If you’re struggling to achieve healthy hair, chances are you’ve spent a fair bit of money on shampoos, conditioners and treatments. But people often overlook the quality of the water they wash your hair with.
Hard water is common throughout the UK, and it can have a serious impact on your hair. Minerals found in hard water gradually build up on hair strands over time, leading to dryness, dulness and increase breakage. A water conditioner works by countering the effects of hard water. Meaning it is more gentle on the hair and scalp, helping your hair stay cleaner, smoother and easier to look after.
Read on to find out how hard water affects the health of your hair, and how improving water quality can help you achieve healthier-looking hair.
How Does Hard Water Damage Hair?
Hard water refers to any water source that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, most commonly calcium and magnesium. While these minerals pose no threat to your health when consumed, they can cause unwanted effects when they come into contact with hair and scalp.
When showering with hard water, calcium and magnesium cling onto individual strands of hair creating a thin layer of residue, which over time can throw off the natural balance of your hair and cause several common issues.
These effects can include:
- Dry and brittle hair
- Dull or lifeless hair
- Frizziness and tangles
- Hair that is difficult to style
- Scalp irritation/dandruff
Mineral build-up on hair strands makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate the hair. This causes hair to feel rough and lack hydration. As the cuticle layer becomes coated in minerals, hair can also lose its natural shine and appear heavier.
Another common issue with hard water is that haircare products are unable to perform as well as they should. Shampoos may struggle to produce a rich lather and conditioners may take longer to rinse out, or leave behind their own residue. Over time, a combination of hard water buildup and leftover product residue can cause an increase in hair breakage.
Benefits of Washing Your Hair With Soft Water
Water containing fewer hardness minerals tends to be much more gentle on your hair and scalp. As you wash your hair with softer water, hair strands remain smoother and clean allowing it to retain moisture more effectively.
Some of the many benefits of washing your hair with softer water include:
Hair stays cleaner for longer
As soft water allows shampoo to lather more, less product is required for the same level of clean. Additionally, fewer minerals means your shampoo will rinse out smoother and leave behind less residue.
Improved moisture retention
Your hair is able to retain its natural moisture levels better when there are no minerals blocking the hair strand. This helps prevent dryness, leading to better overall flexibility of your hair.
Shiny hair
Smooth cuticles that are free of mineral buildup allows the hair to reflect light more effectively. This can give hair an increase in shine, which is something many people notice when they first install a water conditioner.
Hair that is easier to style
Soft water helps hair feel smoother, reducing tangling and frizz. Smoother hair is also easier to style.
Reduced hair breakage
Well-hydrated hair that is free of mineral build-up is also stronger and less prone to breakage and healthier-looking hair may even begin to appear thicker over time.
The Role of Water Conditioners
- Water softeners work by removing minerals from your water supply. Most water softeners use salt as a means to regenerate the system and trap minerals.
- Water conditioners do not remove minerals from your water. Instead, they alter the behaviour of minerals within the water preventing minerals from adhering to surfaces like hair, shower heads, taps and appliances.
Making the Switch to Soft Water
After switching to a Halcyan water conditioner you may notice your hair feels different when you wash it. Because shampoo lathers more freely in softer water, you may experience:
- Smoother hair during rinsing
- Soft hair
- Hair may feel slippery when shampooing
In some cases hair may feel too soft or may appear greasy if you use too much shampoo or don’t rinse thoroughly. This is typically not an issue and can be fixed by using less shampoo or altering your rinsing process. When you compare the effects of soft water to hard water (dryness, irritation and breakage), most people notice a difference within just a couple of weeks.
UK Homes Often Have Hard Water
With many areas of the UK suffering from hard water (especially in southern and eastern England), millions of homeowners struggle with keeping their hair healthy. If you find your hair is constantly dry, lacking shine or is easily tangled despite using high-quality hair care products, your water could be the culprit.
Help your hair thrive by installing a water conditioner. Halcyan water conditioners help improve water quality by minimising the harmful effects of hard water, and healthier hair isn’t the only benefit you’ll begin to notice throughout your home.
Get in touch today to discuss the best conditioner for your home.
