Which type of shampoo can leave the hair dry, brittle, porous, and causes fading in color-treated hair?

• A. Low-pH Shampoo
• B. Neutral-pH Shampoo
• C. High-pH Shampoo
• D. Clarifying Shampoo

Answer: (C)

High-pH shampoos are alkaline, which makes the hair shaft’s cuticle lift and swell. When the cuticle is raised, the surface becomes rough and porous, so the hair loses moisture more easily and feels dry and brittle. Color-treated hair is especially affected because color molecules reside inside the hair; with the cuticle lifted, these molecules can escape more readily, causing quicker color fading. In contrast, low-pH or neutral-pH shampoos help keep the cuticle lying flat, locking in moisture and helping preserve color. Clarifying shampoos can be more drying due to their stronger cleansing action and can strip buildup (and sometimes color) if used too often, but the dryness, brittleness, and fading described are most directly tied to a high-pH formulation.