Everything in life is about finding balance, and hair health is no exception.
Throughout our body, different organs and parts require different pH levels. (For example, our stomach needs to have a pH of around 3, which is pretty acidic, in order to break down and digest food. In women's reproductive areas, it's well known not to use regular soap because it affects the pH of the area.)
The same thought applies to our hair. Hair needs to have a certain pH level, generally ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 (which is slightly acidic), with the hair shaft having a pH of around 3.67 (which is quite acidic).
Hair follicles (which are where the hair grows from) also have a delicate pH of around 5.5.
Think of the scalp as its own environment, where different bacteria, yeasts, and hair all cohabitate together in a delicate balance.
When this balance gets disrupted, it's a domino effect, and everything living there suffers the consequences.
What's Messing With Your pH?
Many of the shampoos sold on the market, including mainstream shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments, and styling products, are filled with toxic, endocrine-disrupting ingredients that directly impact your hair's pH, which can lead to hair fall.
For example, clarifying shampoos are highly recommended to clean the hair of buildup, but ironically enough, because they are extremely alkaline, with a pH between 8 and 10, they disrupt the delicate balance of the scalp and hair follicle pH levels. Eventually, this trickles down and affects the hair follicles, causing inflammation and stress, which can lead to hair fall.
However, on the flip side, if a product is too acidic (such as undiluted apple cider vinegar, which is often used as a DIY hair cleanser), it can also destroy the delicate pH balance of the scalp.
Another big source of hair fall is poor-quality water. When water is high in chemicals like chlorine or hard minerals like calcium, the hair's pH levels can also become disrupted because the water is too alkaline for the scalp environment.
Steps to Take to Maintain Healthy Hair pH Levels
The key to maintaining a healthy pH is removing all the toxic hair care products from your bathroom and replacing them with pH-balanced, paraben- and sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners.
Instead, opt for healthier, botanical, cleaner hair care products and oils. Generally, natural hair care products are absorbed by the body more naturally and don't disrupt the delicate balance of your scalp.
For example, Bakuchi oil, which is one of the main ingredients in our bestselling Hair Regrowth Oil, is a perfect oil to use for hair regrowth and helping to balance the scalp's pH because its active compounds are optimal at a pH of 5.0 to 6.5, which is similar to the scalp. By mimicking a similar pH, it helps protect the hair shaft, improve shine, prevent breakage, and ward off harmful fungi and bacteria.
Our Hair Regrowth Oil combines many different oils, like Jamaican castor oil, each with unique pH levels and nourishing properties that help maintain a healthy homeostasis on your scalp so hair can grow and flourish in the right environment.
another important step:
Install a water filter in your shower. By installing a filter, you'll reduce the mineral and chemical load on your scalp, promoting healthier hair.
