Hair Shampoo

Top 5 Benefits of Using pH-Balanced Shampoos for Your Hair Type

By Upasana KakatiJul 9, 2024 5 mins read

Why is it important to check the pH of hair care products?

What exactly is a pH-balanced shampoo?

What are the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo?

How often pH-balanced shampoo can be used?

FAQs

References

Have you ever wondered why your shampoo doesn't keep your hair or scalp in good company, especially through the changing seasons? Even if you spend thousands of bucks on haircare, something is amiss. Despite checking every box (READ – paraben-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, and mild formulation), you might overlook a crucial aspect – pH balance.

Yes, pH balance is critical to building an effective hair care routine. Steering through the world of hair care gets complicated with words like "pH shampoos'' casually floating around. But we are here to clear the air. This blog dives into the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo and how to pick the right product based on your hair type.

Also Read - Guide To PH Balanced Shampoo

Why is it important to check the pH of hair care products?

Yes, pH matters! The products' pH level plays a crucial role in overall maintenance and health of your hair and health. Let's do some science talk and go back to the basics to address the elephant in the room – pH balance. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where 7 is neutral, whereas anything below 7 is acidic and above 7 is acidic. The natural pH level of hair is from 4.5 to 5.5, which leans towards the acidic range.

Due to the scalp's acidic pH, the natural oil produced by the scalp fights against bacterial and fungal growth. Using a product with a pH level of 5.5 or below matches the scalp's pH and helps reduce friction between fibers, meaning less frizz. However, according to a study, using products with an alkaline pH increases the negative electrical charge of hair fiber. This, in turn, causes cuticle damage and increased breakage due to the increased friction between the fibers.

What exactly is a pH-balanced shampoo?

When a shampoo is labeled pH-balanced, the formulations have a pH level that matches the one of your scalp and hair. A good pH-balanced shampoo has a slightly acidic pH of 4.0 – 5.5. Lower pH in the product keeps your hair from drying out, reduces frizz, and keeps infection at bay. It is proven scientifically that higher (alkaline) damages hair, and lower pH works like a charm to keep the strands frizzy-free, smooth, and healthy.

What are the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo?

By now, we know choosing a low-pH shampoo is beneficial in keeping the scalp happy and healthy. Research says that the lower pH prevents cuticle damage and reduces fiber breakage as it generates less harmful static electricity.

Also Read - Importance Of PH Balanced Shampoo

Here are the top 5 benefits of pH-balanced shampoo:

Protects the cuticles - The acidic pH of the shampoos prevents the opening of the cuticles and significantly reduces hair damage. The low-pH shampoo seals the cuticles, reducing the moisture loss from strands and keeping hair hydrated. Curly hair usually has a higher pH level and is prone to dryness. Hence, a pH-balanced shampoo keeps the cuticles contracted and neutralizes the excess alkalinity.
Reduces breakage and frizz – High-alkaline products increase the negative static electricity and lead to more friction between hair strands. As a result, it causes hair frizz and is prone to breakage. However, using the right pH-balancing shampoo matches the pH level of the scalp and hair, reducing friction. Hence, this reduces frizz, dryness, and tangling, eventually reducing hair breakage. Also, as the shampoos with ideal pH balance don't strip hair off their natural oil, they improve manageability.
Manages scalp well-being – pH levels play a crucial role in the health and maintenance of the scalp. If the pH level of the shampoo is higher, it creates imbalances, leading to scalp irritation, itching, and dryness. One of the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo is it helps soothe irritated scalp and reduces the occurrence of dandruff. Also, our low pH shampoo helps manage oily scalp and prevents microbial infection.
Keeps hair color vibrant – An imbalance in the pH level also impacts the hair color, making it prone to fading. Adding a pH-balanced shampoo helps prevent premature fading of color and keeps the hues intact. The coloring process opens the cuticle as the hair comes in contact with an alkaline product. Using pH-balanced shampoo helps keep the cuticle close, ensuring color longevity. Add a sulfate and paraben-free pH-balanced shampoo, which is an excellent aftercare.
Gently cleanse hair and scalp – Higher pH products are usually harsh as they tend to strip off natural oil, leading to drying of hair and scalp irritation. However, pH-balanced products are formulated similarly to the scalp and help gently clean the scalp and hair. It thoroughly cleanses hair, leaving it healthy, luscious, and voluminous.

How often pH-balanced shampoo can be used?

The frequency of use of pH-balanced shampoo depends on the hair type and texture. If you have oily hair, use the shampoo twice weekly to keep your scalp and hair clean. However, for dry and coarse hair, you can limit the use of the shampoo once a week. Some hairstyling experts suggest bi-weekly washing the hair with the pH-balanced shampoo to reduce frizz and add natural shine to the mane. An ordinary shampoo tends to strip off naturally; hence, the scalp compensates by overproducing oil, making hair greasy and prone to dirt buildup. pH-balanced shampoo retains natural oil, thus keeping hair cleaner for longer.

Now that you know the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo, which is vital in maintaining your scalp and hair health, it is time to add it to your haircare routine. A low-pH shampoo helps eliminate frizz, preserve hair color, seal the cuticles, and ensure the scalp is healthy and less prone to infection. Upgrade your haircare goals with just weekly or biweekly use of pH-balanced shampoo.

FAQs

Q1. What is a pH-balanced shampoo?

pH-balanced shampoo is formulated considering the natural pH of the scalp and hair, which is 4.5 – 5.5.

Q2. What is the usual level of the pH-balanced shampoo?

Hair is naturally acidic, so the pH-balanced shampoo has a low pH, which leans towards the acidic side. Low-acidic products help reduce negative static electricity, friction, and frizz.

Q3. Does pH imbalance affect hair growth?

If the scalp becomes too alkaline, friction between strands increases, resulting in hair breakage. Also, an alkaline scalp might lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi, resulting in clogged hair follicles. Hence, this might cause hair fall.

Q4. How frequently can I use pH-balanced shampoo?

Depending on your hair type and texture, you can use the pH-balanced shampoo once or twice a week.

Q5. What are some of the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo?

Using a pH-balanced shampoo reduces the generation of negative static electricity and, hence, prevents friction between hair fibers. It also reduces frizz, seals cuticles, manages scalp well-being, prevents hair breakage, and keeps colored hair vibrant.