I finally stopped ignoring the pH balance thing after seeing the proof

Used to think pH balanced shampoo was just marketing fluff. Been doing hair for 8 years in Nashville and never paid attention. Then I read a study from a cosmetology journal my old instructor sent me. Turns out alkaline products above 7.0 can strip the cuticle layer permanently over time. I tested my own favorite clarifying shampoo with cheap strips from Amazon. It tested at 8.5. Blew my mind. Now I check everything before I put it on a client's head. Has anyone else actually tested their products and found something shocking?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin5h ago

The strips were a total game changer for me too. Seeing that blue color on something I trusted really opened my eyes. I just make sure to use a fresh strip every time and check the temperature of the water, that way I get a consistent read every single time.

charlie19810h ago

...and that's the thing that finally got me to check, seeing the actual numbers on a strip. An 8.5 on a clarifying shampoo? That's basically a light bleach session for the hair, no joke. I always thought the whole pH thing was just sales people trying to upsell, but seeing it turn bright blue on that little strip made me feel pretty dumb for brushing it off for so long. Now I keep a roll of strips in my kit and test anything before I use it on a paying customer. It's wild how many popular brands test above 7.0. Makes you wonder how much damage we've all been doing without knowing it.

brooke4489h ago

Grab a bottle of distilled water to rinse your strips first. That test alone taught me a lot.