Final answer:
Low pH alkaline waves fall above 7.0 on the pH scale, indicating they are alkaline though closer to neutral; often used in hair treatments, these solutions typically have a pH around 7.8 to just below 9.0.
Step-by-step explanation:
Low pH alkaline waves are characterized by their position on the pH scale. The pH scale itself ranges from 0 to 14, with a pH below 7.0 considered acidic and a pH above 7.0 considered alkaline or basic. Because low pH alkaline waves do not have a specific value mentioned, it's important to note that any substance with a pH that is greater than 7.0 could be considered as having a low pH within the alkaline range. However, in the context of hair treatments, low pH alkaline waves generally refer to solutions with a pH close to neutral (7.0) but still in the alkaline range (typically around 7.8 to just below 9.0). The sea water, which has a pH near 8.0, illustrates an example of a weak basic solution that is only slightly alkaline.