Hard water can really damage your locks – with mineral build up and post-shower film as the negative outcome from washing your hair with hard water. Even though hard water doesn’t harm your health, it can definitely damage your hair. The minerals in the hard water can stick to your strands while you shower, causing dryness, breakage, and plenty of other issues. The good news is, with proper care and attention, hard water hair damage can be minimalized and managed with some extra TLC!
What is hard water?
Hard water refers to water with increased mineral levels such as calcium and magnesium. A lot of households are stuck with hard water, which is fine to shower with but can make your gorgeous locks less manageable over time.
Know the signs of hard water
How do you even know if the water you are showering with is hard water? There are a few ways you can detect it. Signs of hard water include rust-colored stains in the bathtub, a funny smell of rotten eggs, calcium or lime buildup on faucets, or an increased amount of soap scum in the bathtub. If you have noticed any of the things listed above, you might want to consider taking some extra steps in protecting your luscious mane!
How to manage hard water hair
As we said previously, hard water is technically safe to use. But it definitely adds more stress and strain on your hair and scalp. Over time, calcium and magnesium buildup can occur on the scalp and cause dryness. Ways to get around that include spending less time in the shower and using a gentle shampoo daily to help keep the minerals from setting in. Using a clarifying shampoo weekly is also another easy way to keep those minerals at bay. A more permanent solution would be to install a filtration system that will filter out those minerals in your water.
Washing your hair with hard water can be damaging, so make sure you are taking the proper precautions and using the right products to ensure it doesn’t damage your hair any further. Avalanche Salon and Spa wants you to have beautiful, healthy locks. Give us a call at (610) 489-2049 with any questions you have or to book your next hair appointment!
