Water plays an undeniably crucial role in our daily lives and is the basis of our existence. Good quality water helps in our overall health and also has immense benefits for our skin and hair health.
Before going into the topic, we should know what hard water is and what makes water hard or soft.
Types of water based on its concentration of minerals
- Hard Water
- Soft Water
Hard Water
The basic formula of water is H₂O, meaning a molecule of water comprises two Hydrogen atoms and an Oxygen atom. But the water which we find in our environment is mainly a mixture of H₂O and other minerals and metals as the water flows through different soils, rocks, and other parts of the ground and is made up of varying chemical compositions.
In this process, the water acquires some minerals and metals. Now, when the concentration of the minerals Calcium and Magnesium minerals is more in water, we can say the water is hard. The more concentration, the harder the water.
Soft Water
Water with lower concentrations of Calcium and Magnesium minerals is soft water, although sodium content may be a little higher in it. As said for hard water, the same rule goes here. Lesser the concentration, the softer the water gets.
Is Hard Water Good or Bad
One can drink hard water as it contains the minerals needed for the body. If you are deficient in Calcium and Magnesium, hard water may be good to consume as it will help increase the mineral content and reverse the deficiency.
Hard water tastes better because the mineral deposit imparts a taste factor to the water.
Hard water is not preferred for bathing and washing, as it reacts with soap and forms certain chemicals, which add a layer of residue over the body. This gives an unclean or chalky feel even after bathing.
The vessels, when washed with hard water, may get white spots upon drying due to the calcium residue left on them. The water may lead to scaly deposits in tap showers.
Identifying Hard Water
We can identify hard water in the household by observing the following:
- While bathing with soap, the water forms soap scum rather than lather, because calcium in the water reacts with the soap. Skin doesn’t feel smooth even after washing because of the residue left by this chemical reaction.
- White spots because of calcium residue left on the vessels after washing and drying.
- Calcification on the tap openings and shower openings.
- Water pressure in the pipes is less, because of the mineral deposits inside.
How Does Hard Water Affect the Body?
Hard water impacts our bodies superficially in a negative way due to various reasons. Let us see how.
Impact of Hard Water on Skin
When used on the skin, hard water creates soap scum and leaves a residue over the skin. Our skin has millions of pores that help the skin breathe and also for secreting sweat, cooling off the body during hot weather, or when certain activities like exercise and such generate excess heat in the body.
When the pores get clogged because of the residue, it damages the skin by not being able to do its functions.
The residue left on the skin makes it itchy, and prone to rashes, and makes any existing skin conditions like dermatitis, worse.
Impact of Hard water on Hair and Scalp
Hard water impacts the health of the hair too, when used regularly. It leaves its mineral deposits to settle on the scalp, which builds up, leaving residues and flakes over time. Like skin, the hair scalp also suffers similar damage because of this.
Similar to pores in the skin, the hair follicles get clogged with this mineral build-up and residue, making it difficult for hair roots to stay strong and healthy when you use hard water for longer periods for hair wash. Remember that hair follicle is the path through which hair grows from its root deep inside the scalp.
Hard water reacts with shampoo, creating a chemical residue deposited in the scalp and its already present minerals. The shampoo, if it is sulfate-based, makes it even more problematic. Also, the mineral deposits make the shampoo remove any excess oils and dirt from the hair.
With this flakiness and dryness of the scalp, it becomes difficult for new hairs to grow from the roots. Existing hair may struggle to stay healthy.
How Hard Water Leads to Hair Loss
Not only does the scalp get irritated and dry, which in turn causes damage and problems in hair growth, but the hair shaft itself may also get damaged directly due to the usage of hard water.
The hair shaft is the part of the hair, which is visible to us, which is the part of the hair which grows above the scalp.
While there are studies that show that hair water does not impact the tensile strength and elasticity of the hair in any way, it may be true that hair suffers damage in other ways.
Hair becomes dry, frizzy, and susceptible to breakage in the long run. If no efforts are taken to protect the hair from this kind of damage, it will eventually result in more hair breakage and hair loss. The essential oils, moisture and natural oils from the hair are stripped off because of this, leaving the hair dull and lackluster.
Common signs of using hard water on your hair
- Dry hair
- Brittle hair
- Hair breakage
- Hair Thinning
- Slow growth of the hair
How to Fix the Hard Water Issue
Hardness in water can either be temporary or permanent. When the minerals are present in the form of bicarbonate salts, it is temporary hardness. Boiling the water helps remove them. Whereas, permanent hardness comes when the minerals are present in the sulphate forms which is difficult to remove with boiling.
When it comes to fixing hard water issues in the house in general, we can use water softeners.
Water Softeners
They are devices that help remove the deposits of calcium and magnesium by filtering them when water passes through them. There are many types available in the market.
1. Water Softener for the whole house
These are devices to be fixed to the main water supply pipeline of the house, to convert the hard water into soft water by reducing the concentration of mineral deposits in it, making the water quality better. They filter the magnesium and calcium minerals, reduce the concentration, and send the filtered water through the main pipe.
2. Water Softener for washing machine
We need to install this to the water supply pipe given for washing machines. This can protect the clothes from wear and tear from hard water.
3. Water Softener for Bathroom
We need to fix this kind of softener to the bathroom pipelines. It will take care of the hard-to-soft water conversion for geysers and showers, and we can use the water for bathing and washing hair.
Hair Care Routine
Follow the below tips for good hair care despite hard water.
1. Shower Filters
Fix the shower filter to the shower head, which will filter the mineral deposits in the hard water, giving softened water for us to use. If we can’t afford the softeners, we can opt for this. You can use filtered water, devoid of magnesium and calcium, to wash your hair. It can prevent hard water hair loss effectively.
2. Clarifying Shampoo to remove deposits
If hard water cannot be filtered, one should go for clarifying shampoo instead of normal sulphate shampoos. They contain extra ingredients like Apple Cider Vinegar, which helps clear the mineral and other deposits and residues from the scalp and the hair, giving the hair its shine back. Using them to wash your hair can prevent hair loss, eventually making the hair strands gain their original texture and smoothness.
3. Use Lemon Juice
Citrus fruits contain citric acid, which helps to remove the mineral buildup and clear any residues left on the scalp and hair. One of the natural remedies is to mix a tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with about three cups of water in that ratio, to rinse hair while finishing washing the hair, which will help the residue removal. It helps brittle and damaged hair, reversing the effects of hard water.
4. Vinegar Rinse and Distilled Water
Use vinegar to wash your hair when using hard water. The same ratio of 1 tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar to three cups of water can be used to rinse the hair off, which will remove the mineral buildup and fix brittle hair.
Distilled water does not contain any minerals, and thus, can also be used to wash the hair.
5. Hair Maintenance and Growth
Seek salon visits that provide rejuvenating massages, which may help boost hair growth too.
Avoid chemical treatment in your hair as they can exacerbate the damage sustained due to hard water. Hard water also affects any hair colouring done and fades it sooner.
Trying to rinse hair with purified bottled water to finish the last rinse may help remove the hard water and its traces from the hair and scalp. Use moisture-rich Leave-in conditioners after hair wash, which will help the hair get naturally soft and smooth.
6. Moisturizing masks to avoid further damage
Use the ready-to-use moisturizing hair masks that are available in the market. Alternatively, you can use homemade ones for the same purpose, with ingredients like Aloe Vera, Coconut oil, Honey etc.
Final Note
We have seen in the above article, what is hard water, how it causes hair loss, and the science behind it. With the given ways to tackle the hard water problem and protect hair from further damage, one need not fear hard water, rather use the tips given and put an end to hard water hair loss. Hope this serves as an enlightening article that clears all doubts surrounding hard water and related hair damage.
Last Updated on by Sathi
