
Hair damage from hard water happens over time from a cumulative process of mineral build-up. Minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium, build up on the hair making it brittle, hard to curl, lifeless and dull. In areas that contain extremely hard water, hair will take on different colors like brassy orange or even a ghoulish green!
If you've lived with moderately hard water for a period of time,
it's easy to overlook it as being the catalyst of limp and lifeless
hair that once had body and shine. And instead of putting blame
where blame is due, it's easy to go the route of endlessly trying
new shampoos and conditioning treatments in hopes you'll find the
remedy there for better hairstyles.
Do you know if you have hard water? Noticeable effects from
hard water include bathtub rings, spots on dishes, dingy yellowed
clothing and reduced foaming of shampoos and other detergents. If
you live in the city and are connected to city water, the folks at
city hall can answer the question. You can also contact your city
health department to find where you can have your water tested.
A demineralizing treatment is most effective for eliminating
mineral buildup on hair from hard water. For extremely discolored
hair from chlorine or other mineral buildup, a salon demineralizing
treatment is a great way to get it resolved quickly and easily. At
the salon they can speed up the process by using heat from a hooded
dryer and if more than one treatment is needed, they can spot it
and get it done.
But, for just a few dollars per treatment, you can do a
demineralizing treatment at home. My favorite is Malibu Hard Water
Demineralizer packets, which can be found at your local beauty
supply store. To use; wet granules in hands and apply to clean,
towel dried hair. Pay attention to cover all of the hair. Cover
with a shower cap or wrap in plastic and cover with a towel. The
longer the exposure the better and heat or steam helps the process.
Rinse and condition the hair.
Clarifying shampoos are an effective way of ridding the hair
from excess buildup. They are formulated to deep clean the hair and
remove residues deposited from hair products and other
environmental factors. This means they contain sulfates and other
active detergent agents that strip the hair, leaving it dryer than
normal. For that reason, a good conditioner or conditioning
treatment should always be used after a clarifying shampoo. Most
brands now include formulations specifically for color treated
hair, which I highly recommend for both longer lasting color and
maintaining the integrity of your hair.
An apple cider vinegar/water rinse is an at-home remedy for
hard water hair damage that may be worth a try. It's been used for
years to soften hair and it acts somewhat like a clarifying
shampoo. Apple cider vinegar is acidic and will neutralize the
effects of soaps and alkaline salts in water which can mix to form
a deposit that clings to the hair.
Malibu treatments or Clarifying treatments can be done weekly or
monthly to keep hard water hair damage at bay. And if you color
your hair . . . choose one of these treatments and make it part of
your beauty regime!
Guest author Barb Quinn has been a professional hair stylist for over 30 years and has established herself as a nationally recognized hair designer, educator, and freelance writer. Barb has been chosen by her peers to serve on the advisory panel of Cosmos C International the global hair stylist network. Thousands of women each day follow Barb's hair styling wit and wisdom on her highly successful blogs Hairstyle Blog and Visual Makeover. In 2011 The Hairstyle Blog was selected as Top Beauty Blog by BeautySchool.com.
Add a Comment
Thank you for submission! Your comment will be displayed after getting approval from our administrators.