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What Are the Effects of Hard Water on Hair?
Hard water refers to water that has a high level of minerals in it, particularly magnesium and calcium. Different areas of the world have different levels of hard or soft water, each of which can have impacts on the skin and hair. In general, soft water is preferred to hard water, as the effects of hard water on hair and skin can be negative. Hard water can really dry out the hair and make it more difficult to fully rinse out the shampoo and conditioner after every shower. This can cause buildup in the hair, making it look dull, and making the scalp dry and itchy.
The immediate effect of hard water on hair is that it will simply make it more difficult to manage. Many people with hard water find that their hair becomes tangled very easily, and is difficult to comb or brush out. These tangles and knots make it more difficult to wash the hair as well, and small amounts of soap and shampoo will likely remain in the hair. This causes grease and film to build up on the hair and on the scalp, causing the hair appear very dull and lifeless. As this buildup continues to increase, it just exacerbates the overall problem.
Another effect of hard water on hair to consider is that this type of water is very harsh on the hair. People who color their hair, perm it, or otherwise treat it may find that these treatments wash out very quickly. This can then lead to more frequent hair treatments, further drying and damaging the hair. Some people find that the effects of hard water makes their hair to become thinner in appearance or more prone to breakage. If not, hard water combined with frequent hair treatments typically leads to dandruff and an itchy scalp.
There are a few ways to mitigate the impacts of hard water on hair. Some people add water softeners to their home water systems in order to reduce the minerals in the tap water throughout the whole home. Some find that using clarifying shampoo once or twice a week helps to remove buildup, though for people with an especially dry scalp, this might not be a good idea. It generally takes some trial and error using different types of shampoos and conditioners to find the combination that works best with hard water; there are some shampoo products available that are specifically designed for use in hard water.
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![When washing hair in hard water, use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week.]()
By: esp2kWhen washing hair in hard water, use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. -
![Some shampoo products are available that are specifically designed for use in hard water.]()
By: Africa StudioSome shampoo products are available that are specifically designed for use in hard water. -
![Hard water combined with frequent hair treatments can lead to dandruff and an itchy scalp.]()
By: Lars ZahnerHard water combined with frequent hair treatments can lead to dandruff and an itchy scalp. -
![Hard water may make hair thinner in appearance.]()
By: diego cervoHard water may make hair thinner in appearance. -
![It is often more difficult to get shampoo to lather in hard water.]()
By: Roman GorielovIt is often more difficult to get shampoo to lather in hard water.
Discussion Comments
Trueblissbaby has a great clarifying shampoo that is all natural. It smells great. and helps keep head lice away. (bonus for me )
I use clarifying shampoo two times a week, and it works for me. I know that I live in an area with hard water, so I just have to deal with it.
I have a naturally oily scalp, so I can use the shampoo often without worrying about getting dandruff. In fact, I can't go even a day without washing my hair, or it will look extremely oily.
I like clarifying shampoo because it feels like it penetrates deeply and gets all the gunk off my hair. It's literally squeaky clean when I'm done.
@seag47 – Yes, you can get a water filter to make your water softer. My cousin has one in his shower that has a cartridge he can change out when necessary to keep it working at its best.
Before he put the filter in, you couldn't even get bar soap to lather. It has helped so much, and you feel so much cleaner after showering there now.
I've heard that sodium lauryl sulfate was added to some shampoos to make them lather in hard water. I don't like using shampoos that contain this ingredient, because it can really dry out my hair, but if I'm staying somewhere that has hard water, I have to use it.
I've tried using my shampoo that is sulfate-free in hard water, and it just won't work. It just won't make suds.
I'm glad that I only have to use sulfate shampoo when I'm traveling, because it makes me lose more hair than I normally lose in the shower. If I lived in an area with hard water, I'd probably be bald by now!
So that's why I could never keep a perm in my hair for very long! I figured that my hair was just being stubborn when the curls relaxed over time, but I have hard water, so it was probably the problem.
Are there filters you can add to your shower to strain out the minerals? I really need to do something. I don't have control over the water supply, because I live in an apartment complex.
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