How Hard Water Affects Your Hair

(Newswire.net — December 28, 2017) Cheyenne, Wyoming — Water is just water, right? Nope. There’s filtered water, purified water, alkaline water, soft water and hard water. But what’s the real deal there being so many different types of water and why does each matter? Well, for now the focus will be on hard water and what it does to your hair. 

In order to properly explain, hard water one must be introduced to its contrast, soft water. A raincloud is a natural source of soft water which is mineral free. When it rains, if that water does not mix with minerals as it passes between solid rocks then it is considered soft water. Conversely, when rain falls on looser terrain such as limestone, the water collects minerals such as calcium and magnesium thus is called “hard water” since it becomes difficult to use.

“You may have felt the effects of hard water, literally, the last time you washed your hands. Depending on the hardness of your water, after using soap to wash [your hands] you may have felt like there was a film of residue left on your hands,” explains the U.S. Geological Survey Office of Water Quality. “In hard water, soap reacts with the calcium (which is relatively high in hard water) to form “soap scum”. When using hard water, more soap or detergent is needed to get things clean, be it your hands, hair, or your laundry.”

The minerals found in hard water decrease the soap’s lathering capabilities and end up costing consumers more in the end. This requires the use of more shampoo than normal and it still doesn’t get the job done as intended, even with the help of a conditioner. 

“Each hair shaft is made up of little scales, like shingles on a roof. Hard water tends to make the scales stand up, which makes your hair feel rough and tangly,” says the Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company. “Since your hair is tangled and rough, it is more difficult to rinse out all of the soap.”

So how do you know if your pipes are spouting out hard water and how can you make it soft? The HealthyWiser™ AquaTest™ 7 Way Water-Analysis Test Kit is a sure way of learning what is in your water supply as it detects the total hardness, total alkalinity, free chlorine, bromine, pH, total chlorine and cyanuric acid. With the results in hand, you can then proceed to soften the water as necessary by attaching a filter to the showerhead, invest in specialized shampoos and conditioners or rinse hair with a mix of lime/vinegar water to prevent hard water damage.