There are two aspects that every woman on this planet wants – beautiful hair and glowing skin naturally. Most of us today struggle with dry, frizzy hair and bad skin. The efforts that some of us put in to get soft and gorgeous hair & skin is worth mentioning.
Going to the salon for hair spa, facials, trying natural home remedies- the things we do for our hair and skin. But even after putting in all your efforts, sometimes, it seems possible to get rid of dry hair, and getting glowing skin is a rare sight.
There may be only one reason behind this – Hard water. So, we have gathered some vital information that will help you fight the effects of hard water on skin and hair. Keep on reading to know all about hard water and the effects of hard water. Let’s start with the basics!
What is Hard Water?
The occurrence of minerals in water is natural. The groundwater that we use in our day to day lives, moves through the rocks and soil below the earth’s surface, dissolving the surrounding minerals present in the rocks and soil. Hard water refers to the water that consists of a high amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium.
How to Identify Hard Water?
- When you find it difficult to wash off the soap from your hands, leaving a stickiness, the water is hard.
- The water leaves white water stains inside the bucket or bathtub.
- Washed clothes don’t feel fresh, but instead, the clothes feel rough.
How bad is using Hard Water for you?
In simple terms, using hard water for quite some time will affect your hair and skin negatively, making it dry and itchy. When hard water comes in contact with soap, it results in the formation of salt that leaves a residue on your skin, hair, and scalp, harming the health of your skin and health. However, other than this, using hard water does not have any negative impacts on your health. Hard water also affects the plumbing of your house negatively.
Hard WaterWhat are the side effects of Hard Water on the skin?
Since hard water is rich in dissolved minerals, the main issue that most people find is the inability to form a lather while using soap and the difficulty to wash off the soap easily. Along with it, the excess minerals in the water clogs your skin pores.
Now we all know what happens when your skin pores get clogged often – Skin problems that no one wants.
- One of the biggest side effects of hard water on skin is – it takes away all the oiliness of your skin, making it dry and flaky.
- As using hard water blocks the skin pores, you may find yourself struggling with acne issues, skin rashes, and even rosacea.
- With time, the further side effects of hard water on skin is – it may make your skin age faster with the appearance of wrinkles.
- Using hard water further may also develop eczema, especially if you are prone to the development of eczema.
What are the Hard Water effects on hair?
As you can see, using hard water to wash anything leaves residue behind. This is bad for your hair as well. So, when you wash your hair with hard water, it leaves a residue that is a combination of the excess minerals in the water and the shampoo.
- The residue left behind affects your scalp negatively, making the roots weak, leading to hair fall.
- It also makes your scalp dry, itchy, and prone to dandruff.
- Another one of the most common hard water effects on hair is dry hair.
- Your hair color gets washed off easily.
Have you ever felt that after shifting to a different city or house, the quality of your hair has degraded? There was a time when everyone complimented your hair, but now it’s all dry and frizzy! There may be only one reason behind this – you have been using hard water to wash your hair.
Many people claim that the hair becomes brittle and easily breaks after using hard water. This may be applicable for some but, according to a study, it is seen that hard water does not affect the elasticity and tensile strength of the hair.
Ways to save your skin and hair when you use Hard Water
Now, how to protect skin from hard water, and how to save your beautiful hair from the effects of hard water? There are a few possibilities to fight the effects of hard water, keep on reading to know it all.
- The first and the most important thing to do if you have been wondering how to protect skin from hard water – test the quality of the water. There are several agencies that perform water quality tests. If confirmed, then you can install a water softener system that reduces the composition of the dissolved minerals in the water.
- Use bottled water or purified water to wash your hair and your face.
- Try installing a shower filter. Although the shower filter does not exactly soften the water, it removes constituents such as chlorine and certain dissolved minerals.
Hard WaterFighting off the effects of Hard Water on the skin
Opt for short shower durations. Showering with hard water for a longer period will increase the possibility of affecting your skin negatively. Instead of applying the regular soap, shower gels, and face wash, use soap-free cleansers. Irrespective of the quality of water, using soap-free cleansers is good for the skin. Such products have fewer chemicals. We all know that fewer chemicals, happier skin.
Apply a good moisturizer cream that provides hydration. Be sure to apply moisturizer while your skin is damp. This way, it helps to capture the moisture on your skin, keeping it hydrated.
Hard Water Hair Treatment – How to save your hair from the effects of Hard Water?
Switch to clarifying shampoos once or twice a week. As the name suggests, such shampoos clean your hair and scalp thoroughly removing the residue. Never use clarifying shampoo too often, as it will make your hair drier. Try the home remedies that will serve as hard water hair treatment. Try the homemade vinegar rinse for the goodness of your hair. The acidic nature of vinegar cleanses your hair removing all the residue. (Apple cider vinegar is recommended)
To make your vinegar rinse product, take 1 teaspoon of vinegar with 3 cups of water and mix. After washing your hair with shampoo, apply this mixture to your hair and keep it for at least 5 minutes. Rinse your hair with normal water. Try this remedy once a week to save your hair as much as possible from the effects of hard water.
- Apply lemon juice to your hair after washing your hair with shampoo.
- Try using leave-in hair conditioners to retain and keep your hair hydrated. This will add a shine to your hair, making it look lively.
- Try hair masks that hydrates your hair.
Hard Water Hair TreatmentUsing hard water takes away the lives of our hair and skin. So, try following these tips to protect your skin and hair from the negative effects of hard water. Other than this, install a water softening system to further stay away from the effects of hard water.
Even though drinking hard water has no known health effects, it may cause health issues possibly in the long run. So, try to stay away from hard water if possible and install a water softening system.
Take care♥
