A lot of shampoo brands now talk about being pH balanced. Find out what’s behind it and if there’s a benefit to a pH-balanced shampoo.
pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. It’s a scale from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic) with neutral in the middle at pH7.
Water sits it the middle of the scale at pH7.
A heavily basic (alkaline) substance like baking soda or heavily acidic one like vinegar – both of which some people mistake as a natural remedy for dandruff – could further aggravate an unhealthy scalp.
That’s why a lot of people now talk about shampoos being ‘pH balanced’.
So, what is a pH balanced shampoo?
When a shampoo is labelled as pH balanced, it means the manufacturer identified a target pH for their product, where it performs best.
As the shampoo is made, they measure the pH to make sure it hits the target, and if it is out of range, add more of an acidic or basic ingredient until it’s just right.
As the name implies, pH balanced shampoos are neither extremely acidic nor basic.
Almost all quality shampoos are pH balanced.
That includes the entire range of Head & Shoulders shampoos. Plus, they’re proven to be gentle on your hair so you can use them every day.
Will pH balance keep your hair and scalp healthy?
“pH balanced” on its own is not a guarantee that the shampoo will deliver healthy hair and scalp benefits - there are many more important factors involved.
To get and maintain a healthy scalp, first you need to address any underlying issues.
Like dandruff, dryness and itching – all things that have been proven to damage your scalp and harm your hair.
It’s why our shampoos are all about healthy hair and scalp. Yes, they’re pH balanced, but more importantly they’re clinically proven to improve scalp and hair health.
We even have one designed just for people with a sensitive scalp – Classic Clean Shampoo – it’s free from dyes, and fragrances. It’s clinically proven to be gentle, even for sensitive scalps.
The right shampoo for a healthy scalp
By tackling the root cause of dandruff, we go straight to the problem. And our shampoos have repeatedly been shown to be more effective than other 1% pyrithione zinc (ZPT) shampoos1.
Our unique formula combines the active ingredient ZPT with zinc carbonate. The shampoo fights flakes better1 while moisturizing your scalp, and protecting you from irritants that can trigger dandruff.
So, if you want a pH-balanced shampoo with zinc pyrithione that’s been clinically proven in over 200 studies, stick with Head & Shoulders - the shampoo that’s recommended most by Dermatologists.
Explore our range of dandruff shampoos
1 vs. leading store brand with 1% pyrithione zinc
2 P&G Calculation based on Nielsen sales information July 2012- June 2013.