Do you often notice a thin white crusty film on your tap? If the answer is yes, then you have hard water in your home. We say water is hard because of the high mineral content in the water. Hard water has an excess of calcium, chlorine, metals, magnesium, bicarbonates and even sulphates.
Hard water is a natural occurrence when water from ponds, river, and rain seeps through the soil and rocks into the ground drawing the minerals from them. So when ground water is your source of water supply, it is most likely that you’re the water is hard.
Why hard water is bad for you
When your body wash, soap or shampoo refuses to lather up with little, know that you are bathing with hard water. The minerals cling to the hair shafts and scalp causing a build-up which eventually dries out the natural moisture from hair. So eventually your hair feels rough to the touch and can get tangled easily. It gets brittle and breakage prone over time. Your hair colour fades out faster and you can experience hair loss as well.
Try out these steps and save your strands from the harsh effects of hard water:
Step 1: Strengthen your hair
The first step to protect ting your strands from hard water is to protect the top mantle of your scalp and strands. Do this massaging your scalp and hair with Argan oil. It is rich in fatty acids which form a protective barrier over the strands and prevent moisture loss. It also improves circulation to the roots and makes the follicles stronger. Massage the oil thoroughly all over your hair, then wrap your head in a warm, damp towel for the oil to soak into the scalp. Wash hair with a anti-hard water shampoo after about 10 minutes.
Product to try: WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Hair Oil
How it helps: The oil - a blend of argan Oil, olive oil, almond oil, castor oil – helps strengthen the strands and the roots. Prevents breakage and hair fall. Makes hair shiny and manageable.
Step 2: Use a chelating shampoo meant for hard water
Chelating shampoos are actually clarifying shampoos that are formulated to dissolve and remove the mineral build-up in your hair caused by hard water. The shampoo has a chelating agent that binds to minerals and removing them as you rinse your strands. You need to rinse your hair thoroughly. Since chelating shampoo can be drying so look for hydrating and strengthening actives in it.
Product to try: WOW Skin Science Hard Water Defense Shampoo
How it helps: The shampoo contains vitamin B5, jojoba oil and aloe vera extract and gentle chelating agents that break down and wash away hair and scalp deposits caused by hard water. It makes the hair soft, silky and manageable. Its pH balanced formula is totally free of sulphate, paraben, salt and silicone. You can use it on regular, chemically treated, or coloured hair.
Step 3: Use an apple cider vinegar rinse
Use a apple cider vinegar rinse after your shampoo to remove build-up and add bounce and shine to your hair. Mix 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water. First, shampoo your hair and rinse well. Apply the mixture through your scalp and hair length, leave on for a few seconds, and rinse with cold water. There’s no need to condition after. Due to the acidic nature of vinegar, consider using this rinse only once a week – perhaps alternating weeks with
Product to try: WOW Life Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
How it helps: It is pure, unfiltered, undiluted and unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar with 4% genuine mother of vinegar content. It helps by removing build-up on your scalp and clears out dandruff. Adds shine, bounce and volume to your hair.
Step 4: Soften hair with hair mist
You need to smooth the hair cuticles and protect the scalp from hard water with a repairing hair spray. It forms a protective and strengthening layer over your strands and prevents it from breakage. Prevents hair from getting tangled and gives it a silky smooth texture.
Product to try: WOW Skin Science Multi-Repairing & Nutrition Water Hair Spray
How it helps: This is formulated for protecting the scalp and hair from dryness caused by sun and pollution, and minerals in hard water. Contains witch hazel, vitamin E and Biotin to nourish the scalp, improve strength, boost hydration and makes hair silky soft.