Many factors contribute to hair loss. From stress to the products you use, if you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s essential to find the source to know how to fix the problem.
One potential factor many people overlook is that the tap water from their shower may contribute to hair loss. Hard water can be hard on your skin and hair, leading to several problems.
Curious to learn more? Keep reading to learn how hair loss from hard water occurs and how to prevent it from happening to you.
How Does Hard Water Lead to Hair Loss?
Let’s get right into it: how does hair loss from hard water occur?
Hard water contains a high mineral content, particularly a large amount of calcium and magnesium, along with sulphates. When these minerals mix with your hair products, they form a salt and leave a residue on your hair follicles and the hair shaft.
Depending on the ingredients in your hair products – for example, using hair products with additional sulphates – the layer left on your hair may be thicker.
The problem with the residue layer, specifically on your scalp, is that it blocks your scalp from absorbing the moisture it needs and distributing it along the hair shaft.
When your hair cannot get enough moisture, it becomes dry, brittle, and weak. All of this leads to breakage, which is the early stage of hair loss that you experience. If this problem is unaddressed for too long, you may also experience hair thinning and excessive hair loss.
That’s why addressing hair loss is essential, especially if the cause is hard water. Thankfully, there are several ways to prevent hard water hair loss before it even happens. Let’s take a look at a few prevention tips.
Hair Loss From Hard Water Prevention Tips
Even if you aren’t experiencing hair loss right now, if you know you have hard water coming from your taps, it’s a good idea to start preventing hair loss now.
Here are five ways to help prevent hair loss from hard water.
Tip #1: Deep Condition Your Hair
Our first tip for preventing hair loss from hard water is to regularly deep condition your hair.
A deep conditioner is a hair treatment made from a thick, rich conditioner. Deep conditioners are designed to strengthen, repair, and hydrate your hair. You can purchase a variety of deep conditioners or make one at home.
Since hard water weakens your hair, it’s essential to make it as strong as possible to withstand the hard water. A deep conditioner can help condition your hair and minimize the risk of hard water damage. You should aim to deep condition your hair at least once a month, preferably every two weeks.
Tip #2: Increase Your Nutrient Intake
Another way to strengthen your hair against hard water is to strengthen it from within.
Your diet plays a huge role in hair health. If you aren’t getting enough nutrients in your body, there isn’t enough going into your hair.
Make sure that you’re regularly eating nutrient-rich foods. Foods that are good for hair health include:
- Eggs
- Berries
- Fatty fish
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
Tip #3: Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
While strengthening your hair effectively prevents hair loss, something else you can do to prevent hard water hair loss rinses the build-up away.
Apple cider vinegar rinses have many benefits for your hair, the main one being an effective way to reduce mineral build-up.
Apple cider vinegar rinses also balance the pH levels of your hair, which will also help maintain its health. Finally, you’ll feel a noticeable difference in your hair after the rinse, leaving it softer and shinier.
To do an apple cider vinegar hair rinse, mix two to four tablespoons of vinegar with 16 ounces of water. After your regular shampoo and rinsing out your conditioner, pour the mixture into your hair and wait a few minutes. Rinse it out, and you’re done!
Tip #4: Get a Water Softener
Although there are several methods for preventing hair loss from hard water, a water softener may be one of the most effective.
The primary purpose of a water softener is to remove hardness in water. Water softeners are the most effective choice when there is a high amount of magnesium and calcium.
There are a variety of water softeners to choose from. If your primary concern is a hair loss problem, you can choose a water softener meant solely for your bathroom.
If you want to rid your entire house of the effects of hard water, then you can spring for water softeners that do that.
The downside to water softeners is that they can be pricey, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. However, there is one alternative that can get you great results with less financial investment.
Tip #5: Get a Water Filter
A water filter is a much cheaper alternative to a water softener and can be just as effective if you choose the right one.
A shower filter is easy to install and runs you at most $300 on average, with many available for under $100. They filter out contaminants in your water, including hard water mineral buildup from things such as calcium and magnesium.
Better yet, they also remove heavy metals and chlorine for a better shower experience and less stress on your hair.
Wrap-Up: Save Your Hair from Hard Water
A hair loss problem can be terrible for your confidence and your self-esteem. The good news is that it doesn’t have to last forever. There are many ways to reduce and prevent hair loss from hard water.
One of the most effective ways is to get a showerhead filter. Check out this Jolie Shower Head Filter from Conscious Water. Or if you’re on a budget, try the ProOne ProMax Shower Filter, which removes over 200 harsh chemicals and contaminants to protect your hair in the shower.
