Let’s head back to science class – the pH balance of hair is the measure of how acidic a substance is on a scale from 0-14. 0 through 6.9 is the acidic side of the scale, 7 is neutral, and 8 to 14 is alkaline. But what does acidic, neutral, and alkaline mean for your teen’s hair?
The pH balance of hair can make a big difference in how your kid’s and tween’s hair strands look and feel. The pH of hair is between 4.5 and 5 due to the natural oil on the scalp, also known as sebum. This natural acidity in the hair prevents fungi and bacteria from growing in your teen’s hair and scalp, so the hair cuticles stay closed and healthy.
Many hair products for kids can disrupt the natural pH level of your teen’s hair, which can create pH imbalance, making their hair look dry and brittle. If their kid’s hair products are too alkaline, the hair cuticle will open. If their hair products are too acidic, their hair cuticles will become damaged overtime.
How can you tell what your hair’s pH levels are? Easy! All you need to do is simply assess your teen’s natural hair: Is your scalp flaky, itchy, and/or dry? Do you also have problems with eczema, fungi, or bacteria? If so, their scalp and hair may be too alkaline. Usually, this means their kids hair products has a high pH above 7, and it’s stripping away their naturally acidic sebum that fights bacteria. Having naturally curly hair means that your kid’s hair cuticle is already partially open, so it’s important to make sure their strands have a slightly acidic pH level because the open cuticle prevents naturally acidic oils from keeping the entire hair at a pH level between 4.5 and 5. Having straight hair means your teenager should use hair products for kids that are pH balanced because the sebum moves through your teen’s hair, creating a natural pH balance on its own, so you can simply apply the pH balanced kids hair products just once.
How do you know what the pH levels are in hair care products? Good question! Read the labels on their kids products. If they don’t say they’re pH balanced for your teen’s hair, you should test them to see how they can affect their hair. Look for products with a pH value of 4 to 7 as it works well on hair.
The secret to a healthy hair pH level? Washing your teen’s hair with a natural shampoo and conditioner made with ingredients like nettle and meadowsweet. Both help absorb oils on the scalp. Avoid washing your hair with baking soda because baking soda is very alkaline with a pH of 9, which means it can dry out and damage your teen’s hair. Try out TBH Kid’s natural shampoo and conditioner for kids to test its effectiveness for your teen’s hair today!
Most of us depend on our deodorant to keep our bodies odor free through chores, grocery shopping, school, work, and more. But we’ve all had that one regular deodorant that either irritated our armpits or didn’t mask the body odor throughout the day. What if I told you regular deodorant has harmful ingredients that cause irritation? Don’t sweat it! TBH Kids’s natural deodorant is made with good for you ingredients that will help you and your teens stay fresh because it’s effective and safe for 24 hour protection!
