Final answer:
A pH-balanced shampoo is able to return the hair to a 4.5 to 5.5 on the pH scale. This helps to maintain the natural pH of the scalp and hair.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pH-balanced shampoo is able to return the hair to a 4.5 to 5.5 on the pH scale. This means that the shampoo is slightly acidic, which helps to close the cuticles of the hair and maintain the natural pH of the scalp and hair. Shampoos with a higher alkalinity are used for specific purposes, such as removing chlorine and minerals, but they are not considered pH-balanced. Additionally, a pH-balanced shampoo may contain ingredients to treat scalp and hair problems or disorders, but this is not the main characteristic that identifies it as pH-balanced.