Hard Water: What can you do about it

If your home has hard water, which 85% of American homes do, then you also find yourself thinking, my shampoo isn't working like it used to! It is doing the same work, it's just your hair has a problem.

Hard water contains dissolved minerals, usually carbonates of the metal ions calcium and magnesium. Calcium sulfate and iron deposits are also not unusual. Hard metal ions found in water are positively charged. Hair is negatively charged. Positive and negative charges are attracted to one another. The result is hard water's metal ions will attach themselves to the most negatively charged areas of the hair, which happens to be the damaged areas.

Hard water can damage hair by leaving a mineral buildup on the scalp and hair that can cause dryness, brittleness, and dullness. It can also make hair more difficult to manage and style and can interfere with the effectiveness of hair products.

Signs of hard water damage include:

Dry, damaged hair

Breakage

Dull hair

Tangled hair

Altered hair color

Tacky feeling on hair and scalp

Use a Chelating or Clarifying Shampoo

Clarifying Shampoos are designed to remove mineral buildup from hard water, as well as help manage other problems. Clarifying shampoos often contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be harsh on hair and cause dyes to fade. You should only use clarifying shampoos once a week or as needed.

Chelating shampoos contain chelating agents that bind to minerals and impurities in your hair and scalp. When you rinse out the shampoo, the trapped toxins go down the drain. The ingredient EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid) is what does the work in chelating shampoos. EDTA is a colorless solid that dissolves limescale and ions and binds to metals and minerals like chromium, iron, lead, and zinc.

Removing the hard water build-up each week with a chelating shampoo or Clarifying shampoo will not only make your regular shampoo better able to do its job, but it will also improve the performance of your conditioner and hair masks. In fact, you may be happily surprised if you use that detoxifying shampoo first and then apply your intensive hair mask!

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