Hydration is essential not only for our overall health but also for maintaining the health and appearance of our hair, skin, and nails. The water we use on our hair during washing is just as crucial as the water we drink. While the long-term benefits of drinking water for hair health are well-known, the impact of the water used to cleanse our hair can be immediate.
Different types of water can affect you in various ways, but hard water is notably harmful to hair. Many people are unaware that their daily water use could be worsening their hair problems. Hard water, rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, can negatively affect hair health. These minerals can penetrate the hair shaft, crystallizing and forming a barrier that prevents moisture from entering or exiting the hair. This results in dry, dull hair, more prone to tangles and breakage. Hard water can also affect the results of chemical treatments like hair coloring or straightening, producing uneven or undesirable outcomes.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is characterized by its high mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium ions. These minerals enter the water supply through natural processes. As rainwater filters through layers of soil and rock, it dissolves and picks up these minerals, leading to the phenomenon known as water hardness.
When hard water is used for daily activities such as bathing, washing hair, or even cleaning, it tends to leave behind mineral deposits. These deposits, often referred to as "scale" or "limescale," can accumulate on various surfaces, including your hair and skin. The tendency of these minerals to form deposits stems from their ability to crystallize upon drying.
How Mineral Deposits Affect Your Hair
Buildup on Hair Strands: When washing with hard water, mineral ions attach to the hair shaft. Over time, these mineral deposits create a coating that is not easily rinsed away, leading to a wax-like buildup.
Moisture Deficiency: The mineral layer acts as a barrier, preventing essential moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. This leads to dryness and brittleness, making hair more prone to damage.
Texture Changes: Hair exposed to hard water often appears dull and feels rough to the touch. The minerals disrupt the hair cuticle, affecting its overall texture and manageability.
Reduced Lathering: Hard water interferes with the lathering properties of shampoos and conditioners. Without proper lather, cleansing agents are less effective, leaving hair feeling unclean, waxy, and heavy.
Impact on Hair Colour: Hard water affects colour-treated hair by causing faster fading due to mineral buildup, which hinders moisture absorption and makes hair susceptible to breakage.
Can Hard Water Cause Hair Loss?
Hard water is not directly responsible for hair loss. Research has demonstrated that hard water does not affect hair's elasticity or tensile strength. However, the mineral deposits from hard water can lead to several issues such as frizziness, dullness, and split ends, which can hinder healthy hair growth. Instead, these issues may contribute to breakage and shedding over time, giving the impression of hair loss, but not causing the hair to fall out directly.
How To Prevent Hard Water Hair
Buy a Filter for Your Shower Head
If you want to mitigate as much damage as possible, start with your shower head. Homeowners can install an entire soft water system in their homes, but it’s expensive and not feasible for those in apartments. Hair expert Luis Pacheco recommends attaching a water filter to your shower head as a small-scale option, which helps to reduce traces of chlorine, magnesium, calcium, and other contaminants in your water.
Try a Clarifying Treatment
An in-salon clarifying treatment is a professional hair service designed to remove mineral deposits and environmental sediments from your hair, effectively restoring its natural health and shine. These treatments utilize powerful yet safe formulations that deeply cleanse the hair, eliminating impurities that accumulate over time from hard water, pollutants, and product buildup. Regular in-salon clarifying treatments can be an integral part of maintaining healthy, vibrant hair, especially for those who live in areas with hard water or are frequently exposed to environmental pollutants.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo
If you’re dealing with hard water, look for a clarifying shampoo. They are stronger than regular shampoos, which only cleanse away dirt and residue. Look for products labeled as clarifying or detoxifying. We love the Unite Weekender Shampoo because it removes mineral buildup and smooths hair cuticles, reducing frizz while restoring hair’s pH balance. It's important to note that clarifying shampoos can be irritating if used too frequently, so a shampoo like this would be great as a once-a-week product instead of a daily routine.
Hair Masks Weekly
Giving your hair a little extra TLC never hurts. A deep moisturizing mask is the perfect way to do that. You can use a moisturizing mask 15mins before hoping in the shower as a pre-shampoo treatment, leave it in overnight, or after you wash you hair as a deep conditioner for 10mins before rinsing. Depending on your hair porosity determines the frequency of using a hair mask.
What makes a good hair mask? Look for ingredients like this:
Cupuaçu Butter - a lightweight moisturizer that easily penetrates the cortex of the hair where it can hold more than 4x its weight in water.
Jojoba Oil - Rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish hair, and is easily absorbed to moisturize the inner hair cortex, and restores elasticity.
Argan Oil - Packed with beneficial nutrients including fatty acids and vitamin E, argan oil encourages healthy hair growth while moisturizing hair and scalp.