Hair and pH
Hair is made up of very strong proteins. Despite the strength of these proteins, chemical processes can weaken the hair and cause breakage. And so, let’s talk about the pH of chemicals and the damage it can cause.
Hair is made up of two main parts. The outer scale-like layer, the cuticle, protects the inner layer, the cortex. Protein chains are located along the cortex with the melanin which gives hair its color. When the hair becomes damaged the scales of the cuticle stand up, break off and expose the cortex. This makes hair dry and hard to brush. The cortex gives hair its strength and elasticity.
When the damage reaches the cortex, the hair will not return to its shape and may even snap off.
Since the melanin is found in the cortex of the hair, to change the color we must penetrate through the cuticle layer – and that’s where pH comes in. Anything water soluble can be measured by pH. The scales run from 0-14. Zero is a very strong acid and 14 is a very strong alkaline (base). Water has a pH of about 7 (neutral) as does peroxide and most shampoos.
Lemon juice and vinegar have a pH of about 2 or 3 (both acids) whereas baking soda, an alkaline, has a pH of about 8 or 9. Hair has a natural pH between 4.5-5.5.
Permanent hair colors are usually alkaline based. Thus, a higher pH is needed to reach the cortex layer of the hair to change its color. Look for my article next month as I continue to explain the important relationship between hair and pH.
Erick Carter, Salon Zenergy
Erickcre8u@gmail.com
239-777-2380
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