7 Best Ways to Protect Your Hair from Hard Water

How is your hair affected by hard water? How can hard water damage your hair? People all over the world struggle with hair loss.

In an effort to stop hair loss, we frequently switch shampoos or buy hair care products. However, we frequently overlook the quality of the water we use to rinse our hair.

Magnesium, calcium, and iron are present in excess in hard water, which weakens hair and significantly increases hair loss. However, the effects of hard water on hair can be rectified.

Read on to find out how hard water may affect your hair and what you can do to maintain its health.

Also read our web story on Protect Your Hair From Hard Water.

Table of Contents

What is Hard Water and Its Effects on Hair?

Minerals are present in any type of water. However, there are too many of them in hard water. According to researchers, soft water only has 10 ppm of CaCO3 but hard water has 212.5 ppm.

Moreover, hard water makes it difficult for soap or shampoo to lather. Soap combines with the bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates of calcium and magnesium to form salt precipitates.

These can lead to the below hair problems:

Dull Hair: Your hair may appear dull due to these mineral deposits. They reduce hair shine by being trapped in the hair shaft.

Rough and Frizzy Hair: Mineral deposits may cause your hair to become rough and frizzy hair.

Greasy Hair: The excessive mineral deposits that stick to your hair strands will make your hair feel greasy and unclean.

Split Ends: The mineral deposit on the scalp and the hair shaft can also cause split ends.

Clogged Pores: Clogged pores are caused by the minerals that are deposited on the scalp. The natural sebum may also be blocked by them. Your hair begins to appear dry and lifeless as a result. Additionally, dandruff, scalp sensitivity, and scalp infections are caused by mineral deposits on the scalp.

Does Hard Water Cause Hair Fall?

Hard water contains too much calcium and magnesium which combines with your hair products to produce salt.

Your scalp and hair are left with a salty residue that stops your scalp from absorbing the moisturizer from the conditioner.

Your hair becomes dry and matted as a result, which causes breakage. Uncontrolled hair breakage might result in thinning hair. The following are some ways that hard water might damage your hair:

Calcium deposits stop the scalp from absorbing moisture.

Your scalp develops mineral crystals that cause brittle hair.

Hard water minerals make soap and shampoo ineffective.

Excessive mineral buildup obstructs your scalp’s pores.

Causes frizzy hair

Hair lacks volume and is always flat and frizzy.

Mineral deposit promotes the development of germs, infections, and yeast.

causes dandruff by making the scalp dry

Best Ways to Protect Your Hair from Hard Water

If you’re trying to restore life to damaged hair, the below techniques should work well.

1. Install a Water Softening System

The calcium and magnesium ions in hard water are replaced out for sodium ions by a water softening system. Install a water softener so you can wash your hair with tap water straight from the tap.

2. Use a Shower Filter

A shower filter enhances the quality of the water by removing the extra minerals in the water. Moreover, it reduces water hardness.

It is a reasonably priced device that can be cleaned by detaching it from the shower head. Every six months, change the filter.

3. Use A Chelating Shampoo

Chelating shampoos help in getting rid of any dirt, mineral buildup, and product buildup.

If you reside in an area with hard water, It is usually a good idea to use a chelating shampoo rather than a regular one to remove mineral buildup.

Additionally, chelating shampoos keep your hair and scalp clean, light, and breathable.

4. Apply a Hair Mask

To maintain your hair healthy, apply a deep conditioning hair mask once a week. Avocado can be used as a hair mask, as can a mixture of coconut and rosehip oils.

Apply the mask on the hair follicles and scalp. After 45 minutes, remove the mask with a chelating shampoo (or use a shower filter if you want to use a mild shampoo).

5. Lemon Rinse

Lemon’s acidic nature helps in clearing buildup from your hair. Add 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.

Apply this rinse after shampooing your hair. Massage your scalp and wait for a few minutes.

Your hair will shine more after using a lemon rinse, and its antiseptic properties will also reduce dandruff caused by hard water.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Rinsing with apple cider vinegar also helps in lowering mineral buildup. Your hair will become healthy, soft, and shiny due to apple cider vinegar wash helps in balancing the hair sebum secretion.

You can combine one mug of water and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Use it to rinse your hair to get rid of the mineral buildup.

Make sure to rinse off the solution with warm water rather than cold.

7. Use Purified Bottled Water

You can also use bottled water that has been purified to avoid damage to your hair. Many people purchase bottled water for the purpose of cleaning their hair and protecting it from damage.

However, drinking bottled water not only costs a lot of money but also harms the environment. A better and more practical alternative to purchasing expensive bottled water is to use a water softener.

Conclusion

Minerals and oxidizers in hard water weaken your hair and cause hair loss.

Having excess minerals in hard water can make your hair rough, dry, and more prone to shedding and thinning. You may protect your hair from hard water by following the methods mentioned above.

However, hard water hair loss is temporary. By changing the water you use to wash your hair or lessening the water’s mineral content, you can stop this from happening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hard Water Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

Only temporary hair loss is caused by hard water (also known as hair shedding). You can reduce the amount of hair that sheds by just changing the water you use to wash your hair.

If that isn’t possible, there are still alternative methods you can do to reduce hair loss and hard water’s mineral content.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Remove Hard Water From Hair?

It rejuvenates your scalp and makes your hair silky and shiny by removing hard water buildup from your hair.

Does Hard Water Make Your Hair Curly?

Your hair becomes messy from hard water. No matter how frequently you wash it, your hair will still feel greasy. The hair strands will become dried out, resulting in frizzy, lifeless hair.