Understanding the impact of hard water on your hair is simpler than you might think. Ever noticed how your hair feels different when you travel? The quality of water varies by location, and hard water can cause damage, making hair rough and brittle.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water with a high concentration of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. While water starts off “soft,” it becomes “hard” when it flows through mineral-rich soil. If your water source is a well, river, or lake, it likely contains these minerals. The more minerals present, the harder the water.
Effects of Hard Water on Hair Health
The calcium in hard water can significantly impact your hair. According to Asun Pont, a trainer at Kérastase Spain, hard water can make hair rough, brittle, and difficult to manage. “Hair becomes rougher, more brittle, and harder to comb. It also feels stiffer and less lively,” Pont explains.
Hair that is bleached, colored, or straightened is particularly vulnerable. Frequent use of heat tools can make hair more porous and prone to damage. Pont notes that factors like exposure to free radicals and seasonal elements, such as summer sun and pool chemicals, also affect hair health. Calcium in hard water exacerbates this weakness, but proper decalcification can help.
Calcium can lead to dry, tangled hair, which slows growth due to increased split ends and breakage. This results in dull, lifeless hair that’s more susceptible to humidity. “If your hair or skin feels dry after a shower, it may be due to hard water,” Pont warns. White spots on faucets and sinks indicate high limescale levels, a sign of hard water.
How to Reduce the Effects of Hard Water
To minimize the damage caused by hard water, maintaining a healthy hair care routine is crucial. This includes both repair and decalcification. Salon treatments or specific home products can help. The Kérastase Première range, for example, offers repairing and decalcifying benefits, removing excess limescale and strengthening weak spots.
Pont advises performing decalcification treatments at least once a week if you have hard water. “This helps prevent the loss of essential proteins and lipids necessary for healthy hair,” she says.