Probably the only time you have heard of pH has been in your Chemistry class in school so it must be quite a surprise when you read about the best pH-balanced shampoo. If you have found yourself spending on expensive shampoos or ones that claim that it contains no harsh chemicals, and still reaped no benefits, you’re in need of ph-balanced shampoos. It’s very important to use a shampoo with a low pH as your hair and scalp have a low acidic pH of around 4.5 to 5.5 if you want to avoid hair and scalp issues. If you use a shampoo with a high alkaline pH, it will emit negative electrical charges that cause friction between your tresses and leads to dryness, frizz, and hair breakage (1). 

Stating the effects of pH imbalance, our contributor Eliza Pineda, In-house hair expert at Mayraki Professional, says, “When the pH balance of the scalp is off, there are a multitude of problems that can arise. This includes dandruff, extreme oiliness, hair loss, inflammation, irritation, and skin diseases like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and more.” So, choosing a pH-balanced shampoo that can maintain the right pH of your scalp is crucial.

Many salon or professional shampoos now come with a low pH, but it’s rare to find a shampoo that passes the litmus test to classify as a pH-balanced shampoo. Always remember to choose a neutral one rather than alkaline or acidic ones. After conducting experiments with them, we have selected the 11 best pH-balanced shampoos for soft, silky, and healthy hair.

The pH level basically refers to how acidic or alkaline a product is. It is always tested on a scale of 1 to 14 and if it reads anywhere between 0 to 6.9 it is acidic and if it reads anywhere between 7.1 and 14 it indicates that it is alkaline. A pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. Speaking about your hair, its pH is around 3.7 and that of the scalp is 5.5. As our hair is acidic, it’s important that our shampoo is not alkaline and should be pH balanced between 4.5 and 5.5 for the perfect hair care routine (2).

A balanced pH level is extremely important for the health of your hair and scalp and stimulates hair growth. Our hair and scalp are acidic and if you use an alkaline shampoo that has a high pH it creates a negative electrical charge that causes friction between hair fibers causing brittle hair, hair damage and breakage.

Most shampoos are alkaline but the pH level of our hair is acidic as it's approximately 3.7 and that of our scalp is around 5.5. If you do not use a pH balanced shampoo it will create friction in your hair because of a negative electrical charge causing hair damage and breakage. It will also cause frizziness because the cuticles will swell up and open.Your scalp may also be prone to fungal and bacterial infections. On the other hand, an acidic shampoo will cause the cuticles to shrink and lie flat making the hair softer and smoother. That’s why it’s important to avoid alkaline shampoos and go for one with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5.

• 1
  Best Volumizing Shampoo

  Avalon Organics Therapy Thickening Shampoo

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Get healthy, glossy tresses with Avalon Organics Therapy Thickening Shampoo with natural biotin B-Complex. It’s perfect for fine, thinning hair as it volumizes the hair along with gently cleansing and nourishing it. Its plant-based formula is infused with essential oils and botanicals like biotin, quinoa protein, saw palmetto, and vitamin E that work together to strengthen hair fibers and make them thicker and softer. These ingredients also keep your scalp healthy to enhance hair growth. It is completely devoid of harsh chemicals like parabens and synthetic colors, fragrances, or phthalates. This cruelty-free and organic pH-balanced shampoo deeply conditions your hair follicle from the root to the tip to enhance hair volume.

2

Best for Dandruff Control

Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Daily Dandruff Shampoo - Pack of 2

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Move around confidently without embarrassing dandruff by using Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Daily Dandruff Shampoo. It promises you nourished hair and a healthy scalp as well as 72-hour protection from dandruff with every use. You can forget about pesky flaky scalps, dryness, and scalp irritation caused by dandruff.  This paraben-free shampoo is devoid of harsh chemicals and has a pleasant light fragrance. Its perfect formula gives you a rich lather and is gentle enough to be used daily even if your hair is treated with color. This pH-balanced shampoo combats seborrheic dermatitis and other itchy scalp conditions that are commonly associated with dandruff. This shampoo gives you a choice of several fragrances and formulas that include ingredients like tea tree oil and almond oil as well as peppermint and lemon extract.

3

Best Strengthening Shampoo

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo

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Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo boasts an extremely concentrated formula that repairs and strengthens all types of damaged hair. This luxurious and rich shampoo not only conditions your hair it also protects colored hair from fading. Infused with citric acid, its bonding care complex strengthens weakened hair bonds improving their quality and hair strength. This pH-balanced shampoo is specially created with an acidic pH to protect your hair against the side effects of coloring your hair and using heat styling tools as well as hard water.  Our analysis of this product revealed that regular users of this shampoo show 82 percent fewer split ends, 56 percent less hair breakage, and 11 times smoother hair.

4

Best for Moisturizing Hair

Tree to Tub Moisturizing Argan Oil Shampoo

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Forget about an itchy and irritated scalp with Tree to Tub Moisturizing Argan Oil Shampoo that soothes your scalp when it gets too dry. This unscented and moisturizing shampoo is incredibly hydrating and doesn’t leave an annoying residue after washing your hair.  Its neutralizing ingredients balance the pH and sensitivity of your scalp with its gentle care. Its hypoallergenic formula contains nourishing vegan botanical ingredients like chamomile, wild soapberry, and olives along with argan oil. Chamomile and aloe vera soothe the skin and argan and jojoba oil hydrate your dry scalp and hair. This deeply moisturizing pH balanced shampoo with its vital components is perfect for a sensitive scalp and makes frizzy, dry, flyaway and curly hair soft and smooth so that it always looks well groomed.

5

Best Color-Safe Shampoo

Neutrogena Gentle & Soft Shampoo with Micellar Water

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Cleanse your hair gently without stripping it of its natural oils and moisture with Neutrogena Gentle & Soft Shampoo with Micellar Water. It not only cleans your hair thoroughly, but it also softens it and is perfect for sensitive scalps. Enriched with micellar water, it removes sebum and dirt and leaves your hair and scalp clean while maintaining the scalp’s natural protective barrier. This lightweight pH-balanced shampoo provides gentle moisture to your hair and is suitable for all hair types including color-treated hair. Drawing from our experience, we are sure you will never have to worry about dry and frizzy hair or an itchy scalp again.

6

Best for Glossy Hair

L’Oréal Paris Ever Pure Glossing Shampoo

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L’Oréal Paris Ever Pure Glossing Shampoo gives your hair an intense shine that lasts and keeps it healthy looking. Your hair becomes soft and smooth and this pH-balanced shampoo is perfect for all hair types and hair textures including colored hair. With the constant chemical and heat treatment that our hair undergoes, it’s bound to change the hair's natural pH range. This shampoo features an acidic pH of 4 to 6 which leaves your hair shiny and healthy. It’s 100 percent free of sulfates and parabens as well as dyes and gluten and instead features a vegan formula with a UV filter and is enriched with argan oil. This premium quality shampoo has a pleasant scent with notes of sandalwood and rose and is highly recommended by professional hair colorists for a healthy head of hair.

7

Best Fragrance-free Formula

Acure Buildup Balancing Hemp & Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

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Enjoy the clarifying benefits of apple cider vinegar and hemp for your hair as it resets the pH balance of your hair with Acure Buildup Balancing Shampoo. Apple cider vinegar in it removes impurities gently and balances your hair while hemp seed oil nourishes it with moisture and enhances its shine. This mild pH-balanced shampoo boasts a fragrance-free formula that is perfect for sensitive scalps and hair exposed to chlorine and other harsh chemicals. Its vegan and cruelty-free formula is devoid of all harsh chemicals like parabens and sulphates as well as mineral oil and formaldehyde. An amalgam of other amazing ingredients like aloe vera, sunflower seed extract, and avocado oil that balances and moisturizes your hair and keeps it smooth and glossy at all times.

8

Best Natural and Organic Shampoo

Nature Sustained Organic Shampoo - Original

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Lovingly created with raw and wildcrafted ingredients including potent vegan probiotics, Nature Sustained Organic Shampoo is perfect for sensitive scalps and does wonders for those suffering from dry hair, eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff. It is enriched with soapberry and saponin that works like magic on your hair, nourishing it so that it looks healthy and lustrous. It’s like kombucha for your scalp — a powerhouse of vegan probiotics made from fermented wild harvested plants and fruits which takes care of itching, scalp erythema, Malassezia yeast, and greasiness. Made in a renewable energy-powered facility, this sustainably produced shampoo is completely devoid of harsh and toxic chemicals. This organic pH-balanced shampoo is also available in a lemongrass fragrance.

9

Best for Sensitive Scalps

Sebamed Everyday Shampoo

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The innovative sugar tenside moisturizing and pH balanced formula of Sebamed Everyday Shampoo protects both your scalp and hair from dryness and itchiness as it penetrates deep into the hair shaft. Crafted by dermatologists, this shampoo is packed with botanical extracts that protect the natural balance of your hair and scalp. Its concentrated formula just requires a button-sized drop to keep your hair healthy and shiny. Completely devoid of soap and alkalinity, it adds both shine and volume to your hair and keeps the hair structure intact. This mild pH-balanced shampoo retains the natural oils of your hair and has a soothing effect on the scalp.

10

Best Sulfate-free Foaming Shampoo

Phillip Adam Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

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Though a sulfate-free shampoo, Phillip Adam Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo has a rich lather thanks to the natural surfactants derived from coconut in its formula. These foaming and cleansing agents do a great job of removing all dirt, grime, and toxins that build up on the scalp and hair. Crafted with botanical extracts and plant-derived ingredients it is perfect for those with a sensitive scalp. Based on our firsthand experience, we observed that the apple cider vinegar in the formula of this pH-balanced shampoo adds luster to your hair, prevents frizzies, and is perfect for all hair types. Free of all harsh ingredients, it boasts a fresh green apple fragrance derived from natural apple and pear extract and lime essential oil.

11

Giovanni Eco Chic 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo

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Giovanni Eco Chic 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo gives dry hair its much-needed hydration with ingredients that infuse moisture and clarify, while also locking in color. It cleanses your hair and also gives it superior protection. Its gentle formula is packed with hydrating botanical extracts like aloe vera and sunflower seed oil. It's also enriched with the benefits of soybean seed, lavender as well as rosemary leaf extract to name a few. These make your hair more manageable and reduce frizz for a smooth effect. This pH-balanced shampoo leaves your hair clean and nourishes your hair with vitamins and amino acids that strengthen your hair.

Choosing a shampoo with the perfect pH level ensures that your hair and scalp do not get dry. You can say goodbye to frizzy, damaged hair and welcome healthy and shiny hair. But when choosing the best pH-balanced shampoo there are other features you should consider in order to get the most out of it.

Your hair type and texture along with the key  ingredients in the shampoo and what you should avoid, all need to be given due consideration.

Moisturizing Ingredients

The main issue with a shampoo that is not pH balanced is that it makes the hair dull and lifeless. To look soft and manageable, your hair should get all the hydration it needs, so look for pH-balanced shampoos that have moisturizing ingredients. Milk proteins and silk proteins as well as aloe vera and argan oil are all moisturizing. As are coconut milk, keratin, and jojoba oil. These ingredients not only hydrate your hair making it smooth and silky but also have a long-lasting effect.

Ingredients to Avoid

There are some ingredients commonly used in shampoos that can cause allergic reactions, irritation, and in some extreme cases even damage your scalp. Be careful to avoid these ingredients and try to go for a shampoo that is crafted with natural and skin-friendly ingredients. The things to avoid are harsh ingredients like parabens and phthalates as well as sulfates and alcohol. Synthetic fragrances are also a no-no. These ingredients strip your hair of its natural oils and cause dryness, itching, and irritation.

 

Hair Type

You need to choose a shampoo that is crafted for your specific hair type. Most shampoos come labeled with this information. 

• For oily hair, it’s best to avoid a shampoo with a high quantity of lipids or essential oils as it can make your hair heavy and greasy. Our contributor Eliza Penida shares, “The ideal pH level for a good shampoo is between 5.5 to 3.5. For oily hair, you can choose a clarifying shampoo with a pH of up to 5.5, to be used at most only once a week.”
• For dry hair, you should choose a pH-balanced hydrating shampoo.
• For thin and fine hair too, avoid a shampoo that has moisturizing ingredients or heavy oils as it makes your hair look limp and greasy.
• If you have weak hair that breaks easily, a strengthening shampoo with a deep conditioner works wonders in rejuvenating your hair.
• For hair treated with color go for a gentle shampoo that mentions that it is color-safe and devoid of chemicals.

Our hair is our crowning glory and it deserves nothing less than the best pH-balanced shampoo to keep it healthy. Sometimes we don’t even realize the damage we are doing to our hair because of the harsh chemicals in it and we need to keep in mind that the perfect pH shampoo must have a gentle formula and be completely chemical-free. It’s important to verify the ingredients thoroughly and ensure that it is safe for your hair. It’s important to consider whether it’s worth the money as an expensive shampoo doesn’t always mean it’s the best. Do remember that the weather, water and food you are exposed to have a large role in deciding which shampoo best suits your hair. If these factors change, you may need to rethink your shampoo as it may no longer work as well.

According to Abbey Yung, Trichologist in Training Hair, Skin & All Things Beauty, “ If you take a look at what happens to our hair when it's exposed to pH levels above 5.5, our hair porosity actually increases and that is not something that's desirable. Another thing that can happen is that there can actually be increased friction between hair fibres and that can actually cause increased breakage ….. Aside from those things there’s also just visual downsides to using products in these pH ranges. Our hair can just look really dry and dull and not have luster or shine and just really not look its healthiest or its best”. So if you take pride in your tresses and want to do the best for them, do go through our curated list of the 11 best ph-balanced shampoos and you just can’t go wrong.

Contributor: Abbey Yung - Why You Need pH Balanced Shampoo

Eliza Pineda, In-house hair expert at Mayraki Professional