Sure, you’ve heard of the term ‘pH-balanced’ but do you really understand it? Here we explain what pH-balanced shampoo and skin care is and explore the benefits having a healthy pH-balance can have for your skin and hair.
What does pH-balanced mean?
The pH scale is used to get an understanding of how acidic or alkaline something is.
If a product is pH balanced it means that it has the same pH as the thing it is intended to be used on. For example, human skin and hair is usually slightly acidic and has a pH of around 4.5-5.5.
That means that if your shampoo or skin care claims to be pH balanced, it will likely have a similar pH level.
Is my hair pH-balanced?
Healthy hair will be pH-balanced but if your hair feels week, dry or damaged or your scalp is prone to irritation, it is likely that the skin’s defence layer (the acid mantle) has been disturbed and is unable to perform its functions adequately.
There are lots of factors that can cause this to happen and the following can all affect the performance of the acid mantle:
- Using alkaline hair products
- Hair dye
- Heat treatments
- Exposure to chlorine
- Exposure to sunlight
Why use pH-balanced shampoo?
Human hair is protected by a thin, sticky fluid called the acid mantle. This acidic layer creates a hostile environment for alkaline bacteria and helps to keep the hair and scalp healthy.
Using harsh hair care such as shampoo bars and styling can weaken this defensive layer and may contribute to issues such as dry frizzy hair, an itchy, sensitive scalp or scalp acne. A weakened acid mantle may also leave the skin on the scalp vulnerable to microbial attack and could contribute to the emergence of scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis.
By using a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner you can maintain a strong skin barrier on your scalp and support the health of your hair as it grows.
All Green People’s shampoos are pH balanced and, because they contain nourishing plant actives in place of skin-stripping alcohols and SLS, they help to care for the delicate acid mantle and do not irritate sensitive scalps.
See full range of pH-balanced shampoos now.
Why use pH-balanced skin care?
Much like our scalp, the skin on the rest of our body has an acid mantle which can be disturbed by using harsh, alkaline skin care ingredients.
For this reason, all Green People’s skin care products have a pH between pH4.5 and pH5.5 and contain ingredients that nourish the skin while inhibiting the activity of bad bacteria.
How to build a pH-balanced skin care regime
pH-BALANCED CLEANSER
Do you use a toner to help close your pores and reinstate your pH balance after cleansing? Whilst your toner might claim to help balance your pH, the reality is pores do not have muscles so will not close on their own regardless of how much toner you apply.
A better option is to opt for a pH-balanced cleanser that is rich in plant actives and rebalances the skin as you cleanse.
pH-BALANCED DEODORANT
Armpits create the perfect environment for harmful bacteria so using a pH-balanced deodorant is also important.
To help your underarms defend themselves from bacterial invasion we pack our deodorants with a prebiotic called Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide. When applied to the skin, this encourages the growth of good bacteria and restricts the growth of bacteria known to cause BO.
pH-BALANCED BODY WASH
Like shampoos, SLS-based soaps and shower gels can disturb the acid mantle and leave the skin feeling dry, sensitive or spot-prone. To avoid this, opt for a pH-balanced body wash that does not contain SLS.
Our Moisturising Shower Gel contains a gentle blend of nourishing Quinoa, sweet-scented Neroli Oil and bubbles from Yucca and SCS, derived from coconut, to create a natural pH-balanced shower gel that is kind to your skin.
If your skin is particularly sensitive, you may prefer our unscented shower gel, which is dermatologically tested and entirely free from fragrance and essential oils.
pH-balanced hand cream
Having dry skin on your hands can be a sign that your pH is too high or too low. Highly acid soap bars can further imbalance the skin but by switching to an SLS-free soap and applying a nourishing hand cream regularly, you can help to bring your hands back into balance.
Our pH-balanced Manuka & Lemon Tea Tree Antibacterial Hand Wash is free from SLS and irritating soap and contains Tea Tree & Manuka which deliver antimicrobial action against harmful bacteria.
Powerful organic hand wash for kitchen and bathroom
£16.00
Manuka & Lemon Tea Tree Antibacterial Hand Wash 300ml
To help preserve the acid mantle, follow with a pH balanced hand cream. Our Protein-Boost Hand & Body Lotion is perfect for helping to reinforce the skin barrier and uses the reparative goodness of Quinoa & Calendula to soften skin and support the natural healing of dry, chapped hands.
Lock in hydration as you nourish dry skin with this natural body lotion
£27.00
Protein-Boost Hand & Body Lotion 200ml
Have you seen the benefits of pH-balanced shampoo and skin care? Join the conversation at @GreenPeopleUK.
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