Hard Water Effects on Hair: Signs, Damage & Fixes

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

What Hard Water Does to Your Hair

Hard water leads to buildup of minerals like calcium and magnesium on hair and scalp.
Hair becomes dry, dull, frizzy, and prone to breakage from blocked moisture absorption.
Common signs include split ends, matting, brassiness, and increased hair loss.
Scalp issues worsen, with more dryness, flaking, and irritation.
Use clarifying shampoos and hydrating masks to remove buildup and restore moisture.
Trim hair regularly to minimize damage.
Install a water softener or shower filter to reduce future hard water effects.
Salon treatments can help fully remove stubborn residue.

If your hair feels frizzy, rough and dull after washing, you may have hard water. This heavily-metal-charged water builds up and clings to your hair, coating it with a film that can make it unmanageable while simultaneously drying out and irritating your scalp.

It can also be incredibly damaging to your strands. So what does hard water do to your hair? We’re breaking down everything to know about the effects of hard water on your hair- including the signs to look out for and how to treat and prevent damage. And it's all ahead now!

In this Article:

What is Hard Water?

What are the Effects of Hard Water on Hair?

Recognizing the Signs of Hard Water on Hair

Hard Water and Dandruff

Treating and Preventing Hard Water Hair Damage

Making Your Home Hard Water-Friendly

Keeping Your Hair Healthy Despite Hard Water

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is a term describing water with a high concentration of minerals and metals. In its pure state, water is soft. It becomes “hard” when it comes in contact with soil, which in the US is often full of metals that dissolve in the water; and passes through metal piping and other water supply structures. The high levels of these metals and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, aluminum iron and zinc, built up in your tap water can cause issues when it comes to the health of your hair. So how does hard water affect your hair? Keep reading to find out.

What are the Effects of Hard Water on Hair?

Hard water can be damaging to all hair types, but it’s especially harsh on fine and curly hair, The former is already prone to buildup, and the latter is naturally dry. Hair that’s been bleached or colored is also more susceptible to the negative effects of hard water. So exactly what does hard water do to your hair?

Metal and mineral buildup from hard water leads to hair that’s flat, lifeless and dry.
It can cause frizz, increased split ends and breakage.
This same buildup on your scalp blocks follicles, affecting healthy hair growth and texture.
High levels of copper buildup in hard water can turn your hair orange.

Recognizing the Signs of Hard Water on Hair

The signs of hard water on hair include hair dryness, dullness, split ends and breakage, matting, frizz, brassiness, and even hair loss. If you’re noticing any of these signs, your water may be to blame. Let's dive deeper into the hard water effects on hair below.

Dryness and dullness

Hard water buildup can make it impossible for your hair to absorb moisture, no matter how often you try to hydrate it. If your moisturizing products don’t seem to be adding moisture to your dry, dull strands, it could be a sign of hard water.

Split ends and breakage

Split ends and breakage are another sign of hard water damage. If you’re noticing persistent split ends and excessive shedding even after getting a haircut, it could be the result of hard water.

Matting

Hair that tangles easily and is always matted, even right after brushing, is a tell-tale sign of hard water. Mineral buildup on your hair makes strands hard. This hardening, combined with the residue left behind causes friction, leading hair to matte and tangle.

Brassiness

Especially if you’ve got blonde or color-treated-hair, brassiness is another sign of hard water. The high levels of copper and iron in the hard water left behind on the hair shaft can lead to a brassy, or even orange hue.

Hair loss

Increased breakage caused by hard water (see above) can lead to thinning and even hair loss if it’s not treated. If you’re noticing more breakage than usual -to the point of thinning strands or hair loss- hard water damage could be to blame.

Frizz

One of the most common signs of hard water on hair is frizz. The high concentration of metals and minerals left behind interfere with the hair's structure, causing the cuticle to become uneven and rough, leading to frizz.

Scalp irritation

Hard water forms a residue on the scalp that clogs pores and strips the scalp’s oils, leaving it dry, itchy and prone to flare ups. Because of this, the skin on the scalp can become more easily irritated.

Hard Water and Dandruff

While hard water can’t actually cause dandruff (dandruff is caused by an overgrowth of a natural scalp bacteria) it does cause dryness, flaking and irritation — all of which can exacerbate conditions like dandruff, eczema and dermatitis.

You can keep your scalp balanced and free of flakes, itchiness and irritation by regularly exfoliating with a scalp scrub. Use a scalp scrub once or twice a week before you shampoo by massaging it into your scalp in circular motions with your fingertips.

Treating and Preventing Hard Water Hair Damage

Treat and prevent hard water damage by thoroughly cleansing your scalp and hair of the metal and mineral buildup coating it; deeply nourishing your hair and scalp; and regularly ridding your strands of damage. These tips will help you treat the effects of hard water on your hair and prevent future damage.

Using Specialized Shampoo for Hard Water Hair

The first step in treating hard water damage is making sure all the buildup is gone. A weekly deep cleanse with a clarifying shampoo helps to keep the scalp metal and mineral free.

Our favorite clarifying shampoo to combat hard water is Solu Shampoo. It uses natural active ingredients for a deep cleanse that rids the scalp and hair of buildup, leaving it clean, refreshed, soft, shiny and primed for the next tip.

Nourishing Masks and Oils

Regularly applying nourishing masks and oils to your strands can help combat the damage caused by the high mineral concentrations left in your hair.

Once or twice a week (depending on your hair’s level of damage) apply a mask like Vegetarian Miracle Mask or Hair Building Pak to freshly washed hair for at least 20 minutes to deeply moisturize and add strength.
Fight damage and frizz and seal split ends with Oi Oil. It adds shine and softness, while helping to detangle and making your hair smell amazing.

Regular Hair Trimming

Regular hair trims improve the appearance and overall health and condition of your hair, and are an important part of a healthy hair care routine. Additionally, regularly trimming your hair helps reduce and prevent the damaging effects of hard water on your hair.

Trimming regularly ensures that all split ends and breakage are removed before traveling up strands and getting worse.
Aim to trim your hair every 6-8 weeks, depending on its condition and the shape of your cut, to stave off the effects of hard water damage

Making Your Home Hard Water-Friendly

If you live in an area that has hard water (and it’s likely that you do, 85% of the water in the United States is) the only way to rid the water in your home of damaging metals and minerals is to install a water softener or add water filters. Let’s break down the two best ways to keep your strands safe from the damaging effects of hard water when you shower.

Installing a water softener

A water softening system reduces the concentration of dissolved metals and minerals in hard water. Water softeners work by replacing calcium or magnesium with water-soluble minerals like sodium or potassium through a process called ion exchange.

Adding a water filter to your shower head

Though not as effective as a water softening system (but more affordable, as softeners can be a costly investment) a shower filter not only reduces the mineral content of tap water, but filters other impurities like chlorine and sediment.

Treat Your Hair

Keeping Your Hair Healthy Despite Hard Water

Hard water contains high concentrations of minerals and metals that can wreak havoc on your hair and have long term, damaging effects. Mineral buildup leaves a film behind and can cause your hair to be flat, lifeless and dry on top of increased frizz, split ends and breakage.

Fortunately, you can treat and prevent the harsh effects of metal and mineral buildup by using the highest quality hair care products to thoroughly cleanse and deeply nourish your hair and scalp; and regularly trimming off damage.

Add an extra layer of protection against hard water damage by installing a water softening system or shower filter to halt the effects before a drop ever touches your strands. And if you’ve taken all the right steps and you're still struggling with the symptoms of hard water, it may be time for a professional treatment at a Davines salon near you to help remove any stubborn residue and build-up left behind by hard water.

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