Can Hard Water Really Cause Hair Loss?

How To Protect Your Hair From Hard Water

antabikhyagogoi
13 Min Read

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Are you also experiencing hair loss lately? Have you seen your hair strands becoming weaker, dull and brittle? Ever wondered about the cause of this? Yes, the health of your hair is very much dependent on water quality. Also, using hard water causes hair loss, hair breakage and hair damage. There are various causes for this and this article will answer your every query as well as provide tips to prevent this.

Can hard water cause hair loss
Image by Martin Slavoljubovski from Pixabay/copyright2020

1. What is Hard Water?

Water Pollution due to constant modernization and development of the world is a major concern for everyone. It is affecting us in every way possible and most of the time, we are oblivious to it. This has resulted in a decrease in soft water across the globe and hence the increase in hard water to meet the demands of the population.

Water often contains high levels of minerals in it. The water which contains the higher levels of mineral quantity in them is known as hard water. The most common minerals in hard water are iron, magnesium and calcium. This hard water containing more or less amount of calcium and magnesium minerals does not possess any direct threat to your health but its continuous use may make your hair dry, and dull and eventually cause hair loss.  

2. How Hard Water Cause Hair Loss?

You may notice a change in your hair texture as it will get more dry and brittle. The minerals in your water get into your hair fibres and cause hair damage. You may also have witnessed split ends in your hair. Hair growth is also disrupted by mineral-infused water. These are all signs that hard water is damaging your hair and you are a victim of hair loss. The effects of hard water are stated below in detail. 

3. Effects of Hard Water on Your Hair and Hair Loss?

  3.1 Fadedness of Hair Color

Mineral-based water results in the loss of your natural hair colour. There will be fadedness of hair colour along with dullness. 

  3.2 Brittle Hair 

You will see split ends in your hair, especially in the ends of your hair strands and breakage in hair fibres. Brittle hair ultimately causes hair breakage and you may have noticed this while combing or brushing your hair. Your hair usually looks lifeless and dry because of hard water usage.

  3.3 Dry Scalp

Hard water makes the scalp of your head dry and prone to dandruff. It creates irritation and itchiness as well as destroys the hair follicles and hair shaft. Hard water brings down the level of vitamin B and vitamin C present in your hair causing inflammation causing dryness. This may be reduced by exfoliating your scalp with a mask or using shampoos rich in vitamins B and C. 

  3.4 Thinning of Hair Strands

Your natural hair may lose its natural strength and grow thin if the water contains high mineral content. As the hair grows weak, it loses its strength and gets thin. 

  3.5 Frizziness

Hard water may also make your hair frizzy as it gets dry. Though, other factors like humidity and hot weather may also be the reason for frizziness, washing your hair with hard water makes your hair more prone to this. Frizzy hair is a temporary issue but may easily turn into a permanent problem. It gives your naturally soft hair a messy and untidy look as your hair appears to look like it’s flying. 

4. Simple Tips to Prevent Hair Loss by Hard Water

  4.1 Water Softener

The simplest way to transform your hard water so that it is safe to wash your hair is by installing a water softener in your shower or your entire household once and for all. Ion-exchange resins are the best water softeners for this. Investing in this will see an improvement in your hair and skin health so install a water softener as fast as you can as this softened water will prove wonders to you.

  4.2 Quick Shower with Cold Water (Avoid Hot Water)

Another way of avoiding damage to your hair and hair fall is to avoid washing hair with hot water. Even though hard cold water is still hard water, its effect will be far less than hot water. You should also prioritize a quick shower over long showers as it will have less harmful effects on your scalp and skin if you have sensitive skin.

  4.3 Wear a Hair Cap

You may also wear a hair cap to keep your hair strands from damage while in the shower when not necessarily washing or hair or swimming. This will protect your hair from the mineral deposits in pool water which mainly includes calcium carbonate as it is used to keep the water and pool clean. This often results in losing 

  4.4 Use Filtered Water with Good Conditioner and Shampoo

A shower filter while washing your hair also helps in keeping away the hard minerals such as bicarbonate salts, and magnesium sulfate which cause temporary or permanent hardness. You may use purified bottled water which is filtered with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner suiting your hair. Leave-in conditioners after washing your hair in hard water will prevent hair thinning and other problems that may further lead to hair loss. Using drinking water or distilled water will also do the job.

  4.5 Boil Water or Add Lemon Juice

To Make Your Water Soft without Using a Filter or Water Softener, You Can Simply Boil the Water and Let It Cool Down Before Washing Your Hair. You May Also Try Adding a Small Amount of Lemon Juice to Your Water and Use It to Wash Your Hair.

  4.6 Visit Dermatologist

However, for best ways to prevent hair loss from using hard water continually should be consulted with a dermatologist or frequent salon visits to your nearest best salon. 

5. Hair Restoration after damage from Hard Water

  5.1 Hair Masks

Applying hair masks will help your scalp regain its nourishment and restore its natural oils. This will also keep the minerals out and lock the moisture in your hair. You should use a hair mask or moisturizing mask at least twice a week and leave it as stated in the packet for best results. Masks containing aloe vera contains are the best.

  5.2 Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

The most effective way of fixing your damaged hair from hard water and preventing hair loss is mixing water, vinegar and apple cider or in any case, some other citrus juice solution, which will lower your hair’s ph and maintains your hair balance. The best effect of this is that it will strengthen your scalp and make your hair super shiny and silky. As normal natural hair has an acidic ph, and apple cider is also acidic, it is very effective in bringing down your ph, caused by frequent use of hard water. Its acidity also helps in killing off any bacteria or fungi that may be residing in your scalp and hair. 

This mixture of apple cider vinegar and water should be in the proportion of 2/4:16. You may apply it after shampooing and conditioning your hair and let it rest in your head for a few minutes before rinsing it. This should be done very carefully as the mixture might be dangerous to your face and body. 

  5.3 Organic Oils

You may also use natural remedies like organic oils like coconut, argan or almond oil on your hair and scalp. This will hydrate your hair and reduce the effect of the excessive minerals present in your water. Coconut oil will make your hair shiny and give volume and strength to your hair follicles as well. Argan oil and almond oil are also rich in moisture content. The former also has many protective benefits. Almond oil on the other hand will provide nourishment to your hair and will strengthen your hair as well as tame your frizz. 

You can use these oils before hair wash or apply them while it is wet before styling. 

  5.4 Hair Care Routine

You should also start a proper hair care routine to fix your damaged hair with hard water. Oiling your hair should be the first step. You may consult a doctor for professional help. The first step should be followed by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo and distilled bottled water in case you are unable to install a water softener or filter. Apply a good conditioner which will help your hair to retain its moisture.  Conditioning makes your hair less dry and frizzy and also helps in managing your hair better after a shower. 

Treating your hair with moisturizing masks should also be added to your routine. You may use it in exchange for a conditioner some days of the week. After hair wash and conditioning or a hair mask, you must use a serum. This is keep away frizziness and it will also protect your scalp. The last step in your routine should include protection of your hair and scalp. This may be achieved through a leave-in conditioner as it will protect you from pollution and other dust present in the air when you go outside.

Conclusion

Hard water is affecting almost everyone. It contains a high amount of minerals that are not bad for your interior health but quite dangerous for your exterior health. It contains a high amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium sulphates. Hard water is destroying skin and causes hair damage and loss. However, there are very simple and effective ways that you can use to prevent it from affecting you. Carefully applying the abovementioned tips and suggestions in your life and routine will retain your hair growth and health and keep your head full. 







Last Updated on by kalidaspandian

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