Hard water isn’t just an annoyance that causes orange sinks, tubs, and the occasional ruined batch of whites when we forget to fill the softener… It actually has some pretty harmful effects on your hair and skin (it’s actually worse for your hair than bleach). If you’re experiencing any of the below, you may want to look into a water softener and/or showerhead filter.

EFFECTS HARD WATER CAN HAVE ON YOUR HAIR AND SKIN

DRY, THIN, AND DAMAGED HAIR

Washing your hair with hard water erodes hair elasticity and strips hair of moisture, causing hair to feel very dry and rough, weakening and thinning your strands, and causing breakage and even hair loss. Frizz and tangles are also common when you’re washing with hard water. The water you use matters as much as the products you’re using.

FLAKEY SCALP

The excess minerals in hard water react with your shampoo to form a soap scum that stays on your hair and scalp. This scum can cause irritation, and, as a result, your scalp can become extremely itchy, dry, flakey, and even painful.

DIRTY HAIR

I can immediately tell when my water softener is out of salt, based on how my hair feels after a fresh wash. Because of the residue hard water leaves on your hair and scalp, your hair looks (and feels) dull, dirty, and greasy. Have you ever had your bathtub or shower get a soap scum/filmy layer on it? That’s essentially what’s on your hair and scalp and adding heat and styling products once you get out of the shower can make it even worse.

HAIR COLOR IS HARDER TO ACHIEVE AND KEEP

Hard water causes your hair color (especially color-treated hair) to fade more quickly and it can also alter the color of your hair. Some of the most common color alterations that happen to hair are an orange/brassy color and a green color. Hard water also makes it more difficult for your stylist to achieve your desired color, causing even more of a need for processing and, in return, more damage.

DRY AND IRRITATED SKIN

Hard water strips your skin of moisture and directly affects your skin's production of natural oils by blocking and clogging your pores. This creates a lack of moisture and also alters the pH balance of the skin, which can result in flakes, irritation, breakouts, acne, and all-around bad skin. It’s also been known to cause eczema in those with healthy skin, worsen existing eczema, and can cause infants to be more prone to developing eczema.

FINE LINES AND WRINKLES

The minerals found in hard water can form free radicals that are known to break down collagen (what keeps your skin tight) and lead to fine lines and wrinkles.

OPTIONS TO CONSIDER IF YOU CAN’T GET A WATER SOFTENER

Now that you know the harmful effects hard water can have on your hair and skin, what can you do? Here are a few options for you to consider if getting a water softener isn’t a current option for you.

SHOWERHEAD FILTER

Grab a showerhead filter! This is one of the simplest and budget-friendly options. They’re incredibly easy to install and they work really well, just make sure to change the filter often.

CLARIFYING SHAMPOO

Add a clarifying shampoo to your routine to help break down the residue hard water leaves on your hair and skin. If your hard water is really bad, you’ll also want to make sure you add a scalp scrub to really break down and cleanse everything away. My favorite clarifying duo is the MONAT Purifying Duo — Purifying Vinegar Shampoo and Scalp Purifying Scrub.

MASQUE

Hair masques are great for strengthening and hydrating hair! When it comes to adding a masque into your routine, there are a ton of different options. My favorites for hard water are:

• Damage Repair Bond Support Masque

  • reduces hair breakage by 95%

  • hair is 90% smoother for effortless detangling

  • instantly hydrates hair and increases shine by 50%

• Replenish Masque

  • repairing and hydrating

  • ideal for damaged and moisture-starved hair

  • boosts natural hair growth

  • improves follicle strength

  • reduces hair thinning

• Advanced Hydrating In-Shower Masque

  • helps transform brittle hair into shiny strands

  • helps prevent breakage and prevents dryness and frizz with antioxidants

  • provides fast-acting deep conditioning

  • nourishes hair in less than 5 minutes

Hope this helps!