This question was sent in by a reader and the answer is, “It can be”.
My research into hair and beauty tips tells me that the effects of hard water (which is found in 85% of the country) can strip the nutrients from your skin and leave hair brittle due to the fact that it contains higher levels of minerals and metals.
If these issues sound familiar to you, try switching to gentle, moisturizing natural beauty products. Cleansers with words like cream, milk, and oil will reduce irritation. To keep hair soft and sleek, remove heavy deposits with clarifying shampoo brands weekly, and apply a leave-in conditioner for dry hair after every shampoo.
If you have fine hair, it may get more texture and volume with hard water but it’s ultimately damaging – so stick with hair styling products to get this effect.
Another easy fix would be to install a showerhead with a purification system.
If you have any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
Well water can be especially hard on the hair. Ask anyone with well water and they will tell you, especially if they do not have a water softener. And even then, well water can wreak havoc with your hair. Symptoms of hair maladies due to hard water or well water can include dry or damaged hair; hair that is resistant to coloring, highlighting, perming or relaxing or straightening; hair that lacks body and shine; hair that is thinning or breaking; hair where the color fades too quickly; highlights that turn ruddy or discolored; and perms that fall out.
To know how to combat the effects of well water on your hair, it helps to know a little about what well water is, and why it does to hair what it does. As rain water filters through the earth, it picks up minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Silica and Lead. These minerals can cause different reactions in hair. For example, if water has an abundance of iron in it, hair will be discolored, turning an orange or rust color. Copper with give blond highlights a green tint. Magnesium causes hair to appear weighted down and lack volume. And calcium can prevent the proper processing of color, highlights, perms or relaxer/straighteners.
Short of washing your hair with bottled water, which some people with really bad water have had to do, there is an excellent set of products offered at Hair Care USA that can treat the ill effects of well water. Best of all, these products can be used in conjunction with your well water or hard water. By far the best and most potent is the Malibu Crystal Gel Treatment.
Malibu Crystal Gel Treatment removes Iron, Calcium, Chlorine, Copper, mineral discoloration and even medications from the hair. It is an excellent prep for chemical services such as highlights and perms. Malibu Crystal Gel Treatment comes in a small packet. To use, simply open the packet, pour the contents into the palm of your wet hand, then rub wet palms together to form a rich gel that when applied to hair turns to a lathering treatment. For severe build-up and extremely hard well water, the Malibu Crystal Gel Treatment should be processed under heat, such as under a hooded dryer. Although this can be done at home, it is recommended that this be done in the salon.
If your water is not that bad, but is still hard, you can try the Malibu Hard Water Weekly Demineralizer. This removes all hard water minerals that can discolor or damage hair. It eliminates brassiness, normalizes hair texture, and revitalizes shine and manageability. It may be used daily, weekly, or as often as desired. Like the Malibu Crystal Gel Treatment, Malibu Hard Water Weekly Demineralizer comes in a small packet. To use, simply open the packet, pour the contents into the palm of your wet hand, then rub your wet palms together to form a rich gel that when applied to hair turns to a lathering treatment.
The Malibu products offered at http://www.haircareusa.com are specifically designed to treat problem areas of the hair with natural, food-grade wellness ingredients. They are preservative-free and sulfate-free. If you have well water or hard water and need help with your hair, visit haircareusa.com and try the Malibu products. You will notice the difference from the first time you use them.