It is said that our hair is one of our greatest jewels. The quality of our hair, apart from our skin, can speak about how well we take care of ourselves. Just like skincare, hair care is a routine that needs ample investment. A good diet, effective products, and a healthy lifestyle can do miracles for your body and hair.
However, often the factors affecting the health of our hair are external, such as a change in weather and an increase in pollution. Hard water is one of them, which can lead to dry, frizzy, and damaged hair. But first, we need to know what is hard water in order to understand how it affects the health of our hair.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is a type of water that is high in mineral content, especially calcium and magnesium. Hard water can lead to many problems in your household too, including clogged pipes. When bathing, it tends to leave soap residue on your skin and hair.
While hard water isn’t necessarily harmful to your health, it can have dire consequences on your hair. The excessive minerals present in the water react with the shampoo to form a residue that can block the pores on your scalp, thus preventing hair from absorbing any moisture. This results in dry, entangled, frizzy, and damaged hair. If not treated, hard water can also cause serious hair fall.
Controlling the Damage
All is not lost when it comes to curing the damage done to your hair by hard water. There are many ways in which you can treat them effectively, some of which are given below:
- Softening the Water
Water softeners are efficient in turning hard water soft, thus getting rid of all the excess minerals and giving you water that is not damaging to your hair. This can be very helpful to those who suffer from dandruff and hair build-up. - Shower Filter
Water softeners can be quite expensive, and hence a cheaper way to deal with hard water is to install a shower filter that can reduce mineral and chlorine particles present in water. - Specially-formulated Shampoos
Look out for shampoos containing Reetha (Soapnut) and Shikakai (Soap-pod) as they can be very helpful in deeply cleansing and conditioning your damaged hair. You can also use clarifying shampoos that will help in breaking down the mineral build-up on your scalp formed by the regular use of hard water. - Leave-on Conditioners
While this will not remove the residues left by hard water, a leave-on conditioner can be very effective in sealing the moisture in your hair, giving it a glossy and smooth finish.
Home Remedies
Certain home remedies can be very helpful in reversing the damage caused by hard water to your hair.
- Vinegar Rinse
Any vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar (ACV), can be very helpful in dissolving calcium buildup in your hair. It also acts as a pH balancer for your scalp and can leave you with softer and smoother hair. Just mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with 2 cups of water, and pour this solution on your hair after you have finished shampooing. Leave it for at least 2 minutes and then rinse off. Use this once a week. - Lemon Rinse
The acidic nature of lemon acts as a great dissolver for all that buildup in your hair, just like vinegar. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to 3 cups of water, and pour it on your hair after you’ve finished shampooing. Leave it for at least 2 minutes and then wash off. This remedy is also helpful in treating dandruff.
Hard water can cause a lot of damage to your hair. Following the tips given above can help in healing your hair. However, if the problem persists, we recommend that you see a trusted hair specialist or a dermatologist near you.
We, at Orijine, also provide numerous hair care products such as hair masks and hair oils that can help you combat the damage done by hard water. Please speak to our doctors or browse through our collection to find the right product for you.