Effects acids and bases/alkalis have on hair.

[bjjowett1993]

This is very good information! Thank you!
And so much more reader-friendly since broken into paragraphs.

Have you considered making an article of this and posting it in the Article section? I really think it belongs there!

Yayyy! It worked!! I'm actually really happy, and kind of proud.

[Euphony]

...especially since my shampoo has sodium hydroxide in it. I wonder why they put that in there!

A lot of times sodium hydroxide is used in formulas to bring an acidic formula more basic, to balance the ph. Generally it is used in very small amounts.

[Silverlox]

Yay!! I'm so glad it worked!!

I honestly thought that it was too good and general information to disappear in an old thread. Thus my suggestion to put it in the article section. I think that all general information should go there, building a great bank of knowledge.

Congrats to having posted your first Article! I hope it won't be your last.

[mellie]

S tresses asked:

Are there any shampoos with a 5.5 pH?

Soapnut solution is right around there!

Great article, BTW!

[Kirin]

This is a great article, although in my articles I always warn individual results of items may vary. The PH you list as skin/hair ph, 5.5 is general, and does not run through the entire population. There are several users (*wave*) to whom acid is very detrimental, and even in weak diluted solutions can wreak havoc.

I have never figured out the science of why, but acids AND bases have a lot of problems for me. I need almost everything i use to be around a PH of 7

[bjjowett1993]

acids do dry out my hair. i can use only very weak vinegar rinses - but for some reason my hair prefers lime juice to ACV.
also it seems to prefer soap bases washes to other washes - but only if i use cold water.
my hair loves cold water!
i have noticed that my slightly wavy hair is much wavier when i use poo bars and a very weak - 1 teaspoon/quart water ACV rinse and then rinse with cold water.

but actually my hair is still pretty wavy when i don't do the acid rinse and just rinse in cold water.

for some reason if i use just acid rinses to try and clean my hair it seems straighter than if i use something basic to wash with. but my hair absolutely despises baking soda!!!

Yes, baking soda is basic for sure, lol.

[bjjowett1993]

This is a great article, although in my articles I always warn individual results of items may vary. The PH you list as skin/hair ph, 5.5 is general, and does not run through the entire population. There are several users (*wave*) to whom acid is very detrimental, and even in weak diluted solutions can wreak havoc.

I have never figured out the science of why, but acids AND bases have a lot of problems for me. I need almost everything i use to be around a PH of 7

That is quite interesting, Kirin. I don't actually know what the scientific reason behind that would be. possibly a chemical imbalance in your body? Or just simply your hair. Thank you for your imput.

[bjjowett1993]

Yay!! I'm so glad it worked!!

I honestly thought that it was too good and general information to disappear in an old thread. Thus my suggestion to put it in the article section. I think that all general information should go there, building a great bank of knowledge.

Congrats to having posted your first Article! I hope it won't be your last.

Thanks again, Silverlox. I definitely don't plan for it to be my last article. Thanks for your support. I hope you don't mind if I add you as a friend.

[bjjowett1993]

A lot of times sodium hydroxide is used in formulas to bring an acidic formula more basic, to balance the ph. Generally it is used in very small amounts.

Yes, I do agree with that, as to neutralise the substance, or bring it to a higher or lower pH. The only true way to test your shampoo/conditioner, or anything, is with litmus papers. Thank you for your imput.

[Short2Long2009]

If anyone uses shampoo bars, sodium hydroxide is the alkali used to saponify the oils, giving you...soap

Liquid soaps are made with potassium hydroxide.