Are You Experiencing Hair Breakage? Hard Water Might Be Why. Three Possible Solutions!

Photo courtesy of dreamstimes.com

It can be frustrating to experience hair breakage even when following good hair care practices.  I wish conventional knowledge on hair breakage/dryness focused more on hard water's effects on hair. To clarify, hard water is defined as water with high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Such water, in excess levels, may leave behind calcified residue after evaporating or slippery film despite washing with soap and rinsing. When hard water film forms on the hair, it blocks moisture and stiffens it. Although sources state hard water does have some health benefits as it contains essential nutrients like calcium, its moisture-blocking effects on hair eventually cause breakage. 

How can we avoid this? Unfortunately, in the US it is quite difficult. At least 80% of municipal water in America is hard; so is most well water. The following map (courtesy of https://www.softwaterfiltration.com/hard-water-areas/) illustrates this:

Chelating shampoos (least expensive), shower filters and water filtration systems (most expensive) are products used to lessen hard water-related hair damage. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), the main component of chelating shampoos, removes calcium and other metals from the body's molecules. Shower attachments with calcium trapping/filtering filters are available online. I won't discuss installing water filtration systems here because it is often complicated and requires professional consultation. For maximum benefit, these items should be used together. Depending solely on non-chelating shampoos and conditioner with filtered water isn't the best method in my opinion. 

 1. Hair Print Bio-Active Shampoo

2. Hair Print Bio-Active Conditioner

 

3. Shower Filter Attachment

Receipts - https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hardness-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

https://www.healthline.com/health/hard-water-hair-damage-treatment

https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/home/the-secret-to-winning-your-battle-with-hard-water

Support more informational articles through a one-time donation:Donate

Disclaimer - The Coming With Receipts blog occasionally posts product lists and suggestions. As part of the Amazon Affiliates Program, I earn a small portion on sales made based on such product recommendations. Consumers incur no additional costs.