The $20 pH-Balancing Shampoo a Dermatologist Loves for Keeping Her Graying Hair Healthy and Shiny

Shirley Chi, MD—a 46-year-old dermatologist who is starting to gray—wants to keep her hair as healthy as possible while also makings sure it looks its best. One of the ways she does that is by using a color-safe, pH-balancing shampoo that gently cleanses her hair while leaving it strong and sleek.

“In particular, I like the Zerran Botanum shampoo because it’s formulated for chemically treated hair and it has the right pH of 3.5 to 4.5 to keep your hair follicles healthy and shiny,” says Dr. Chi.

The shampoo’s pH is acidic, which is a good thing for your strands. When your hair’s pH is basic (aka greater than 7),, it can increase its negative electrical charge, which in turn can increase the friction between fibers. According toWhitney Bowe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, this increased friction “can actually lead to cuticle damage and fiber breakage, which translates into dull, damaged hair. Optimizing the pH of our hair-care products can, therefore, also benefit the overall health of our hair.”

Zerran Botanum Shampoo — $20.00

The Zerran Botanum Shampoo ($20) is a creamy shampoo that’s designed to cleanse your hair while cleansing your scalp. The pH aligns hair cuticles that have been distorted by chemicals to renew strands from the inside out. It’s good for all hair types and is gentle enough to use daily if desired.

The stars of the formula are soy and corn proteins. These ingredients improve hair flexibility and prevent breakage, condition the hair for a smoother finish, and increase manageability by decreasing tangles. Overall, it’s a great shampoo. And for $20, you really can’t go wrong.

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