According to Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, the big problem with drugstore shampoos is that many of them have the wrong pH. She explains, "Some research suggests that the pH of shampoos can make our hair more susceptible to breakage."
As a board certified dermatologist, Ilyas warns against using shampoos with the wrong pH: "Our hair needs an acidic pH to make it less susceptible to frizz and friction against other hair follicles that can result in breakage."
In other words, choosing a shampoo with the wrong pH could have a seriusly negative effect on the health and appearance of your hair.
This problem is especially prevalent in the shampoos available at your local drugstore. Ilyas says, "One study showed that 75% of salon shampoos had the right pH in comparison to only 38% or drugstore brands."
With those numbers in mind, you are more likely to pick a drugstore brand with the wrong pH than one with the right pH.
Because checking the pH of your shampoo can be a challenge, Ilyas recommends also checking your shampoo's ingredients for sodium laureth sulfate, which is the ingredient that makes your shampoo foam.
Surfactants like sodium laureth suflate can lead to a higher risk of breakage and possible hair loss because they strip the hair of its natural oils.