The pH Scale

Introduction to pH

• pH stands for "potential hydrogen."
• Represents the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.
• Critical in beauty and wellness, particularly for hair, skin, and nails.

The image of a pH scale with markings from 0 to 14, highlighting the neutral point at 7 and the acidic and alkaline ranges.

Understanding Water and pH

• Ions and Ionization:
  • Ions are charged atoms or molecules.
  • Ionization separates a molecule into positive (cations) and negative ions (anions).
• Water (H2O) naturally ionizes into hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
• The balance of H⁺ and OH⁻ ions in water determines pH.
• Pure water is neutral with an equal number of H⁺ and OH⁻ ions (pH 7).

The image of a water molecule demonstrating ionization, showing arrows pointing to a hydrogen ion (H⁺) and hydroxide ion (OH⁻).

The pH Scale Explained

• The pH scale ranges from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly alkaline); 7 is neutral.
• A logarithmic scale—each whole number change represents a tenfold difference.
• Example:
  • pH 8 is 10 times more alkaline than pH 7; pH 9 is 100 times more alkaline.
• Pure water (pH 7) is 100 times more alkaline than the average pH of hair and skin (around 5).

The image of a logarithmic scale chart depicting the pH values from 0 to 14, indicating the acidity and alkalinity with color coding (red for acidic, blue for alkaline).

pH and Skincare Products

• The skin has an average pH of around 5.
• Using products with inappropriate pH can lead to skin issues:
  • Too acidic for dry skin may cause irritation.
  • Alkaline products for oily skin can cause oil buildup and acne.
• Important to choose products tailored to specific skin types.

The image of a skincare product with a label showing “pH 5” and another labeled “pH 7,” with arrows pointing to skin types (oily and dry) to illustrate the importance of matching pH levels.