Water is nature’s best moisturiser. All good quality hair products that claim to be moisturising usually have water or aqua listed as the first substance on its ingredients list. Water softens hair and helps keep hair flexible and elastic which is essential for fighting breakage. Knowing the information above, many ladies find it surprising when they are told that water alone should not be used as a hair moisturiser. In this post I intend to explain why.
What is PH
The first thing I need to explain is what is known as PH. PH is short for Potenz Hydrogen. To avoid over complicating this post I will simply state that there is a scientifically established PH scale which ranges from 0 to 14. Many substances have been scientifically tested to establish what their PH is. Any substance that has a PH reading of 0 to 6.9 has a low PH and is classed as acidic. Any substance that has a PH reading from 7.1 to 14 has a high PH and is classed as alkaline. Please see the image below which shows the PH of some substances including water, hair and skin
From the image above, you can see that hair and skin has a PH of 4.5 to 5.5, this means that hair and skin can be classed as acidic. You can also see that water has a PH of 7 which means that it is more alkaline than our hair.
PH, Water and Hair Product
The best leave in conditioners and moisturisers for hair are those that have a PH that is the same as that of hair and skin, i.e. 4.5 -5.5. A leave-in product that has the same PH as hair helps make hair feel smooth and look healthy.
Water has a PH of 7 which is higher than that of hair and skin. So although water is a great moisturiser, water alone is NOT ideal for moisturising hair. It is not acidic enough.
Leave-in moisturising products from good hair care brands tend to be formulated to have a PH that matches our hair and this is why it tends to become smoother, shiny and lush when we moisturise our hair with them.
As a mini science experiment, I have some PH strips I bought a while back from Amazon. These strips change colour when you dip them into water based liquids. You can then compare the colour to that provided on the package of the PH strips. This will help you identify what the PH of the product is.
I took three strips and dipped one into water, one into a protein leave-in conditioner and one into a moisture leave in conditioner. The one dipped into water changed into colours that matched PH 7. The ones dipped into the leave-in conditioners changed into colours that matched PH 4 to 5.
These strips come in very handy for ladies who mix or make their own natural hair products. The homemade products can be tested using the strips to ensure that it has a PH of 4.5 to 5.5. Many ladies, especially those who have natural hair tend to mix water with aloe vera juice or aloe vera gel, glycerine and oils for use as hair mists or spritz. If you make these sorts of homemade products then you should get yourself some PH Strips.
I hope you have found this post helpful. My next post will be a bun of the month post.
Happy hair journey, come back soon.
X
Lade
Learn | Change | Grow
What were the names of the moisturizers you tested?
Author
Hello Gibbie
The protein leave-in I tested was Aphogee green tea and keratin and the moisture product is by a Nigerian Brand called Kui care. It is a cinnamon and tea tree leave in spray.
Hope that helps
X
Lade
Thanks a million times for this infor. I was talking to a friend who is on a hair jorney as i am about moisturizers few days ago, and she said she can’t waste money inside this changii era that water was the only moisturizer she has decided to start using. I felt it was not a good idea but didnt have proof against it.
Menwhile thanks for this platform. I saw you on Ebony Life TV on the show Moments and i fainted. Since then i began my hair jorney in March this year and Up! is the only way for me. My hair lenght is super amazing.
Author
Hello Shery B
I am glad I could be of service. I am happy that you are getting good results on your hair and I hope it only up from here.
I am happy you saw the Moments show and for your compliments.
Happy hair journey
X
Lade
Hey Lade, thank you for your inspiring posts. I am newly relaxed transitioning to texlax, i have really short hair(mid-neck),fine hair. I am looking at your buns dreaming of the day my hair can go in a bun.I have no idea what protective styles can be done to my hair.However, I am still looking. Keep inspiring ladies out there. I aim to start my hair journey and see where it takes me.
Wow, I have been looking for a post like this. You will be good at lecturing people. I love you
Author
Hmmmm you are giving me ideas about lecturing people 🙂
Thank you soooooo much
xxx
Lade
Hi Lade. Been following your blogs and Instagram since forever. Great work. I love your blog cuz its quite simple and easy to use. Please I have a question.
What is wrong with petroleum jelly in natural hiar. Am actually transitioning. its been 7months now and its on a very slow growth rate. I started your wig regimen so I could stop touching my hair. I deep condition weekly, mosturise and seal but my concern is the blue magic conditioning cream I added to my Shea butter. It contains petrolatum so I want to know if its contributing to my slow growth rate
Kindly advise. Thanks
Author
Hello Adedamola
Thank you sooooooooo much for the compliments about Hairducation. I am really happy that you find it easy to use.
Petrolatum isn’t the best thing for our hair because it is a synthethic product and isn’t absorbed by our hair the way natural products are. It can actually end up blocking out moisture and lead to dry hair in th long run. You are better of finding a natural oil that works foryour hair.
I hope that helps
All the best
Lade