Ever wonder why your hair feels different while you travel to other parts of the world? Yeah, it might be a combination of the products you use on the go, plus the various weather conditions at other locales. However, it can also mean a change in the kind of shower water you use to wash your hair. Hard water has become quite the normal reality for us NYC dwellers—so much so that having the best shampoo for hard water is a must in our routines—that a brief reprieve oftentimes gives quite noticeable results:
The Best Shampoo for Hard Water
Find out which are the best shampoos so you can start using them to transform the texture of your hair.
What Is Hard Water?
First off, let’s discuss: Hard water, as ominous and unforgiving as it sounds, isn’t really harmful to one’s health. It’s simply water with high mineral content, most often calcium or magnesium. It’s the main culprit in soap scum and crusty showerheads. In some cases, as with a lot of buildings with steel pipes, it manifests as iron oxide (a.k.a. rust,) like red rings in your toilet bowl and shower drains.
Hard Water Culprits
Calcium: chokes your hair around the root, causing breakage. Sulfates: Strips natural oils out of strands. Magnesium: Takes away shine in your hair. Copper: Creates discoloration. Iron: Changes hair texture and causes dryness.
1. Dove Nutritive Solutions Clarify & Hydrate Shampoo
That said, you can probably guess that the best shampoo for hard water is one that clarifies build-up and residue. It’s important to remove all of those culprits we just mentioned to give your hair a chance to bounce back. Resetting your hair will allow your other hair care products to effectively do their jobs. Cleansing your locks once a week using a deep clarifying wash-and-care system, such as Dove Nutritive Solutions Clarify & Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner, will allow you to cleanse frequently without drying out your hair. This duo works to purify oily, dull hair from roots to ends and remove product build-up without stripping your hair.
2. Suave Professional Charcoal & Aloe Vera Clarifying Shampoo
Get the ultimate clarifying results with the power of charcoal and the soothing qualities of aloe vera. Suave Professionals Charcoal & Aloe Vera Clarifying Shampoo will purify your hair and remove any build-up from hard water and give your hair a soft and rejuvenated finish. Don’t forget to follow up with the conditioner, too! There are adventurous souls out there that also swear by a vinegar rinse for your locks when you feel the need to reset (half water + half vinegar in a spray bottle). For the less “Pinterested,” a pre-poo treatment can also help matters. Just as it locks out water to prevent a new color or moisture from leaching out, it can also help shield your locks from any mineral deposits from hard water.
3. TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner
We personally love the nourishing benefits of TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner, which uses Fleximax Volumizers and Fiber Polishing Actives that work to moisturize and provide volume and vibrancy to your hair. Apply a couple of pumps to wet hair at the start of your shower, and shampoo as usual. Even when you don’t plan on washing your hair, you can work on removing build-up and clarifying your roots. If you know you have a hard water shower, it can help to plan on taking fewer showers to avoid the nasties living in your shower head. Try adding a dry shampoo into your routine that promises to soak up that unwanted oil and gunk.
4. Dove Care Between Washes Clarifying Dry Shampoo
Dove Care Between Washes Clarifying Dry Shampoo is the answer to your in-between shower problems! Use this when you’re not showering to help soak up unwanted oils and nasties of hard water.
5. Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo
When using hard water on your hair, it’s important to make sure you’re removing unwanted build-up and allowing your strands to breathe and take in the goodness from your products. We love Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner because it gently removes build-up without being too harsh on your strands. Plus, it doesn’t deplete moisture, which allows your hair to stay nourished.
6. Love Beauty and Planet Delightful Detox Charcoal & Bergamot Shampoo
Love Beauty and Planet Delightful Detox Charcoal & Bergamot Shampoo and Conditioner is their perfect set if your strands are in need of a deep cleanse. This set aims to remove build-up on your scalp while providing nourishment for your hair. Both are super important when using hard water often. Plus, this shampoo is sulfate-free!
7. Love Beauty and Planet Delightful Detox Charcoal & Bergamot Shampoo Scrub
Does your scalp and hair feel like it needs the ultimate detox? Maybe you’ve been using hard water for a while and haven’t realized the. build-up it’s been causing on your strands? Love Beauty and Planet Delightful Detox Charcoal & Bergamot Shampoo Scrub is the perfect solution. We love this product because it’s a scrub and shampoo all in one. A scalp scrub naturally will give your strands a deeper cleanse, removing unwanted build-up from products and hard water. However, the charcoal and shampoo work to cleanse your strands at the same time, leaving you with ultra-clean hair. This product works on all hair types and should be used once a week. Bergamot oil for hair also protects your hair against frizz and smooths out hair cuticles. Hard water can really be an enemy when it comes to cleansing your hair and taking a nice shower. Although none of the side effects of hard water will cause any health problems, they can make keeping your strands happy a task. Try out these products and techniques; we know you’ll start to see a major difference in hair color and health in no time.
