HOW TO USE CITRIC ACID FOR YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE

 

Hair conditioner

Citric acid is an excellent conditioner substitute!

You just need to dissolve 20 or 30ml of the above citric acid solution (20% concentrate) in 1 litre of water and use it as the last rinse for your hair. This process closes the hair follicles making your hair soft and shiny.

 

Face toner

Dilute 50ml of the above solution in 50ml of water, and apply as usual.

This toner is very good especially if you normally wash your skin with face soap (pH 9-10) as it balances the natural skin pH (5.7)

 

Deodorant

Dilute 25ml of the above solution in 75ml of water, then pour in a normal deo-spray container.

This solution is effective because it lowers the skin pH and prevents the growth of bacteria that causes bad odour. You can adapt this solution to your personal needs.

  

 The pH:  what is acid and what is alkaline?

The pH is a logarithmic scale that measures how acidic or basic a substance is. Acidic and basic are two extremes that describe a chemical property.  Mixing acids and bases can cancel out or neutralize their extreme effects. A substance that is neither acidic nor basic is neutral. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH less than 7 is acidic. A pH greater than 7 is basic. Pure water is neutral. But when chemicals are mixed with water, the mixture can become either acidic or basic. Examples of acidic substances are vinegar and lemon juice. Lye and ammonia are examples of basic substances.

Measuring pH can be done simply and quickly using pH test paper, pH indicator sticks, or a pH meter. pH test paper and indicator sticks are pieces of paper or stiffer sticks that contain pH indicators (chemicals that change colour depending on how acidic or basic a solution is). To measure pH, a piece of pH test paper or an indicator stick is dipped into the liquid. The colour of the dipped paper/stick is then matched to a colour key that comes with the container of pH test paper or indicator sticks. Each colour on the key represents a different pH.  pH meters are electronic devices used to measure pH. They consist of a probe that is dipped in a solution and a digital readout. pH meters are even more precise than pH test paper or indicator sticks.

Natural, cold process soap is made using a mix of oils and sodium hydroxide, a very alkaline ingredient. If your hair feels dull and heavy, even when newly washed, it might be suffering from product buildup, particularly if you wash your hair with natural soap. An acid rinse can then help you get rid of the soap residues. The purpose of this rinse is to smooth the hair shaft back down after your alkaline (basic) shampoo bar raises the scales. If you don't smooth them back down with an acid rinse, you'll notice that your hair feels quite coarse and tangles really easily. In fact,  the acid rinse makes your hair feel cleaner, softer and shinier, and usually, there is no need for a regular conditioner afterwards. Other types of buildup, like anionic surfactants and oils from the scalp, can also be rinsed away with acidity. 

For the skin, pH scales tend to be a bit more broad, with acidity ranging between 4 and 7. A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic ScienceTrusted Source reported that the ideal pH level is just below 5. Newborns have relatively high pH levels all over the skin. As babies get older, their pH levels rapidly decline. The average adult skin pH is 5.7. Skin pH varies depending on the area of your body. Lesser exposed areas, such as the buttocks, and genital area, tend to maintain their natural acidity. This is unlike your face, chest, and hands, which tend to be more alkaline. Such differences are because the latter areas of skin are more exposed to the elements. The more alkaline is your facial cleanser, the more skin irritation you’re likely to see. A skin toner can help neutralize any remaining alkalinity that’s adversely affecting your skin’s optimal pH levels.

 

Credits to Mammachimica, Nyponros & Humblebee&Me.

 

HAPPY DIY 

LOVE _ JO