Hard water has been a perennial issue for the people who live in hard water areas. Unfortunately, the minerals present in hard water can make it difficult to work with when washing your hair.
Instead of feeling clean and soft, your hair usually feels dry, stiff, and tangled after a wash. Moreover, ordinary shampoos don’t always properly cleanse hard water-affected hair as they could do with soft water.
The ultimate solution to this problem is softening hard water for washing the hair. When there isn’t any hard mineral buildup around the roots of your hair causing problems for you, rejoice.
After realizing that my stubborn dandruff, dull, frizzy, and greasy hair was all because of the mineral content in my water supply line, I decided to find a solution that worked best for me. And I did – by finding 10 easy ways to soften hard water. In no time, I could enjoy healthy locks that felt truly clean after every shampoo session.
Here is How to Soften Hard Water for Washing Hair
1. Buy A Water Softener
Hard water contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium that can build up inside your pipes and appliances, leading to clogs, limescale buildup, and long-term damage. A hard water softener is an effective way of dealing with this problem which, unlike other methods, prevents it in the first place and saves you money.
With a hard water softener installed in your home, the chances of experiencing reduced appliance efficiency due to limescale are much lower. And when you do use these appliances for things like laundry or dishes, clothes will feel cleaner and fresher as the minerals that cause stains have been removed from the water.
You’ll find that no nasty bits will be found in the bottom of your kettle, either. Furthermore, having a hard water softener eliminates the need for more expensive de-scaling services. As such, investing in one now is a smart decision for the future.
2. Boil Water
Boiling hard water is another simple solution for softening it for washing your hair. The minerals found in hard water will settle to the bottom, making the top portion easier for hair care. To do this, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and wait until all the solids settle to the bottom of the vessel.
Then carefully pour out the top portion, which is now softened, into a separate container for easy use. In addition, you can also use a filter to remove the solids that didn’t settle down.
3. Try a Vitamin C Shower Filter
Vitamin C shower filters are an effective way to reduce exposure to chlorine and metals in shower water. Chlorine is added to municipal water supplies to help kill harmful bacteria but can dry and irritate skin, hair, and eyes.
The filter works by releasing powdered Vitamin C into the stream of water emitted from the showerhead before it reaches the user. Vitamin C helps neutralize chlorine and other minerals in the water, reducing its harshness and making it more gentle on your skin.
Using a Vitamin C shower filter also assists in improving the overall condition of your skin by preventing any dryness or irritation that might be caused by prolonged exposure to chlorinated water.
Furthermore, since many people’s homes have hard water with a high mineral content that often leaves behind scaly residue on affected surfaces like tile or glass doors, using a Vitamin C shower filter helps prevent this buildup when paired with a regular cleaning routine. If you want healthier skin while taking showers at home, this type of filter is worth considering.
4. Do A Citrus Rinse
Citrus rinses are a great way to protect your hair and make it look better. They can help neutralize hard water, break down its minerals, and chelate proteins to keep your hair strong and healthy. The citric acid in lemons, limes, and oranges can also help reduce static electricity build-up, making your hair less prone to flyaways.
Preparing a citrus rinse is very simple: squeeze either some lime juice or a couple of fresh lemons into a cup of water, creating a ratio of 1:3. You can even add both if you want.
After shampooing, let the mix run through your scalp for several minutes before rinsing and conditioning with cold or warm water (not hot.). Doing this should provide optimum protection for your hair against any harsh elements it encounters throughout the day.
5. Use a Chelating Shampoo
If your hair is constantly exposed to hard water, using a chelating shampoo can be beneficial in removing the minerals that cause damage and discoloration. A chelating shampoo is formulated with special active ingredients that bind to minerals like calcium and iron found in hard water, allowing them to be washed away from the hair more easily.
Furthermore, since excess minerals are usually responsible for making hair feel dry and brittle, using a chelating shampoo can help restore moisture and improve the overall condition of your locks.
6. Use A Demineralizing Shampoo for Hard Water
Demineralizing shampoos are designed to combat hard water and its effects on hair. These special formulas contain chelating agents and vitamin C, which neutralize the hard water minerals to make them highly soluble and easily rinsed off when washed with pure water. This helps restore healthy moisture levels in the hair without any damage or dryness.
One of the best demineralizing shampoo ranges available is Malibu C, which offers a whole range of treatments that can improve your hair health from the very first use. With this product, customers can rest assured that their hair will be free of hard water-related damage and look revived and refreshed with each wash.
7. Try a Clarifying Shampoo
A good clarifying shampoo can help remove any stubborn mineral buildup on the hair caused by hard water. This shampoo is formulated with special deep-cleansing agents that penetrate the scalp to remove dirt, oil, and product residue without stripping away natural oils.
It also helps restore balance to your hair’s pH levels and makes it look more vibrant and voluminous. Clarifying shampoos are ideal for those who want to remove any hard water-related discoloration in their hair without further damaging it.
8. Use Purified Water
Filtering water is becoming a growing trend, with people opting to filter out impurities in their drinking and washing water. The same is true for showering: many people now use Purified Water instead of the hard water supply. This water purification process, however, has its drawbacks – namely, plastic waste.
Bottled water often comes in highly polluting plastic bottles which could take up to 400 years to biodegrade completely. This means using purified bottled water for showering is not eco-friendly or sustainable.
Alternative solutions, such as filter jugs, still require some disposable plastic parts but, due to reusable containers, require much less overall waste than bottled water does. So by switching from bottled Purified Water to filter jugs, you’ll be cutting down on your environmental footprint and helping protect the planet from further irreparable damage.
9. Save Rainwater
Rainwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It saves on the costs of treating water by catching the rain and keeping it clean naturally.
It is an incredibly eco-friendly practice that helps conserve precious resources such as groundwater reserves. Not only will it reduce stress on infrastructure, but it will help you save money too.
The benefit of using harvested rainwater does not end there. The softness of rainwater is so gentle for us humans, making it much better for bathing and laundry than using hard water from pipes.
Rainwater also has neutral pH levels, making it suitable for drinking without any treatment or filtration process. Many households have successfully used this economical option to make the most out of their garden plants’ natural growth and blooming.
10. Do a Vinegar Rinse
Vinegar rinses have been around for centuries and are still very popular. They are fantastic at removing gunk from silverware and cleaning oils and residue from your hair. When used as a hair rinse, it acts as an antibacterial agent, preventing bacteria growth on the scalp.
It’s also superb for neutralizing the effects of hard water; calcium build-up will collect on your hair follicles when you wash with dry water, but vinegar helps to remove that build-up.
Not only does vinegar dissolve this calcium build-up, but it also safeguards against fungus growth in your hair by killing off any remaining bacteria or microbes.
A little apple cider vinegar in warm water can clear away all those impurities without having negative side effects such as dryness or irritation – plus, it smells great. So if you’re looking for an easy and effective way to protect your hair while keeping it clean, give a vinegar rinse a try.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. Does Hard Water Damage Hair?
Hard water has a high mineral content and can damage hair over time. The minerals in hard water can build up on the scalp and hair strands, leaving it feeling dry and brittle. Hard water can also make it more difficult to lather shampoo or conditioner properly, as the minerals interfere with their ability to create suds. Additionally, hard water makes it harder for hair to absorb the necessary moisture and nutrients, leaving it dry and prone to breakage.
2. What Is The Best Way To Soften Hard Water For Washing Hair?
The best way to soften hard water for washing hair is by using a home water filtration or reverse osmosis system. These systems filter out impurities and minerals from the water, making it softer and gentler on the hair.
Additionally, you can use a vinegar rinse to soften hard water for washing hair. This method involves combining one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water and using it as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. The vinegar will help remove minerals from the hair and scalp, leaving it feeling softer and less prone to damage.
3. Is Soft Water Good For Hair?
Soft water is generally better for hair than hard water because it does not leave a mineral residue on the scalp and strands. It is also more effective at gathering, so your shampoo or conditioner will work better. Additionally, soft water helps to ensure that moisture and nutrients are absorbed properly by the hair, leaving it feeling softer and healthier.
4. Which Water Is Good For Hair?
When washing your hair, you want to use water that won’t leave behind any harsh residue that could damage your strands. Hard water, which contains high calcium and magnesium salts, can cause dryness and breakage when used for shampooing or conditioning.
To address this issue, many people opt to soften their hard water to make it suitable for hair care. Rainwater, filtered water, and reverse osmosis systems are all viable options for softening hard water before using it to wash your hair.
5. Does Hard Water Stop Hair Growth?
No, hard water does not stop hair growth. Hard water has minerals that can make the hair appear dry and brittle. However, the minerals in hard water do not prevent your hair from growing.
Conclusion
Hard water can damage hair over time, making it difficult to lather shampoo and conditioner properly and preventing the absorption of moisture and nutrients. You can use a home water filtration or reverse osmosis system to soften hard water for washing hair. Additionally, you can use a vinegar rinse by combining one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water and using it as a final rinse.
Sarah J. Gregory
352 Hershell Hollow Road
Anaheim, CA 92805
