Have you ever noticed your hair feeling dry, dull, or like your colour just isn’t lasting the way it should? You’re not alone and the culprit could actually be the water coming out of your shower. Many of us live in hard water areas without even realising it, and those extra minerals can have a big impact on the health and look of your hair.
In this blog, I’ll explain what hard water is, how it affects your hair, and most importantly, what you can do to protect your hair so they stay soft, shiny, and healthy.
What is hard water?
Hard water has a high concentration of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. This can create problems such as limescale, and it can also leave your hair and skin feeling dry.
What is calcium and why is it bad for my hair?
Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral dissolved from rocks like limestone and chalk as rainwater flows over them. Calcium ions react with soap, and when this happens it’s known as “soap scum” – which makes washing less effective.
Calcium can form a residue on your hair, causing it to become weaker and more prone to breakage. This mineral build-up can block moisture, making it harder for your hair to stay hydrated and grow healthily. It can also lead to scalp problems such as itchiness and dryness.
What is magnesium and why is it bad for my hair?
Magnesium in hard water refers to dissolved magnesium ions. The greater the concentration of magnesium and calcium, the harder the water.
This mineral build-up on your hair can cause dryness, dullness, and brittleness. It also creates a barrier on your strands, blocking natural oils and moisture. Over time, this can lead to breakage and split ends.
What are the signs of hard water on my hair?
- Split ends
- Dryness
- Breakage
- Sensitive scalp
- Dullness
- Frizziness
- Brassiness
- Green tones (especially if you’re blonde or swim a lot)
Hard water is completely safe to drink and bathe in, but the problem lies in how it affects your hair. Imagine spending £200 on your colour, only for it to fade and feel dry or brittle after just a few washes at home. This could be down to the hard water in your area – but the good news is there are ways to help fix it.
How to protect your hair from hard water:
- Water filter for your shower head – This helps remove some of the unwanted minerals, leaving your hair feeling softer.
- Deep conditioning treatment (once a week) – Restores moisture and shine to your hair.
- Wash with lukewarm water – Hot water strips colour as well as moisture, so if you combine it with hard water the effects are even stronger. Turning it down a notch will help maintain both your colour and condition.
- Use a detox shampoo (once a week) – Helps remove build-up of harsh salts and minerals caused by hard water.
Hard water areas in the UK:
Towns with hard water areas in the UK:
- Bath
- Bristol
- Guildford
- Hemel Hempsted
- Milton Keynes
- Oxford
- Reading
- Slough
- Swindon
- Walton-On-Thames
Counties with hard water in the UK:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Dorset
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- Kent
- Oxfordshire
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Wiltshire