Re: ph in true soap shampoo

December 22, 2003

In a message dated 12/21/2003 11:00:53 PM Central Standard Time,

sunnyimhot@... writes:

> I am in the midst of formulating a true soap shampoo and as far as I

> can tell am having problems with ph. What I have learned is that

> the ph of hair is relatively low, and since soap is alkaline it does

> not jive with the low ph in hair (??).

Hi Sunny -

In a surfactant based shampoo, pH is critical and more regulated because of

the nature of those ingredients. Both soap and surfactant will clean ... but

soap is the gentler cleanser and by its nature is at a higher pH or it isn't

soap in the way you'd want to use it.

Search archives here, as we've had quite a discussion on this that was most

informative. Also, some oils do well in hair, others don't ... and that makes

a huge difference also.

-

December 22, 2003

In a message dated 12/22/2003 9:09:30 AM Central Standard Time,

AngiesHerbarie@... writes:

> Soap does have an alkaline nature, but soap is simply NOT as gentle as some

> of the very mild surfactants. Surfactants such as decyl glucoside, some of

> the sulfosuccinates, the isethionates all have less irritation potential than

> soap.

Thanks, Angie ... perhaps I should have clarified that the gentleness

" factor " of the soap-based cleansing (pros and cons of it included) is less

harmful

than some of the surfactants IF THOSE SURFACTANT-BASED PRODUCTS ARE AT THE SAME

pH AS SOAP ...

I do remember your sharing info on gentle surfactants before, but not having

surfactant experience, defer to your experience ... and now am curious. Using

the gentle ones you mentioned, how closely must the pH factor be watched?

-

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