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Get hair, health, and science news delivered right to your inbox.Is it possible to balance pH in your hair naturally? Yes actually, and you will not believe how easy it is. Just follow these 5 simple steps and your hair will be eternally grateful. Understanding Hair pH BalanceAs previously mentioned, pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The scale is between 0 and 14. Anything between 0 and 6.9 is acidic, 7 is neutral and anything between 7.1 and 14 is considered alkaline. The pH of hair is between 4.5 and 5.0, as is the oil on the scalp, known as sebum. This natural hair acidity prevents fungi and bacteria from growing in the hair and scalp, leaving the cuticle closed and healthy. Many of the hair products people use can disrupt the natural pH of hair, which can create pH imbalance and leave hair looking dry and brittle. If a substance is too alkaline, it will cause the hair cuticle to open. And if a substance is too acidic, the cuticle will contract. These 5 simple steps will help you achieve a better hair pH balance and avoid dry or damaged hair. 1. Assess your hair.Before anything else, it’s important to establish its pH level. Luckily for you, there are a number of conditions that can indicate the pH of your hair so you know how to approach hair care.
Is your natural hair straight? If so, you should use hair care products that are pH balanced. Straight hair does not require using extra products. The sebum moves through your hair, creating a natural pH balance on its own so you can apply the pH balanced products just once. 2. Read the labels and test your products.Pay attention to your current hair products and examine the labels. If they don’t say they’re pH balanced for your hair, you should test them to see how they affect your hair. A pH value of 4 to 7 usually works well on hair.
3. Choose carefully.Pick a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair with. Some people like to wash their hair with baking soda, but this isn’t a good idea. Baking soda is very alkaline with a pH of 9 and can dry out and damage your hair, so it’s better to pick a pH balanced shampoo instead. After using the pH balanced shampoo and conditioner, rinse your hair. This will set your hair in a neutral pH level, and not a acidic one. Water has a pH level of 7, which makes it more alkaline than your hair. 4. Try a natural method.If you want to bring your hair into an acidic pH range, you can try a natural acid. Aloe vera juice is good to use since the pH of aloe vera is slightly acidic. Pour it in a bottle and mist it over your hair. This will also close the cuticle and remove frizz.
5. Use a leave-in-conditioner.Your hair will return to the 4.5-5.0 natural acidity if you apply leave-in conditioner when your hair is wet. Try a homemade leave-in conditioner made from the following recipe:
How do I know if my scalp pH balance is off?Itchy, Irritated Scalp. Throwing off the pH balance can cause your scalp to become dry, oily, itchy, or irritated as it reacts and overworks itself trying to fight microbes and bring the skin to a better range. Dandruff is also a sign that your scalp's pH may be unbalanced.
What pH level should your hair be?“Your hair's natural pH is somewhat acidic, around 4.5 to 5.5,” explains Redken Artist George Garcia. “It's healthiest whenever it is in this state.” The only issue? Most of the things we do to our hair disrupt this delicate pH balance, pushing it into the alkaline side.
How can I test my pH level at home?The easy and accurate way to measure your pH level is by using pH urine strips. HealthyWiser pH Test Strips provide a convenient method for you to monitor your pH levels in the privacy of your own home and get fast results.
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