The Supermarket Secret to a pH-Balanced Scalp
Did you ever take a chemistry class in school?
If you did, we’re sure there’s one lesson from that class that’s really burned into your memory…
...and we mean burned!
That lesson is:
ACID: HANDLE WITH CARE
You no doubt remember acids as those dangerous liquids you weren’t allowed near without gloves, and sometimes eye goggles.
That’s because, when it’s concentrated, acid can be highly corrosive…
...which means it can burn through wood, glass, metal...even skin and bone!
But here’s the thing about acid:
It occurs naturally in more places than you’d expect.
And in fact, acid is a necessary factor in keeping your hair flexible, strong, and shiny!
“You’d never guess it...but your hair actually needs a little acid to feel its best”
Let us show you why...
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PH
Have you ever seen an ad for a skin or hygiene product that boasts that it’s “pH balanced”?
The letters “pH” stand for “potential hydrogen,” a measure that determines whether a substance is closer to being an acid or a base (also known as an alkaline substance).
The standard pH scale measures on a range of 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic.
The extremes of either end of the scale are the harshest, most abrasive substances you’ll find.
For example, battery acid measures at 0...making it among the most scalding liquids on the planet.
On the other end, at 14, you’ll find industrial-grade liquid drain cleaner.
And right in the middle, with a neutral 7 on the pH scale, is pure water.1
By now, of course, you’ve got to be asking yourself: “What has this got to do with my hair?”
Well, depending on the type of shampoo or conditioner you may be using...plenty.
THE ACID TEST
You see, when you’ve got hair that’s properly nourished, it hits the pH scale at about a 4.5 or 5.
This is largely thanks to sebum, an oil naturally produced by a healthy scalp.
This sebum prevents bacteria from damaging your scalp, and seals your hair cuticles closed. That makes your strands maintain their structure...which keeps your hair easy to manage and style.
But here’s the problem:
According to the National Institute of Health, most shampoos, including the popular “value” brands found in supermarkets and drugstores, have pH levels greater than 5.5.
In fact, some of these shampoos tip the scale at an 8.5 or 9!2
So, when you use these shampoos, they throw off your hair’s pH balance by stripping away sebum and other essential oils.
This weakens your cuticles, eventually causing them to expand and finally separate.
The result:
- Dry, brittle strands
- Split ends
- Hair breakage
- ...and even, in the most extreme imbalance cases...hair loss!3
“When your hair loses its natural acidity, serious dryness and breakage can be the result”
A TASTY SOLUTION
If you find yourself regularly dealing with dryness, broken hair, or excessive hairfall, a pH imbalance could be to blame.
Naturally, your first step should be to choose shampoos, conditioners, and styling products with a pH balance closer to that of your hair.
But, if you’re looking for even more potent pH protection, now’s the time to hit the grocery store.
But you won’t find what you’re looking for in the hair care aisle.
You actually want to head to the produce department...and pick up some fresh, ripe…
TOMATOES!
That’s right.
In addition to providing salads, sandwiches, soups, and pasta with a burst of juicy flavor…
...tomatoes also contain an abundance of vitamins and nutrients that can work wonders for healthier hair.
“Don’t these tomatoes look delicious? Well, guess what? Your hair loves them just as much as you do!”)
First of all, they’re rich in vitamin C.
This nourishes the scalp, helping to counteract the symptoms of dandruff, eczema, and other skin-related hair problems.
Vitamin C also boosts your body’s production of collagen...a protein necessary for stimulating the follicles, for faster, thicker hair growth.
Other vitamins found in tomatoes, like vitamins A, B, and E, moisturize your hair to enhance its luster, and even fight potential odors that may have gotten into your locks.4
And there’s more:
Tomatoes are also a nicely acidic vegetable.
Ripe tomatoes are close to the acidity level of healthy hair, at about a 4.9, while canned tomatoes dip even lower, at roughly a 3.5.5
That means, if you regularly apply a homemade tomato-based treatment to your hair, the acids in the tomatoes can replenish your pH balance…
...leaving you with a revitalized scalp that’s ready to help you grow fresh, reinvigorated, and gorgeous hair!
WEEKLY TOMATO HAIR TREATMENT
Here’s a basic, three-ingredient tomato-based treatment you can try for yourself.
You’ll need:
- 2 large destemmed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
To prepare this mask, just combine the ingredients in a blender or food processor, then blend them until they make a fine paste.
Apply the treatment to your scalp, then cover it with a shower cap, and let it sit for about 30 minutes.
When you’re ready, just rinse the tomato treatment from your hair…
...and soon, you’ll be seeing and feeling the soft, shiny, style-ready difference!
It is important to mention that, since tomatoes are an acidic food, you won’t want to use this treatment more than once per week.
After all, too much acidity in your hair can cause just as many dryness and breakage issues as too little!6
A LITTLE CHEMISTRY IS ALL IT TAKES
You give your hair so much careful time and attention...and you trust it to the best styling tools and products available.
But sometimes, there’s just nothing that rejuvenates your hair like a little hard science…
...and a helping hand from Mother Nature!
We hope this tomato hair treatment helps restore your scalp to its pH-balanced best.
Once you try it, we’re sure you’ll send this hair secret right down the grapevine…
...or, in this case...the tomato vine!
CITATIONS
- “AquaBright.” Acidic Water | AquaBright.com, www.aquabrightindia.com/water-problem-acid-water.html.
- Dias, Maria Fernanda Reis Gavazzoni, et al. Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158629/.
- CORP., 3ANGLE. “How to Balance the PH Level in Your Hair for a Healthier Look.” Nutrafol, 4 Jan. 2018, www.nutrafol.com/blog/how-to-balance-the-ph-level-in-your-hair-for-a-healthier-look/.
- Gandhi, Vidhi. “Benefits of Tomatoes for Skin, Hair and Body Health | BeBEAUTIFUL.” Be Beautiful | Get All Personalized Beauty, Fashion, Makeup and Lifestyle Tips, 20 Aug. 2015, www.bebeautiful.in/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/how-eating-tomatoes-boosts-skin-hair-and-body-health.
- “Can You Tell Me about the Acidity in Tomatoes?” Where Does the Digestion of Food Occur?, www.whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=dailytip&dbid=383.
- Sruthika. “Surprising Beauty Benefits of Tomatoes.” DIY REMEDIES, 2 June 2018, www.diyremedies.org/beauty-benefits-of-tomatoes/.