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ph balance?
- Thread starter cece
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pH is the degree of acidity or alkalinity in a product. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being the balancing point. pH balanced indictes to me that product ingredients have been combined in such a way that they are neither too acidic nor too alkaline.
The pH level that best suits what the hair needs will vary from person to person. I have found that my hair responds well to products with a lower pH.
The pH level that best suits what the hair needs will vary from person to person. I have found that my hair responds well to products with a lower pH.
AngieK
New Member
<font color="brown">To add to MiaLi's explanation, an acidic poroduct will cause the cuticle of the hair to contract. The cuticle layers will lay closer together, which makes the surface smoother, allowing it to relfect light (shine). This is one reason people use an acidic rinse such as ACV (pH is about 3.5).
An alkaline product causes the cuticle to expand or swell (the layers do not lay flat when in an alkaline condition). The hair will seem thicker, but it is not desirable for it stay this way because the hair is more susceptible to damage. Most soap based shampoos are alkaline, so it is best to follow up with an acidic rinse or conditioner. The pH of most relaxers is between 10 and 13. The neutralizing/normalizing shampoo that is used after a relaxer is acidic. It brings the pH back down and stops the chemical processing.
Water is 7.0, which is considered neutral. The natural pH of your hair is about 4.5 - 5.5. Many salon products will list the pH. If they state that it is pH balanced, it usually means that it is neither too acidic, nor too alkaline, but closer to your hair's natural pH.
AngieK </font>
An alkaline product causes the cuticle to expand or swell (the layers do not lay flat when in an alkaline condition). The hair will seem thicker, but it is not desirable for it stay this way because the hair is more susceptible to damage. Most soap based shampoos are alkaline, so it is best to follow up with an acidic rinse or conditioner. The pH of most relaxers is between 10 and 13. The neutralizing/normalizing shampoo that is used after a relaxer is acidic. It brings the pH back down and stops the chemical processing.
Water is 7.0, which is considered neutral. The natural pH of your hair is about 4.5 - 5.5. Many salon products will list the pH. If they state that it is pH balanced, it usually means that it is neither too acidic, nor too alkaline, but closer to your hair's natural pH.
AngieK </font>
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cece said:
Is there a way to test my hair and products?
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Check the list of ingredients cece. If it contains citric acid, phosphoric acid or ascetic acid then it is pH balanced. Alternatively, u could get pH testing paper/ litmus paper (?) at ur local drugstore.
cece said:
Is there a way to test my hair and products?
[/ QUOTE ]
Check the list of ingredients cece. If it contains citric acid, phosphoric acid or ascetic acid then it is pH balanced. Alternatively, u could get pH testing paper/ litmus paper (?) at ur local drugstore.
