know which ingredients suit and which are allergic, and last but not least choose the correct shampoo that could balance the hair’s pH and reap the benefits by adhering to the hair care regimen.

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Dr. Dhepe Snehal Madhav
Dr. Dhepe Snehal Madhav

Venereology

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