We all dream of having perfectly hydrated and shiny hair. 

So we’re going to let you in on a little secret –the key to achieving this comes down to finding the perfect pH balance for your hair. 

What is pH Balance?

Have you ever ever heard your hairdresser throw around this term but wondered what it actually meant? While “pH balance” may sound like an intimidating scientific term, it is in reality a term that refers to the levels of acidity and alkalinity of both your scalp and your hair. 

Your pH balance essentially signifies the health of your hair, and it matters for three reasons. 

1. Scalp health:

Your hair health starts at the scalp. If you have a healthy pH balance then your scalp has the natural oils that allow it to both prevent dryness and also have an excess buildup of oil. 

2. Hair strength:

To have healthy hair, you also need strong hair. Your hair’s pH balance is what enables your hair cuticles to stay strong, smooth and also elastic. If your pH balance is off, then you can risk your hair becoming too brittle and subject to easy breakage. 

3. Vibrancy: 

Your hair pH balance also determines the vibrancy and color retention of your hair. If you’re able to optimize your hair’s pH balance, you can also help preserve the color and vibrancy of your hair as well. 

Your hair’s pH balance will range from 0 to 14, with the optimal pH balance goals being between a 4.5-and 5.5.  

And one of our favorite hair hacks is that you can optimize your hair’s pH balance simply based on the types of hair products you choose – with the very best selecting ingredients that support an optimal pH balance. 

Best Ingredients to Optimize Your pH Balance

If you are like us and love to spend your free time in the ocean, then you likely have discovered that salt water is actually a natural exfoliant for your hair. While good in small doses, the salt water can actually strip away your pH balance and leave your hair feeling a bit out of wack. 

That  is why we recommend choosing a protective hair serum that uses these natural ingredients: 

1. Baobab Oil

Baobab Oil can help influence your hair’s pH balance by offering a range of important benefits to your scalp health.  Baobab oil comes from a baobab tree that is also known as the “tree of life” because of the oval-shaped fruit whose seeds can be cold-pressed for baobab oil – which is full of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. 

Baobab oil not only uses its omega-3 and omega-6 to help hydrate and lock in moisture for your scalp but creates a healthy environment for a balanced pH by ensuring your scalp doesn’t become inflamed, dandruffy or itchy, all of which can aggravate your pH imbalance. 

2. MCT Oil 

We believe that the best protective hair serums are full of MCT Oil goodness because this ingredient is incredible for helping you optimize your hair’s pH balance. 

MCT Oil helps ensure that your hair and scalp remain moisturized without clogging your pores, helps regulate natural oil buildup, is full of antimicrobial properties that get rid of any hair health threats like dandruff and keeps your hair cuticles happy and strong. 

Plus, MCT Oil is full of nutrients that also help your hair grow long and luscious with minimal risk to breakage! 

3. Avocado Oil

The third ingredient you’ll want to look for in your hair serum is avocado oil. Especially when mixed in with other ingredients like MCT oil and baobab oil, avocado oil can help seal the deal on optimizing your hair’s pH balance levels. 

This is because avocado oil is jam-packed with nutrients like vitamin A, D, E and B6 – as well as a ton of antioxidants. This is important because it helps protect your hair and scalp from oxidative stress, UV damage and any other external risks that can cause a threat to your hair’s dryness and irritation. 

4.Coconut Oil

Finally, coconut oil is another key ingredient that you’ll want your hair serum to have. As you may have guessed from our name, we are a bit obsessed with coconuts – and for good reason!

Coconut oil is absolutely incredible when it comes to helping you optimize your hair’s pH balance. 

Coconut oil contains a fatty acid known as lauric acid, which helps your hair naturally achieve a strong pH balance. If your hair often gets too much of an oily build-up, coconut oil can help balance that out while equally strengthening your hair shaft with the vitamin E and antioxidants it contains. 

Choosing the Best Hair Serum to Optimize your pH Balance

Our best advice when choosing a hair serum that will help optimize your pH balance is to select a brand that contains natural ingredients that are known to help nourish, hydrate and protect your pH balance. 

And if you plan on spending a lot of time in the ocean, choosing a hair serum that is made with both your hair and the ocean’s protection in mind! That way you can live wild and, stay natural and have the hair of your dreams!