Have you ever noticed an overwhelming dullness or dryness when looking at
your hair? You shampoo and condition as normal, perhaps even clarify, but the lack of life never completely goes
away. If you live in an area where hard water is rampant, your hair may not be to blame. You can put an end to
the frustrating effects hard water is placing on
the overall manageability of your locks. But first, let’s take
a look at what exactly hard water is, and how it puts a strain on your glorious tresses.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is comprised of a variety of minerals and compounds, including
metallic elements from time to time. Households suffering from hard water may find themselves dealing with
calcified appliances, as well as white build up within coffee makers, water kettles, and more. Did you realize
that, with enough time, hard water causes your clothes and linens to fade and stiffen after washing and drying?
Furthermore, the ability to wash your dishes, clothing, and skin is hindered considerably, which is often noted
by the inability of soap to create suds. Soft water, on the other hand, is comprised of rainwater, filtered
water, and more.
Can Hard Water Harm Your Hair?
The overall mineral content of your tap water have direct consequences on
your hair and skin. Most commonly, these signs involve a change in the look and feel of both, as well as the
volume of your hair or
elasticity of your skin. If you have found yourself suffering from these symptoms, it may
not be your fault, but the fault of your water.
Dry, Brittle Hair
Managing dry and fragile hair can become an incredibly frustrating
experience. Once your locks becomes dry they also become weak and brittle, prone to breakage. Dry hair is
incapable of protecting itself through natural oils, which leads to a brittle nature, frizz, and difficulty
maintaining or styling.
The minerals found in hard water sources are responsible for drying out your
hair, which renders the use of shampoo, conditioner, and other moisturizing treatments almost completely
ineffective. Your hair follicles are coated by said minerals, which prevents treatments from penetrating through
to the follicle itself. In turn, this results in dry hair, even with the use of clarifying hair products.
Dull, Lifeless Hair
Who doesn’t seek vibrant, lustrous hair? For many people, unfortunately, the
hard water flowing through their faucets and shower head is the main cause of hair that’s brittle and dull in
nature. This causes people to invest in more expensive treatment options and products, which are basically
useless thanks to their hard water.
And once the minerals in hard water begin to build up on your hair follicle,
it makes the entire experience that much harder. You may notice your hair sporting a dull sheen due to the
buildup of various minerals and metals. The minerals will continue to coat your follicles, until your hair is
completely matte in appearance.
Less Body
Buildup does more than just affect the appearance and strength of each
individual follicle, it also adds weight over time. This results in limp hair, with far less volume, which many
people attempt to counteract with volumizers. The downside to these products is that, due to the mineral
buildup, they are almost completely, if not completely, ineffective thanks to hard water.
Reduction of Hair Color
Hard water leads to faded and dull hair color in the case of natural and
dyed hair alike – it doesn’t discriminate. For those who do sport dyed or bleached hair, however, it is common
for color to fade quickly when washed in hard water.
Signs of Hard Water on Hair
What are the common signs your hair may produce when washed in hard water?
- Shampoo can’t lather due to the presence of minerals in hard water counteracting the fatty acids of soap. Calcium especially clings to various cleaning agents, resulting in a sticky solid that is nearly impossible to remove through rinsing. If you struggle with soap scum build-up on your shower walls, hard water may be to blame. Plus, if it’s on your shower walls, you can bet it’s on your hair, too.
- Hair is frizzy, dry, and brittle. Hard water actually dries out your hair and skin by preventing moisture from reaching and penetrating each strand. Dry hair also leads to tangles and frizz, as well as thinning over time. If you or your family are suffering from these symptoms, it’s always best to check in on your water quality, before assuming the worst. In many cases, the health of your hair and scalp can improve through the use of improved water.
- Hairs begins breaking off at the root. Again, calcium deposit build-up is the culprit, this time on the scalp. Unfortunately, this may be mistaken as a sign of hormonal hair loss, when it’s due to hard water. The problem here may not even originate with the hair root, but rather general brittleness of the shaft due to an overabundance of mineral build-up. If your hair is weak, regardless of how healthy your follicles are functioning, it might be time to look at your water source.
How Can You Treat Hard Water?
Healthy, beautiful hair is the goal of most women and men around the world.
By exploring various solutions, you may successfully eliminate the harm hard water is placing on your tresses.
While many well-meaning online articles suggest the use of lemon juice and vinegar to strip the mineral build-up
off of your hair, it may be to no avail. The acid levels of these products may create new problems, or do the
opposite of your intended goal. If you are looking to avoid the consequences of hard water on your hair and
skin, it may be time to explore a whole house water filter, RO system, or shower head filter to remove the
abundance of minerals from the water.
