What is pH and why should I care?

What is pH?

Understanding pH is essential for grasping how various products and elements in our environment affect our hair and skin. But what exactly is pH? In this article, we’ll delve into the concept of pH, its scale, and why it matters.

pH stands for “potential of hydrogen” and is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:

• 0 to 6: Acidic
• 7: Neutral
• 8 to 14: Alkaline (Basic)

The scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number change represents a 10x change in acidity or alkalinity. For example, a substance with a pH of 4 is ten times more acidic than one with a pH of 5, and a substance with a pH of 10 is ten times more alkaline than a substance with a pH of 9.

pH can be measured using pH strips, a pH meter, or indicators that change color based on the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. In beauty and personal care, understanding the pH of products is crucial for maintaining the health of hair and skin.

Why pH Matters for Hair and Skin

Our skin has a natural pH of about 4.5 to 5.5, making it slightly acidic. This acidity helps maintain the skin’s barrier function, keeping out harmful bacteria and environmental pollutants. Similarly, hair has a slightly acidic pH that helps keep the cuticle layer smooth and healthy.

Exposure to water with a pH that is too high or too low can disrupt this balance, leading to issues like dryness, irritation, and increased susceptibility to damage. Due to clean water regulations in the United States, most of the water coming through our pipes is slightly alkaline, between pH 7.5 and pH 8.5. 

For those looking to optimize their hair and skin care routines, the Citrus Filtered Shower Head not only filters out harmful substances in your water, but also balances the pH. In most showers, the Citrus Filtered Shower Head will produce water with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0, providing a gentle and balanced cleansing to refresh your daily wellness routine.