Hard water can be detrimental to your hair and cause various hair conditions that may lead up to hair thinning and hair loss. While it won’t remove the buildup, most leave-in conditioners contain natural oils, like argan, jojoba, or almond oil. Over time the high concentration of minerals and dried soap can make the scalp dry and itchy, possibly leading to dandruff. While hard water is fine for drinking, it can cause many problems for your hair, scalp and skin. That is because it carries large amounts of minerals and metals. Try using filtered water, a gentle make up remover, toner or micellar water (like this Neutrogena one) that removes any left over water from your face after washing Avoid shower gel – it can dry out and irritate skin even more. Numerous scientific studies report that chlorinated water is a skin irritant and can be associated with rashes like eczema. Think about it – when you’re in the shower, water is typically falling directly onto your head, so your scalp is taking the brunt of it. These conditions can lead to dandruff, scalp psoriasis, and eczema. If you have hair problems, eczema, or dry scalp, a water softener will remove the calcium, magnesium, and other minerals that can build up. Your local water department should be able to do a test to determine the hardness in your actual water. DryScalpGone.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Hard water can make the rest of your skin feel dry and itchy as well. It can also make the scalp red and scaly. It usually would cause a fine powdery dandruff vs large flakes though. This irritation can hinder the way your hair and scalp absorb nutrients and oxygen, leading to hair fall. Essentially, it’s a mineral reaction with your skin that causes the dryness. But, one of the leading causes of itchy scalp often goes overlooked – water. While these minerals cannot hurt you in any way, they can certainly make things difficult when it comes to the overall health of your scalp, and the moisture allowed to reach it through the hair follicles. Calcium can be beneficial in other ways, but in this particular fashion, it creates a buildup, and that’s not something you’ll want to have to deal with on your scalp. Here's some hard water 101: Water at its natural state is soft and doesn't contain minerals. It can dissolve some of these minerals, like calcium and magnesium, so it begins to carry the minerals with it wherever it flows. This might not sound like a bad thing, but it can affect your scalp and hair negatively. It's caused by grooming habits or lack thereof. 5. Even using certain soaps and shampoos with hard water can cause more problems, because the chemicals in the shampoos can react with the minerals, and leave a sort of ‘soap film’ on your scalp, which can lead to even more itching. Salt water The moisture content present in our hair gets removed by salt water. The actual calcium salts that build up on the scalp are what causes the dry, itchy feeling, and can cause a lot of flaking to occur, as well. Here, we’ll dive into a few things most people don’t know about hard water, and we’ll run through some helpful solutions. Combined with volatile organic chemicals, it causes permanent respiratory problems. This is actually a pretty common scalp problem and causes hard dandruff. Well calcium not only stops up our toilets and cause low water pressure, it also can cause kidney stones and kidney failure if ingested in high amounts over time. Whether you use a vinegar rinse or a leave-in conditioner, you’ll likely notice a difference in the look and feel of your hair and the dryness and itching/flaking of your scalp. KDF shower filters that utilize the REDOX method, which transforms the impurities into harmless elements, remove heavy metals found in hard water such as copper, lead, mercury, iron, and others. Even using certain soaps and shampoos with hard water can cause more problems, because the chemicals in the shampoos can react with the minerals, and leave a sort of ‘soap film’ on your scalp, which can lead to even more itching. As many as 85 percent of homes in the United States have hard water, ... which can lead to issues with dandruff, too) by not allowing moisture into the hair strands. An apple cider vinegar hair and scalp rinse can help to fight back against the calcium and magnesium build-up on your hair and scalp. Now back to dandruff and how hard water affects it: The calcium component within hard water creates a buildup on your scalp, which contains residue from your shampoo, bacteria, yeast, and other icky stuff. Rainwater that comes from the sky isn’t classified as hard water. Side effects of hard water and chlorine can easily be overcome by many different techniques and technologies, the most environmentally friendly of which is a shower filter. This same residue is left on your hair and scalp. 3. Calcium that builds up on your hair can weigh it down, and dry it out. We know hard water is caused by a high amount of minerals dissolved into the water. Support wikiHow by The yeast from the accumulation then triggers excessive skin cell growth. That dryness will eventually reach your scalp. Avoid washing your face with hot hard water as it can cause your pores to block, leading to breakouts. Condition: Hard Water. Some standard shampoos can have an even more negative effect on your hair and scalp when they react with the minerals in hard water. But, rainwater isn’t always readily available to everyone, and it’s likely you don’t want to wait around to have to wash your hair whenever it rains. Keep reading to know more. These problems … A water softening system can make washing your hair not only easier but can also give it a much lighter and shinier appearance. We try countless shampoos, conditioners, and specialized hair treatments, but the results are often mixed. This includes both the hardness and pH of your water supply. As it hits the ground, it soaks into the earth through rocks, dirt, and minerals. Another option that can help with hard water on your scalp is buying a water filter for your shower. He noted that he finds very different issues from country to country, thanks to varying levels of water hardness. Now back to dandruff and how hard water affects it: The calcium component within hard water creates a buildup on your scalp, which contains residue from your shampoo, bacteria, yeast, and other icky stuff. That can cause more dryness and itching for your scalp than any other place on the body. The vinegar will help to balance the pH of your hair, reducing flaking and itchiness overall, and leaving your hair feeling smooth and silky, and your scalp refreshed. We can see this by placing water on a black plate and allowing it to evaporate and observing the white/yellow residue left behind. The calcium salts that build up in your scalp can cause dryness and flaking, AKA dandruff. However, when it flows through dirt, rivers, rocks, etc. 4. It causes dryness, breakage and thinning of hair. However, do not fret. What is Hard Water & What Problems it Does Cause? The result is dry, dull, tangly, and strange coloured hair. Calcium can build up over time, and magnesium can take away moisture from your skin. Hard water, in particular, has been blamed for various skin- and hair-related complaints. Water is an essential substance to wash and cleanse your hair, but hard water on hair makes it difficult. To understand how common hard water is throughout the world, use the United States as an example: At least 85% of water used by consumers in the U.S. can be classified as hard water to some degree, so it’s no wonder we have scalp struggles no matter where we live. Also, scalp fungus which is normally harmless can cause dandruff. Besides having hair problems, you can tell if you have hard water by … Hard water prevents the soap or shampoo from getting foamy, while soft water makes it a lot easier. Like calcium, it can dry out the hair and scalp, but it is quicker than calcium to go directly to the scalp, affecting hair follicles from growing and thriving, which can lead to quite a bit of flaking on the scalp. Essentially, it’s a mineral reaction with your skin that causes … I noticed that my locs (dreads) became very dry here and my scalp has had the worse dandruff I have ever had and no matter what products I use on my face, I suffer from adult acne consistently. Updated by Linda White on August 11, 2016. Hard water is water high in mineral content like calcium and magnesium. Simply mix in one tablespoon of vinegar with about three cups of water, and massage the mixture into your hair. Dandruff is one of the most embarrassing and itchy conditions that most of us experience at some point in our lives. When calcium reaches the scalp and builds up, it can also stop hair from growing on the scalp, and stop new hair from growing, as well. Welcome! A water softener is the best way to eliminate hard water in your home, though they can be quite expensive units if you don’t already have one installed. As you can see, hard water is virtually everywhere, and while there are ways to eliminate the effects of it practically, they can get costly. The right shower filter can wipe the side effects of chlorine and hard water on your skin and hair. These minerals do not cooperate with our hairs and cause color-treated hair to fade quickly. The overgrowth of cells ultimately leads to dry skin, which itches and flakes off, AKA dandruff. After many washing, minerals dissolved in the hard water create a film on the hair. your password Apparently, when you shower using hard water, a reaction occurs between the water and your shampoo which creates soap scum that clings to your skin, hair, and scalp. Another effect of hard water on hair to consider is that this type of water is very harsh on the hair. Hard water can also cause build up on the scalp, causing a dandruff-like condition to form. When the good bacteria number dwindle, the fungus grows unchecked — this results in flakes and redness. Specifically, hard water is often full of magnesium and calcium, which are normally helpful for your body, but can also mess with your epidermis. Even if you think you have very fine hair that has to be washed daily to avoid it looking greasy, the hard water can dry your scalp out to be point where it becomes dehydrated and oily." These can help to seal in moisture throughout your hair and scalp, reducing itching, dryness, and flaking overall. ... Hard water only causes temporary hair loss (also known as hair shedding). During this process, harmful elements become harmless. Hard water also contains minerals which dry out the skin, clog pores and lead to skin conditions like dermatitis, acne and eczema. Unfortunately, even clarifying shampoos can sometimes be harsh on your hair, since they strip a lot of things away, so it’s important to use them sparingly, whenever you’re experiencing dryness of the scalp. It’s a Good Idea to Find Out If You Have Hard Water, There Are Specialized Shampoos for Hard Water, A Leave-In Conditioner Can Provide Lasting Results. "Skin cells on our scalp are constantly replaced and shed," Anabel Kingsley, a trichologist at Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic, explains. can wipe the side effects of chlorine and hard water on your skin and hair. Hard water contains high amount of magnesium, calcium, silica and high amount of dissolved minerals. Dandruff causes the scalp to flake and may cause visible flakes on clothing or in the hair. The build up of calcium on the scalp also clogs the hair follicle, which may … Aside from being somewhat frustrating (and even annoying), hard water can cause regular damage to your scalp by drying it out, leading to itching, flaking, etc. your username. Beware over-using shampoo, make sure to condition, and protect your scalp with SPF. Hot water can give you dandruff What's causing it may not be your stress levels or the hair products, but the hard water from your shower. Of course, it can also cause problems for your hair. Magnesium is another oxidizer that water brings in from the soil in the ground. Hard water need not ruin your hair. In fact, washing your hair with rainwater can be a solution, and it’s been known to soften hair. Mineral deposits on the scalp also lead to scalp infections, dandruff, and scalp sensitivity. Double nightmare! Top 10 Best Dry Shampoos for Dyed, Colored or Color-Treated Hair, one ‘n only Argan Oil Dry Scalp Treatment Review. As the mineral content continues to increase, the water becomes harder and harder. Hard water can give you skin troubles too. "Hard water can irritate even the oiliest of scalps. "If skin cells begin to divide too rapidly—faster than they are shed—this is what causes flakes." The chances are that you’ve heard that hard water is bad for your scalp and hair, but most of us don’t take that idea into consideration, even when we’re experiencing damaged hair or a dry, itchy scalp.