Hard water and hair – from denial to acceptance

Hard water is something many of us deal with daily, but we don"t often think about its impact on our hair. It"s easy to dismiss any changes in texture or appearance, blaming them on products or styling tools. However, hard water can play a significant role in how our hair looks and feels.

Hard water minerals can accumulate on your hair over time, causing it to become dry, dull, and even break. It can be annoying to have this buildup, particularly if you’ve exhausted all other options to get your hair back to its original softness and shine. Accepting and managing your hair’s reaction to hard water requires first understanding how it affects it.

We’ll look at the path from denial to acceptance regarding hard water and hair in this article. You’ll discover doable fixes to safeguard and enhance the health of your hair as well as how to recognize the warning indications of hard water damage. Accepting the fact of hard water doesn’t mean giving up on your hair; rather, it means making the necessary adjustments to maintain its best appearance.

Issue	Explanation
Hair dryness	Hard water can strip moisture from hair, making it feel dry and brittle.
Loss of shine	The minerals in hard water can make hair appear dull and lackluster.
Frizz and tangles	Hard water can increase frizz and make hair more prone to tangling.
Acceptance	Using clarifying shampoos or installing a water softener can help manage the effects of hard water on hair.

Introduction. A little about my hair

I will tell you about my hair’s state at the time of the move to help you get a fuller picture.

I have thin, Slavic, porous hair that has been dyed with basma and henna. There is a natural foundation beneath the herbs, but in spite of this, because of its porous structure, the hair is prone to dryness and brittleness. Neglect rapidly shows in the form of split ends, dry, unruly hair, and white spots.

I’ve had this structure my entire life, and at this point I’ve developed care routines that allow me to have healthy, manageable hair that is free of split ends and brittleness. Even without a hair dryer, they lie flat like a sheet. I stopped using the iron altogether because my hair is already straight and smooth without it.

The ends had not been cut in eleven months at the time of the move, but they feel very good—no split ends, no white spots. Since hair with an even cut tends to get lost in strands, there is a graduation of the ends. Oddly enough, a small graduation solves this problem—especially since I dislike an even straight cut.

Moving. Changing the water and what it did to my hair in 2 months

Hair care continued unabated despite the move; cosmetic boxes were opened nearly ahead of schedule (just after cat accessories). However, it turned out that the water’s quality was a noticeable source of discomfort rather than exactly a surprise.

The customary regimens continued to function over time, but they were no longer adequate to preserve the hair’s quality. The usual smoothness and discipline of the hair vanished, leaving it dry and stiff, and high porosity reappeared. Added to all of this were skin issues: dryness, tightness, and flaking on the body, but a combination of dryness, increased oiliness, and unpleasant inflammations on the face and scalp were typically seen on the scalp.

I want to be clear that this did not happen overnight; the procedure took roughly two months, during which time I was frantically searching for a way to undo it. About a month after the conditions changed, as seen in the photo below, the hair looks good overall (for the time being).

But the hunt proved fruitless: strong rinse-off care and mild shampoos caused inflammation at the first sign of skin contact, while neutral cleansing shampoos free of silicone caused dryness and tangled, brittle ends.

Consequently, the ends ended up in the trash after two months due to hard water; they lost all decent appearance and turned strange, uncommon, and dry. I had no idea what to do with my hair and was really upset. My happiness wasn’t enhanced by the beginning hair loss either.

There will now be startling content. The first photo and the one below were taken two months apart. Excellent maintenance, but horrible hair and water can quickly become such a nightmare.

Haircut and skin care as a starting point for changes for the better

I made the decision to complete the draft post, and I snapped a back-of-hair photo after washing. I was so discouraged by what I saw that I scheduled a haircut. I found a hairdresser based on reviews in a new place where I didn’t know nearly anyone, and the following day I was already seated in the hairdresser’s chair.

I had to remove the graduation and broken ends completely by cutting off about 5 cm. After getting a new haircut from the hairdresser, I made the decision to reevaluate my self-care regimen. and begin with the skin.

Fighting inflammation

I started by totally removing scrubs from my care and replacing them with acid peels. I tried a few different ones; I’ll talk about my searches and experiences with them in a different post.

My face and scalp were saved by an azelaic acid peel from the Russian company Arabia. The skin’s condition significantly improved even after the first use; new inflammations took a while to appear, and existing ones vanished entirely in two days.

I now include azelaic peeling in my weekly spa routine for my scalp and face.

I massage it into my dry skin and hair, letting it sit for about five minutes, then giving it another gentle tap with my fingertips before shampooing it off. Its texture is fairly thick, and applying it presents no issues. Additionally, there are no uncomfortable feelings when using it.

Consequently, there is no needless trauma to the skin, and it breathes and gets renewed. Furthermore, when applied once a week, azelaic acid has a potent anti-inflammatory effect that makes me forget what scalp inflammation is.

Combating dryness and excess oiliness at the same time

My skin was becoming more oily and dry at the same time, which was causing havoc in my life. My solution to ending this vicious cycle was to moisturize intensely and to use both rinse-off and leave-in care.

I was able to go back to using my favorite soft cosmetic shampoos with silicones and film formers because the inflammation problem had been resolved (using azelaic peeling also had the added benefit of moisturizing skin because of the glycolic acid in the composition). The skin started to dry out less quickly and consequently, less sebum was secreted, so I stopped wanting to wash my hair twice a day.

I took out a Kerastase scalp moisturizing mask called Hydra-Apaisant to get rid of the flaking and itching and to make the result more noticeable. It hydrates my skin and hair to perfection, but I don’t use it for lengths of time because I have a lot of good moisturizing hair masks and not many for the scalp.

In the summer heat, this light gel-textured mask felt like a refreshing sip of water for the skin!

I use it twice a week to keep the effect going—once after azelaic peeling and once during the week. This mask has a mildly cooling effect that is particularly enjoyable after peeling.

I used leave-in skin care products in addition to the mask; a homemade toner containing lactic acid and Spivak aloe extract had the strongest moisturizing effect.

After a lot of trial and error, I finally settled on a homemade version that only required a few parts. Such a tonic easily stands in the refrigerator for several days after I dilute it in distilled water concentrated aloe extract (at Spivak it is called a gel, but in reality it is concentrated juice) in a ratio of 10 to 1. I also add a few drops of lactic acid.

After washing, I use it to spray the roots to keep them clean and prevent any dirt buildup after drying.

I went with Spivak’s Aloe because I didn’t like the way regular cosmetic gel with aloe and additives gave me glued roots. This is not the case with Spivak.

The results of this moisturizing were quickly apparent: after drying my hair, I no longer experienced the itching, tightness, or peeling of my skin. By the end of the week, my skin’s oiliness had also returned to normal, and my hair had started to look clean all day with regular washing. And even if the amount of time between washes increased for some reason, the hair would still look respectable, so it wasn’t a catastrophe.

A further benefit of such intense scalp care was a significant reduction in hair loss, which returned to normal within a week.

Adaptation of hair care to new conditions

It became possible to modify hair care to new conditions and restore the hair to its previous beauty, softness, and smoothness when the scalp eventually managed to resolve and stopped causing acne, dryness, and itching.

Gentle cleansing and getting to know Klorane

My hair was trying to become a washcloth and a crunchy broom because it didn’t feel good after using strong cleansing shampoos in the past.

I finally made the switch to gentle, delicate shampoos that are kind to hair length—the softer, the better—because I was using hard water. Stripping shampoos were relegated to the back burner in favor of cosmetic ones, such as my go-to moisturizing Alfaparf Milano, Angel Provence (I love them all, especially the one with verbena), and shampoo from a brand I had never heard of before, Klorane.

I won’t repeat myself; I’ve already written extensively about the first two in posts here and here. They function just as well in hard water, but they foam less well and use a little more, but I’ll go into more detail about Klorane.

I noticed that the description of the toning shampoo with citron pulp said, "Neutralizes hard water, gives hair a healthy shine." The composition itself is laconic but fairly rich, and it also contains glycolic acid in addition to citron extract. Even with SLS present, the washing base is not harsh.

Composition

AQUA (WATER), SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, GLYCOLIC ACID, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, BENZOIC ACID, CHLOROPHYLLIN-COPPER COMPLEX (CI75810), CITRUS MEDICA VULGARIS FRUIT EXTRACT, DISODIUM EDTA, PARFUM, GLUTAMIC ACID, PANTHENOL, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM HYFROXIDE, YELLOW 5 (CI 19140).

Apart from acids, there are also panthenol and film formers. They might not seem to be very useful in shampoo, but this is a misleading impression.

Klorane with citron foams wonderfully; it consumes little because it leaves a cloud of soft, gentle foam behind after just one application, along with a lovely citrus scent. Very gentle and delicate shampoo, it thoroughly cleans the scalp without causing any adverse reactions.

Regarding the duration, though… It’s just a song, in terms of duration! The hair slides between the fingers during the washing process, already moisturized and detangled. On the other hand, Klorane feels softer. The effect was similar to that of Kerastase shampoo for colored hair, leaving my hair feeling hydrated even after washing.

Regarding the neutralization of hard water, the manufacturer’s promise is completely met. The stiffness caused by accumulated salts in the hair disappears after two to three uses, and the ends cease crunching.

I used to only get this effect from Tefia chelating deep cleansing shampoo, but it dries out really badly and is definitely not something you should use more than once a month. Citron-infused klorane has a far gentler, yet equally potent, effect.

I now use Klorane twice a week, which helps me prevent the buildup of water-insoluble hardness salts in my hair’s porous structure and all the associated problems, like brittleness and stiffness. On other days, I use shampoo based on my hair’s needs, but these days, I only use gentle, soft shampoos because I can’t relax about my hair’s condition when the water quality is so bad.

Rinse-off care and new schemes in new conditions

The only new product I have is the Salerm capillary mask, which I discussed in this post. Other than that, the names of the masks, ampoules, and conditioners here are all rinse-off care items.

However, the actual structure of the care has also undergone significant change. For example, I started wearing masks more frequently, some of which have longer exposure times. The emphasis of care has shifted to restoration, for which the Salerm capillary mask—along with my personal favorite, Kaaral Maraes—is now accountable. Kaaral Ultra is also occasionally linked.

In addition to Kaaral Maraes, L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil for thick hair, Alfaparf Milano and Kaaral Hydra effectively address the need for moisture and nutrition.

The use of masks has increased by nearly double. In the past, I used masks two or three times every seven washes. These days, when I wash every day for seven days, I use masks five times on average, closing some of them with conditioner. The choice of a particular product is determined by the needs of the hair; despite having a wide assortment and a number of open jars, they are all quickly used up with regular washing.

I avoid over-nutrition by using conditioner exclusively as a rinse-off treatment 1-2 days a week. This also saves time if I have to wash my hair in the morning. Additionally, I use ampoules once every seven to ten days; although I first used them for courses, they are now an essential component of my care.

Leave-in care

However, leave-in care has probably experienced the fewest changes, and those that have occurred are more akin to a minor alleviation or a decrease in the amount of product used. Though the start of the warm season is probably to blame for this.

I still generally like multi-layered care—spray, cream, and oil. I can occasionally omit a step or, in extreme circumstances, just use oil (if I created a potent, nourishing mask).

Regarding particular products, nothing has changed; all of my leave-in products continue to function flawlessly and consistently satisfy me with the outcomes.

Many people who have hard water may experience damage, dullness, and dryness in their hair. Nevertheless, understanding how to take care of hair in hard water environments can produce healthier, more controllable outcomes rather than fighting against it. This article explains how, with the appropriate methods and supplies, one can move from rejecting the effects of hard water to accepting and adjusting to them.

Coloring and non-coloring herbs

The regular application of henna masks for length and a modification to the coloring recipe—I now always add coconut and almond oils to it—were two other outcomes of my search. I apply this mask once a month, and then, without using any oils, I color the roots every ten to fourteen days using a henna and basma mixture.

I don’t use basma for the length yet because I don’t want to go completely black and my hair has enough pigment already. I get the desired density and elasticity from henna masks for length, and the softness from coconut oil.

Remarkably, the brightness and durability of plant pigments are completely unaffected by this water. However, I no longer even add non-coloring herbs to henna because I have finally given up on using them along the length. However, I also add amla, neem, bhringraj, lavender, and other herbs that are good for skin health and hair growth to the henna and basma mixture because the effect is still good for the scalp. I use a brush to apply this mixture only to the roots, covering the length with a thick, dense mask.

The first step to having healthier hair is realizing how hard water affects it. The texture and appearance of your hair can significantly change if you know how to control and minimize the effects, even though they may initially seem annoying.

You can deal with the problems caused by hard water by implementing easy fixes like purchasing a water softener, utilizing vinegar rinses, or shampoos that clarify. With time, these changes can bring back the softness and shine of your hair.

In the end, acceptance is all about adjusting to your surroundings. Even in situations where the water is hard, you can keep your hair looking and feeling great with the correct knowledge and care.

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