Hard water is terrible for your hair; here’s how to combat the harm

*This article was originally submitted as a how-to story in a feature news writing course on Oct. 14, 2021.*

Realizing what hard water did to my hair caused me to completely change how I wash and treat it.

Growing up, hard water was never an issue for me, but then I went away to college here at Bradley University in Peoria. I never realized what a different kind of water could do to my hair.

My hairstylist freaked out when I returned home for a trim and some highlights.

She asked why my hair was so waxy, and I had no clue what she meant. She then proceeded to take a tool to the top of my head, slide it down a little and showed the white residue on my hair.

We realized that it was the water I was using at Bradley, and this was also causing my hair to become more tangled and take longer to dry than usual.

When I dyed my hair fun colors like pink and purple, the color barely lasted longer than two washes. The same thing happened to my lowlights, and my nice blonde color became a dull yellow. Something had to change.

I know I’m not the only one with these problems, so here are some of the tips my stylist has given me on how to better treat my hair when having no choice but to wash with hard water.

What is hard water? What damage does it cause?

Nearly 90% of American homes use hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, according to a 2018 article from Channel3000.

Not only can hard water make cleaning dishes and drinking quality water a challenge, but it also harms your hair by coating it and giving it a “waxy” feeling.

If you have thicker hair, then hard water can make it a little more difficult to tame, but the impact is harsher on those with finer hair and blondes.

“It’s very hard to comb, it has a smell to it, so it’s very hard to break through sometimes with color or with any chemicals,” my hairstylist said.

Washing your hair with hard water can cause color to fade quicker and turn blonde hair more yellow.

However, there are some ways to reverse these effects and prevent the build-up from getting worse.

Home remedies

Apple cider vinegar: My hairstylist said she knows people who will try apple cider vinegar to get rid of the build-up. This method is cheaper and a more natural alternative to some of the salon products.

Use more conditioner: Conditioner is always important to use, but it’s especially beneficial to those with hard water as it closes the hair cuticle, so the minerals don’t coat it as much. A leave-in or a deep conditioner from time to time is also good for the hair.

Water softener: This device works by removing the minerals like calcium and magnesium from the water. A water softener is a filter that can be installed directly on the showerhead and make it so that you may not need all these hair products.

Clarifying shampoo/treatment

One step you can take while still at home is using a clarifying shampoo, which strips away the mineral build-up from the water. Wash your hair with this once or twice a week, depending on how much your hair needs it.

Make sure to get a good lather and leave it in for a bit before rinsing it out.

If the mineral build-up does get to a point where at-home remedies don’t work, you may need to go to a salon and get a clarifying treatment.

Sometimes a Pre Art treatment, an intense clarifying treatment that takes away all chemicals that are in the hair, might be needed in extreme cases. A hairstylist will let it sit for about 15 minutes before washing the client again with a clarifying shampoo.

Blonde? Use a purple shampoo

Purple shampoo is a must-have for all the blondes out there. It neutralizes the yellow that a beautiful blonde can turn into if not treated properly. Use this product once a week and leave it in for a bit before rinsing out.

Wash less, cool and quickly

Do not wash your hair every day. Try to go every other day or wash only twice a week if your hair can tolerate the wait. You should also be using water on the cooler side, especially if you have treated hair.

“[It’s a] as quick as you can wash your hair kind of thing,” my hairstylist said. “Don’t sit under that water.”

Don’t forget about your brush

Effects of hard water don’t stop at the shower, as the build-up from your hair can transfer onto your brush. The mineral residue looks like white spots all over the brush and can also make the base waxy just like the hair. This can worsen the effects of washing with hard water since you’re brushing with a tool that is coated in the same minerals you want out of your hair.

People with hard water may have to replace their brush once a month or try soaking it in hot — maybe even boiling — water to absorb the residue, then brush it out. It is recommended to use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush.