UPDATE: This post originally ran August 1, 2012, but we wanted to share these helpful tips with you again! As the weather gets colder and drier, you may notice your hair drying out along with it, so make sure you follow these tips if you’re a victim of hard water hair!
When I first moved to Philadelphia, I anticipated a lot of things. I was ready to start a completely new life; to start my first “real” job; to move into an apartment on my own; to make an entirely new group of friends. But there was one thing for which I wasn’t prepared: hard water.
I come from New York where the water is brilliantly soft. It’s great for skin, great for hair, and (perhaps most importantly) great for bagels and pizza. Within my first week in Philly, I began to notice that my hair was behaving quite strangely. It was dry and straw-like. It felt brittle and lifeless. It was extremely knotty and almost sticky to the touch. I had no idea what was going wrong, and then it finally hit me: It was the change in water.
Hard water is water that contains a large amount of minerals. Mineral content in water can vary from state to state – even from city to city. While it’s not harmful to your health, hard water can bring serious problems to your skin and hair, adding to them a buildup of minerals and drying them out. If you’ve ever moved from a soft water city to a hard water city, I know you can feel my pain. But don’t fret my dears, because hard water does not have to ruin your life!
After three months of researching and experimenting, I’m finally figuring out the best ways to bring hard water hair back to its naturally beautiful state. Here are my tips on how to beat hard water hair:
Install a showerhead water filter
Yes, these exist! Showerhead water filters work just like drinking water filters by enhancing pH balance, filtering out unwanted chemicals and letting only the good stuff pass through! These filters are built into their own showerheads, so just be prepared to replace your entire showerhead. They vary in price depending on their various functions and designs, but you can get a good one from Aquasana for around $70!
Use a chelating shampoo
Chelating shampoos are specifically designed to prevent and remove mineral buildup in your hair. A chelating agent will chemically bind to minerals, removing them before you even have a chance to notice that they’re there. Some shampoo companies throw around words like “clarifying,” “chelating,” and “neutralizing,” so to be sure you’re using the right product, look for one that has the ingredient EDTA. Because a chelating shampoo will strip your hair, they should only be used about once a week, and should be followed with an intensely moisturizing conditioner.
Make an apple cider vinegar rinse
This is one thing I have not yet tried, but plan to do this week! A vinegar rinse will not only remove buildup from your hair, but also give it bounce and shine! Mix 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 qt. of distilled water. First shampoo your hair and rinse well. Apply the mixture, leave on for a few seconds, and rinse with cold water. There’s no need to condition afterwards. Due to the acidic nature of vinegar, use this rinse only once a week – perhaps alternating weeks with your chelating shampoo, if you choose to use one of those, as well.
Finish off with argan oil
Argan oil is an amazing product that will make your hair the shiniest, most moisturized, and healthiest looking it has ever been. Hard water will dry out your hair and argan oil will restore the moisture right away. Simply apply to damp hair after you get out of the shower and style as usual! You can apply to your ends only or all over, depending on how dry your hair is. Just be careful not to use too much (or any at all) by your roots, as this could cause your hair to appear greasy. UPDATE: Make sure you choose pure argan oil rather than a silicone-based hair product that will only contain a small amount. A good choice is Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil. (Thanks for your comments on this!)
Do you have any tips on beating hard water hair? We’d love to hear them. Comment below and let us know!
Click on images for sources; top image source.
More beauty tips on the BLDG 25 blog!
Comments
Lush had a shampoo bar specifically designed for hard water. I don’t know if they still have it, but you could always check them out.
Unfortunately, the products you posted got nothing to do with argan oil. argan oil is great, when used pure, its also great for the skin and definately doesnt cause breakouts. these “hair oils” are silicone based, they only contain very little argan oil, what makes your hair shiny and bouncy is the silicone. (which when used over a long period of time will damage your hair)
Mouthwash works well in place of apple cider vinegar, too!
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil is great!
I’ve done the apple cider wash, is works wonders!
-Carmen
http://wearmint.blogspot.com/
Aubrey organics makes a phenomenal chelating “swimmer’s” shampoo/conditioner…great for hard water, chlorine, and sea water. For an ACV rinse, try adding 2 tbsp honey to retain moisture and to add a silkier finish. Pure, organic oils such as marula, coconut, and argan are perfect for skin/hair as they absorb without the dreaded oil slick and help normalize sebum production so every type of skin/hair can benefit!
amazing post!!! ive been living with hard water for 6 months and i can absolutely feel it in my hair! thank you thank you! give an egg white hair mask a try too, its a gem!
my parents installed hard water and when i moved to my condo a year ago I could tell my hair and sensitive was no use to the hard water. thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the tip, Jo! I might have to give pure argan oil a shot :)
hard water can be such a bummer! i went from some of the cleanest water in the US to very, very hard water. my skin was very reactive and my hair just seemed so limp! if you’re used to not washing your hair too often (i did a lot of only-conditioner daily showers when my water was nice and balanced), try to notice WHERE in your hair the minerals seem to be building up. For me, it’s right above my ears and in the back of my hair near my neck. I just wash these places every shower now (even with a fancy filter, our water is still not perfect) and then do a full head wash once or twice a week. Conditioner is always necessary, as hard water will give build up but also can be very drying! It took me over a year to get a good system but I think my hair is getting back to normal. As for skin, the dermatologist was the only one who really helped me. xoxoxo good luck everybody
Wow! Interesting post. I agree that hard water is water that contains a large amount of minerals. While it’s not harmful to your health, hard water can bring serious problems to your skin and hair, adding to them a buildup of minerals and drying them out. That is why we should consider purchasing waters oftener.
Wet your hair….mix a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of Baking Soda in a container……swirl around until dilluted…… pour the mix onto wet hair….rinse your hair again. THE BEST buildup remover for pennies. GREAT for any hair type!
Great Tips! I also have hard water and find that if I use a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, it helps in beating hard water damage.
I live in a place with very hard water. I follow the no-poo hair system: shampoo with bar soap or Dr. Bronners (or baking soda paste if you prefer), and condition with vinegar water or a coffee rinse. My hair has never been shinnier, softer, curlier, or more voluminous in my life :)
Brilliant…. you have no idea how we have been searching for a solution to this problem. We will be buying a shower filter immediately and follow your suggestions. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!!!
interesting post!!
DIY and more:
http://diyearte.blogspot.com.es/
Thank you do much :) I just moved into a new place and the water is much harder! Grrrr. Not only has the gold began drying me out, so has the water! Not only my hair but especially my skin! It’s been making my naturally curly/kinda frizzy hair frizzier, my scalp itchy, and my body ashy. Oh, and on top of that it’s been making me break out! So uh yah, definitely HAVE to try these tips! I’m almost positive the filter shower head is gonna work! Thnx bridgette <3
REQUEST: could you do a post on taking care of and styling naturally curly (not ethnic.), frizz prone, dry, hair?
It’s a relief to see I’m not the only one talking about this! Several years ago I noticed a drastic change in my hair and couldn’t understand why. I can’t remember how I came to it, but I realized hard water was the culprit. The showerhead filter became a nuisance to have to change every 3 months, it became challenging to find in the store and the filter mainly only removes chlorine, and not the minerals that are causing the problem. So I took it to the next level, water softening. After much research, I finally found a system that didn’t require some huge purchase, or being a homeowner – as I rent. I promise I don’t work for these guys! http://www.watersticks.com. Yeah, looks like some guy made it in his garage, but it helped a ton.
I moved a while later and had the wonderful luxury of fantastic, soft water. Oddly, I had to move again a couple of months ago, within the same neighborhood, and just noticed that I’m having hard water issues again. Back to the water softening system I go, sadly, it was so nice to have great hair for a while! Thanks for the other tips girls! I’m going to check them out!
I have lived in a house with hard water for about 5 and a half years, and my mom had told me not to wash my hair with that water but to wash it with the spring water that she gets and of course only being around 10 at the time i did not believe her. However, my questions are: 1. How long would it take for me to get all that hard water out of hair? 2. How do i know which argan oil to get? 3. How do i know which apple cider vinegar to get? For years i thought that the cause of my hair being dry and brittle and horse tail like was due to dying my hair. I’ve changed shampoos and conditioners and everything. Please help me?
Angie, get the shower filter! I just got mine yesterday and it works fantastic! I also used 1 part cider vinegar to 2 parts water and put it in a spray bottle. Use only once every week or every other week. Spray it all over your head after you shampoo and let it soak in for a minute then rinse. That’s all it takes to get the scale out of your hair. I’m waiting for my chelating shampoo and the argan oil spray to ship, but right now I don’t even think I need that stuff. The shower filter works miracles.
I have moved in with my boyfriend about 2 years ago who has hard water. I have never before had to wash my hair with hard water so I have thought that I was damaging my hair from too much heat with the blow drying and the flat irons until recently when I had my hair done I was ask if I had hard water. My hair has never ever been so brittle, dry, frizzy with this kind of breakage. I have cut off 6 inches of my hair thinking that would help but NO nothing has seemed to work. I have been trying I really appreciate all of these awesome ideas and will try them but first I am going to go buy me a filter for my shower. I am so excited that I have found this blog. Thank you so much!!!
I just moved into my great grandmothers house because we sold our house and are saving up to buy in the future. The house is over 100 years old and while the interior has been updated the pipes haven’t. The water is terribly hard but we have put a water softener on. I have strawberry blonde hair and fair skin. I’ve always just done highlights and loved my hair. We’ve been here 3 months and the minerals have darkened my hair and given it an orange tint. My stylist says there’s no way to remove it and the only option is to go dark. I don’t want to look like an orange highlighter but I don’t think I can pull off dark hair! The water has been tested and shows normal levels of iron and stuff. It was just really hard. I need help! What do I do? I’m trying Malibu hard water wellness kit. Should this work?
DON’T SPEND MONEY on an overpriced showerhead filter! These will NOT work well as point-of-use water softeners! They only filter out particulate matter (like sand), not the ions or microns of minerals which are in solution in the water supply. The process of softener water rich with minerals requires a multi-gallon reservoir where the exchange can happen — it’s not possible in that little showerhead attachment.
So glad there’s a few solutions! I’m a recent American expat from Dallas to London and my skin is the main problem! I was recently introduced to Argan oil and Rhassoul clay and it seems to help, but can’t keep hydrated enough. Even have a humidifier! Any suggestions for my face would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for the hair tips!
Glad I found this! So many good tips and so many of us with similar issues. Thanks for the great details!
Also I forgot to ask, do you know of any chelating shampoos on the market? I’ve searched brands that are sold at Sally’s and at a few hair salon level. I like the organic method better but I also want to purchase brands as well for other purposes.
SweetMel – I use this one: Joico K Pak Chelating Shampoo. It’s pretty good :)
It is important that one utilize the proper water softener equipment to help soften their home water supply. Hard water is naturally present and without taking steps to soften the water supply, it can wreak havoc on a home’s appliances as well as make for a longer lasting shower and also creates water deposits.