Can Hard Water Damage Hair And What Can You Do?

Hard water is not necessarily bad, and in some respects can provide some minor benefits, but for many owners living in a hard water area can be a double-edged sword.

The frustrating effects of hard water can include limescale affecting taps, showers and kettles, which as well as looking quite unsightly can damage taps or limit the flow of water in them without regular cleaning.

As well as this, hard water can have an effect on your hair if you regularly wash it in hard water that hasn’t been treated with a block salt softener.

Alongside causing soaps and shampoos to fail to lather properly, it can lead to hair which has a less vibrant colour, can look frizzier and is more prone to dryness breaks and split ends.

The reason for this is the build-up of minerals which affects the texture of a person’s hair and how it behaves, which is why someone who tends to have naturally quite wavy hair might notice frizzier ends.

The effects of calcium, magnesium, limestone, iron and copper can build up and result in brassier-looking hair rather than the brighter tone many people expect.

This can tangentially cause greater hair loss due to an increase in tangles, although not to any significant degree.

Outside of a water softener, a shower filter can help mitigate the effects of iron and copper impurities that can sometimes be found in hard water.

As well as this, using a moisturising shampoo or hair mask can help to stop hair from drying out quite as quickly as well as smoothing creams for split ends and broken hairs.

Deep cleansing products can help remove the build-up of impurities that can often come from hard water and help to nourish the scalp as well.

However, the best way to resolve the issue is to soften the water as it enters your home, which reduces the damage it can cause to hair as well as the build-up of soap scum.