Keracare PH levels

[Brownshugaz]

Why does Keracare have the ph levels of their products printed on the front? Is that supposed to mean something to me?

 

[beyondcute]

On some of the products. Makes a difference to me... The conditioner in the tub feels way better than the bottle.

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Why does Keracare have the ph levels of their products printed on the front? Is that supposed to mean something to me?

Yeah, supposedly the less alkaline your hair is (the more acidic), the better. Sometimes, relaxers which are VERY alkaline, have a ph level of 12-14. Sometimes even higher! That's why you need a neatralizing shampoo to bring the ph level of your hair closer to normal. Otherwise, your hair will break and fall out.

Water has a ph level of 7. Anything closer to the ph level of 7 is best. That's why they say that your shampoos and conditioners should have a ph level of about 4-6. I think hair has a normal ph level of like 4.5 or something. So, if your conditioners and shampoos are around 5-6.0, or even 7, then I think that's good.

I'm actually glad that Keracare puts the ph-level on their products. I kind of wish a lot more product lines did this.


BTW, I got all that information off of hair books, and a website that I recently read. If I find the link, I'll post it.

 

[SohoHair]

I have the conditioner in the bottle and in the tub and they both have a pH of 4.5, so I don't believe that's the difference.

 

[Lovelylocs]

I would like to know more about this too. I know that the ph level is supposed to be important, but I am not exactly sure how it works. Bumping...

 

[Neroli]

pH is so important I wish ALL hair and skin care products would post them! pH scale is 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral (water is generally 7 on the pH scale and is considered neutral). Everything below 7 is acid everything above 7 is alkaline. Understanding pH helped me "cure" my very oily acne-prone skin and i now have even-tone, smooth, acne free, flawless complexion because I incorporate at least one product with a low pH of 3 - 4.5 after EACH washing. The acne bacteria cannot survive in an "acid" environment and everytime you wash you face, you elevate the pH to 8, 9 or even 10 because most soaps and cleansers are alkaline and acne-prone skin MUST be "normalize" (or neutralize if you prefer) every time it is wash. I spend (well, my parents did!) thousands of dollars at dermatolgist and yet I continued to break out and it wasn't until I understood this simple scientific fact of restoring my skin's "acid mantle" -- something my acne prone skin cannot do on its own and thus I must use products to help it maintain some "normalcy" -- that my skin just turned around. I now will not put anything on my facial skin without checking the pH first. I take pH strips with me to the store and if I cannot check before purchasing, I'll buy, check in the car and if it ain't right, I immediately return!

Once I discovered LHCF, I applied my understanding of pH levels to hair care and how important it is for relaxed heads to "acidify" because relaxers raises the hair's pH to upwards of 10. As a relaxed 4B, I use ACV solution at 4.5 as part of my regular routine -- it is the cheapest way to acidify hair AND when I'm low on cash, I use the same ACV solution as a "toner" for my skin!

skin and hair "normal" pH level is 5 - 7, depending (diet, medication, topicals, etc. can effect body's pH)


Long post, but HTH . . .

 

[beyondcute]

I have the conditioner in the bottle and in the tub and they both have a pH of 4.5, so I don't believe that's the difference.

Not mines. There is a whole numebr difference in the ph's on mines and in this pic I have... Im not at home but I think I have it in my fotki... Be right back.....

It still may be hard to see but the tub has a ph of 5.5. The bottle has one of 4.5. This makes a huge difference for my hair.

 

[beyondcute]

The visual difference in the different PH levels is also huge.... Ive pasted these before but once again for your viewing pleasure

Above is the conditioner from the tub. Thick, creamy, awesome!

Above is the one from the bottle. Still Keracare. And Im sure its not conterfeit Been buyign it for years and its always been more watery than the tub and I dont know if the ph difference has anything to do with it but Ill stick with the tub... My hair likes it better.

 

[Neroli]

The visual difference in the different PH levels is also huge.... Ive pasted these before but once again for your viewing pleasure

Above is the conditioner from the tub. Thick, creamy, awesome!

Above is the one from the bottle. Still Keracare. And Im sure its not conterfeit Been buyign it for years and its always been more watery than the tub and I dont know if the ph difference has anything to do with it but Ill stick with the tub... My hair likes it better.

That is incredible because I can see your tub with the 5.5 and I just checked the tub in my bathroom and it says 4.5, just like the bottle (4.5). What's up with that?! I got my tub from sheldez.com. Hmmmm. . .

I DO prefer the tub though, 'cause it's nice and thick and creamy, like I like . . .

 

[SohoHair]

That's strange indeed, because although my tub is much thicker than the bottle version I have, they are both definitely 4.5... hmmmmm:scratchch

 

[beyondcute]

I dont know... I have 2 tubs. Both of them are older though. Thsoe tubs last for awhile with me. Either way they may have changed the formula recently... WHo knows... not me All I knwo is.. I like the tub.

 

[Lovelylocs]

pH is so important I wish ALL hair and skin care products would post them! pH scale is 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral (water is generally 7 on the pH scale and is considered neutral). Everything below 7 is acid everything above 7 is alkaline. Understanding pH helped me "cure" my very oily acne-prone skin and i now have even-tone, smooth, acne free, flawless complexion because I incorporate at least one product with a low pH of 3 - 4.5 after EACH washing. The acne bacteria cannot survive in an "acid" environment and everytime you wash you face, you elevate the pH to 8, 9 or even 10 because most soaps and cleansers are alkaline and acne-prone skin MUST be "normalize" (or neutralize if you prefer) every time it is wash. I spend (well, my parents did!) thousands of dollars at dermatolgist and yet I continued to break out and it wasn't until I understood this simple scientific fact of restoring my skin's "acid mantle" -- something my acne prone skin cannot do on its own and thus I must use products to help it maintain some "normalcy" -- that my skin just turned around. I now will not put anything on my facial skin without checking the pH first. I take pH strips with me to the store and if I cannot check before purchasing, I'll buy, check in the car and if it ain't right, I immediately return!

Once I discovered LHCF, I applied my understanding of pH levels to hair care and how important it is for relaxed heads to "acidify" because relaxers raises the hair's pH to upwards of 10. As a relaxed 4B, I use ACV solution at 4.5 as part of my regular routine -- it is the cheapest way to acidify hair AND when I'm low on cash, I use the same ACV solution as a "toner" for my skin!

skin and hair "normal" pH level is 5 - 7, depending (diet, medication, topicals, etc. can effect body's pH)


Long post, but HTH . . .

This is interesting, Neroli. Can you tell us more please? I am really interested. I have acne/blackhead prone skin too. Is L'oreal's hydrafresh toner acidic? I like that but I dont use it all of the time. I will probably be sending you a PM soon.

So how can u tell which level of PH your hair needs?

 

[Neroli]

This is interesting, Neroli. Can you tell us more please? I am really interested. I have acne/blackhead prone skin too. Is L'oreal's hydrafresh toner acidic? I like that but I dont use it all of the time. I will probably be sending you a PM soon.

So how can u tell which level of PH your hair needs?

Hydrafresh toner is NOT acidic, its more like a pH of 8, way high for oily acne skin. I tested it back in the day (unless they've changed the formula). I discovered that NONE of the over the counter toners for oily acne skin were low pH -- duh, that's why they don't work! If they were low pH, then they were loaded with alcohol, which lowered the pH (good) but dried out my skin (bad). I now use stuff from online or from the health food store -- I don't use any drug store, department store facial products -- they've just NEVER worked for me, no matter how cheap or expensive. I have to go "outside the box" for my skin care.

I don't know that my hair needs a particular pH level, but since I relax every 3 months AND I wash with 'poo once a week, I KNOW my hair needs to be acidified periodically because relaxers and 'poos raises the pH. I discovered from trial and error that 4.5 is "just right" for me -- my hair is soft, silky and shiny. If I go too far below 4.5, my hair feels dry and gets tangly, if I go too far above 4.5, nothing happens and hair doesn't have that extra shiny silky feel.

I'll check my messages and get back to you via PM.

 

[Nightingale]

This is too interesting...

 

[Angelicus]

I love this thread. This is why I always wash my hair with neutralizing shampoo and use vinegar rinses. A lower pH means closed cuticles, shinier hair, and easier to manage.

 

[Neroli]

I love this thread. This is why I always wash my hair with neutralizing shampoo and use vinegar rinses. A lower pH means closed cuticles, shinier hair, and easier to manage.

Hey Anky:

Just wanted to say while neutralizing 'poos have low pH, they also have very very harsh detergents which are necessary to remove the relaxer as well as lower the hair's pH. I limit my use only to when I relax. IMO, its important to CLEAN my hair first, which will generally raise the pH because cleansers and detergents by their nature, are alkaline, so I don't worry tooooo much about the pH of 'poos, rather I try to make sure they have good detergents that will clean without stripping my hair. Once my hair is clean, THEN, I look to "neutralizing" and lowering the pH and so I really want my CONDISH to be low pH to help close to cuticles after they've been opened and cleanout by the 'poo. The key is to lower the pH after washing (just like my skin, I HAVE to clean it and proper cleaning requires that the pH be raised when cleansers are use, then re-acidify immediately to 'normalize' the skin).

BTW, when i'm doing a "regular" wash, I use ACV immediately after 'pooing and then I go on and condish. If I'm deep condishing, I will 'poo, deep condish with heat or just leave plastic cap on for however long and once I rinse my deep condish out, I do the ACV after. I don't really have a good reason for this except that I my hair feels, look and behaves better when I do this.

Just a thought that neutralizing 'poos are really harsh and should be limited, like clarifying 'poos . . .

Just my two cents . . .

 

[Angelicus]

not mine! Elasta QP neutralizing shampoo is the most gentle shampoo I have ever used. I use it everytime I want straight hair. Awesome stuff. I agree with using a conditioner with a low pH though.

Just be careful, people, because if your products are too acidic, your hair will be rough and yucky feeling.

 

[Neroli]

not mine! Elasta QP neutralizing shampoo is the most gentle shampoo I have ever used. I use it everytime I want straight hair. Awesome stuff. I agree with using a conditioner with a low pH though.

Just be careful, people, because if your products are too acidic, your hair will be rough and yucky feeling.

Now I'm gonna have to check out Elasta QP neutralizing 'poo. If you have moment, can you post the ingredients? Thanks! I agree with being careful about "going too low" -- if my ACV is below 4.5, my hair gets dry and tangly -- precision is important, that's why I keep pH sticks around . . .