L
LaNecia
Guest
All these threads about Porosity Control and hair porosity got me to looking around the net...here's some info I hope is useful to some, it definitely helped me!!
First things first: porous hair = quickly drying hair. This one took me a while to understand but I got it now!!
I had to go check some information before I posted cause I had some questions...now I'm set.
On Jazma's website there is a question posted re: Scalp irritation. In the answer, the subject of neutralizing is brought up...here's what Asha Wrote: With traditional hydroxide based relaxers "neutralization" is brought about by a change of pH in the chemical not through an oxidative re-bonding process as with a thio perm. So when you use a neutralizing shampoo to "neutralize" the relaxer you are not truly "neutralizing" the sodium hydroxide (or any other hydroxide). What you are really doing is using the shampoo, typically a low pH formulated shampoo to help the process along, along with the water to severely dilute - therefore reducing the pH - and remove the relaxer from your hair.
If any small trace amounts of relaxer are left trapped in your hair follicle that are missed in the shampooing process or have just penetrated too deep to have been properly removed, residual chemical action from these trace amounts will now take place. As I just mentioned hydroxides are "neutralized" from a change in pH. So to stop working these trace amounts will continue to break down organic material (i.e.: your root follicle and attending area) until mixed with enough of this dissolved material for a change in pH to occur to it, hence stopping the trace amounts chemical action.
When done repeatedly the risk is run this cellular damage may cause the follicle to produce an inferior hair shaft or may reach a point where it can't produce a viable shaft at all. This in almost all cases takes place over an extended period of time, sometimes many years, what you may end up with is a thinning of the hair for no apparent reason. This process by being very gradual and may be thought as just a part of the aging process by mature women - this may very well be the case in the majority of instances - but for some it was a constant assault on their scalp and follicles by improper relaxing techniques that brought this result about.
Let's examine ph levels...
Water = pH 7.0
Motions Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 4.4 to 5.5
Vitale Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 6.2
Porosity Control = pH 4.5
QP Elasta Stop Action Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 5.5
Affirm Positive Link Conditioner (for use immediately after relaxer): pH of 4.5 - 5.5
Nexxus Emergencee = Acidifies hair, pH 2.5
Nexxus Ensure = Acidifies hair, pH 3.0
And finally, taken from Verticals in Hair
pH, what does it mean to you?
pH refers to whether a product is alkaline or acidic and is as important to a hairstylist as Rx is to a doctor or pharmacist. The scale ranges from 0.0 having the highest concentration of acid, to 14.0 having the least. Pure water is at the middle of the pH scale and has equal parts of acidity and alkalinity. So it is neutral. The hair itself has no pH since it is solid, but the protective mantle of the hair has a pH that ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 on the scale.
Anything that you apply to the hair that is below 4.5 will act as an acid; it will harden, constrict and shrink the hair. Anything that you apply to the hair above 5.5 will act as an alkali; soften, swell and expand the hair and change the interior. Therefore, always ensure that the protective pH 4.5 to 5.5 has been returned.
The measurement of pH is very important because the largest external organs on the human body, the skin, hair and nails are mildly acidic. Human hair is at its greatest strength, lustre and flexibility when the average acid mantle is between pH 4.5 to 5.5. Likewise, our skin is softer and more resilient when it falls within a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.
Scientifically formulated shampoos, conditioners and treatments, can give hair the beautiful shine, body and resilience of healthy hair, and dramatically improve its outer appearance. Look for hair care products that are acid balanced. Redken hair care products are formulated with a mildly acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.5 to be compatible with the acid mantle of hair and skin. Your knowledge of pH will enable you to select products that will leave your hair and skin in as natural and healthy environment as possible.
The term alkaline refers to the ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide (lye) present in a product. Its purpose is to raise the pH of a product so the chemical reaction will process rapidly. Because of its alkalinity it tends to strip the hair and scalp from its natural oils, this could be drying or even irritating to your hair and skin. Alkali is found in soaps, most shampoos, and in general household cleaners.
It is important to remember that pH is logarithmic; each number multiplies itself by ten (x10). Example: pH 8 is ten (10x) times more alkali than pH 7. pH 14 is ten million (x10,000,000) times more alkali than pH 7. On the acidic side of the scale, pH 6 is ten (x10) times more acidic than pH 7.
Hope that helps someone and isn't redundant info!
LaNecia
First things first: porous hair = quickly drying hair. This one took me a while to understand but I got it now!!
I had to go check some information before I posted cause I had some questions...now I'm set.
On Jazma's website there is a question posted re: Scalp irritation. In the answer, the subject of neutralizing is brought up...here's what Asha Wrote: With traditional hydroxide based relaxers "neutralization" is brought about by a change of pH in the chemical not through an oxidative re-bonding process as with a thio perm. So when you use a neutralizing shampoo to "neutralize" the relaxer you are not truly "neutralizing" the sodium hydroxide (or any other hydroxide). What you are really doing is using the shampoo, typically a low pH formulated shampoo to help the process along, along with the water to severely dilute - therefore reducing the pH - and remove the relaxer from your hair.
If any small trace amounts of relaxer are left trapped in your hair follicle that are missed in the shampooing process or have just penetrated too deep to have been properly removed, residual chemical action from these trace amounts will now take place. As I just mentioned hydroxides are "neutralized" from a change in pH. So to stop working these trace amounts will continue to break down organic material (i.e.: your root follicle and attending area) until mixed with enough of this dissolved material for a change in pH to occur to it, hence stopping the trace amounts chemical action.
When done repeatedly the risk is run this cellular damage may cause the follicle to produce an inferior hair shaft or may reach a point where it can't produce a viable shaft at all. This in almost all cases takes place over an extended period of time, sometimes many years, what you may end up with is a thinning of the hair for no apparent reason. This process by being very gradual and may be thought as just a part of the aging process by mature women - this may very well be the case in the majority of instances - but for some it was a constant assault on their scalp and follicles by improper relaxing techniques that brought this result about.
Let's examine ph levels...
Water = pH 7.0
Motions Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 4.4 to 5.5
Vitale Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 6.2
Porosity Control = pH 4.5
QP Elasta Stop Action Neutralizing Shampoo = pH 5.5
Affirm Positive Link Conditioner (for use immediately after relaxer): pH of 4.5 - 5.5
Nexxus Emergencee = Acidifies hair, pH 2.5
Nexxus Ensure = Acidifies hair, pH 3.0
And finally, taken from Verticals in Hair
pH, what does it mean to you?
pH refers to whether a product is alkaline or acidic and is as important to a hairstylist as Rx is to a doctor or pharmacist. The scale ranges from 0.0 having the highest concentration of acid, to 14.0 having the least. Pure water is at the middle of the pH scale and has equal parts of acidity and alkalinity. So it is neutral. The hair itself has no pH since it is solid, but the protective mantle of the hair has a pH that ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 on the scale.
Anything that you apply to the hair that is below 4.5 will act as an acid; it will harden, constrict and shrink the hair. Anything that you apply to the hair above 5.5 will act as an alkali; soften, swell and expand the hair and change the interior. Therefore, always ensure that the protective pH 4.5 to 5.5 has been returned.
The measurement of pH is very important because the largest external organs on the human body, the skin, hair and nails are mildly acidic. Human hair is at its greatest strength, lustre and flexibility when the average acid mantle is between pH 4.5 to 5.5. Likewise, our skin is softer and more resilient when it falls within a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.
Scientifically formulated shampoos, conditioners and treatments, can give hair the beautiful shine, body and resilience of healthy hair, and dramatically improve its outer appearance. Look for hair care products that are acid balanced. Redken hair care products are formulated with a mildly acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.5 to be compatible with the acid mantle of hair and skin. Your knowledge of pH will enable you to select products that will leave your hair and skin in as natural and healthy environment as possible.
The term alkaline refers to the ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide (lye) present in a product. Its purpose is to raise the pH of a product so the chemical reaction will process rapidly. Because of its alkalinity it tends to strip the hair and scalp from its natural oils, this could be drying or even irritating to your hair and skin. Alkali is found in soaps, most shampoos, and in general household cleaners.
It is important to remember that pH is logarithmic; each number multiplies itself by ten (x10). Example: pH 8 is ten (10x) times more alkali than pH 7. pH 14 is ten million (x10,000,000) times more alkali than pH 7. On the acidic side of the scale, pH 6 is ten (x10) times more acidic than pH 7.
Hope that helps someone and isn't redundant info!
LaNecia
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