Is hard water causing hair loss?

You’re in the shower, washing your hair. You take a generous amount of shampoo, lather it up, and start massaging it into your scalp. You begin to dream about what hair would be like after it’s washed and dried. You imagine them to be soft and smooth, flowing like a gentle stream; catching the light with a natural glow. Hair falls in soft, shiny waves, full of life and beauty as if touched by magic. Light, silky, and radiant, it feels like a dream every time you see it.

The same dream is shattered as you feel clumps of hair tangled between your fingers as you’ve finished sliding down the lather to the ends of your hair. 

You look down; staring disheartenly at your foamy hands wrapped with the weakened strands. It’s a quiet reminder of the struggle against hair fall, making each wash feel like a battle for healthier hair.

You accusingly look at the shelf full of expensive hair care products, filled with an utter sense of betrayal.

But wait! Have you ever stopped to think that it may not be the products you’re using that are to be blamed? What if the secret to your hair woes lies not in the products you use but in the water you trust every day? 

Hard water is the culprit you might want to blame. It might be the one responsible for ruining your hair health without you even realizing it.

Hard water is defined as water that contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. This mineral-packed water is what is responsible for leaving your hair looking dry, unmanageable, and prone to further damage.

But is this damage caused really that severe? Is it irreversible? Is this exactly what is leading you to be bald in certain spots? Is there any way to save your hair and reclaim its beauty?

Continue reading to find out!

From Soft to Hard: The Journey of Your Water

Hard water is characterized by having a large concentration of minerals, specifically calcium, and magnesium. It is formed when these minerals get dissolved because of the water flowing/passing through deposits of limestone or chalk.
The hardness of water is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) of calcium carbonate.
Water with 151300 mg/L of calcium carbonate is considered hard.

Water becomes hard due to the natural hydrological cycle. After evaporation and condensation, during precipitation, water is slightly acidic and soft. During this process it mixes with soil and rock, passing through layers of gypsum and limestone. The rocks are rich in salts, which the water immediately absorbs when filtering through them. These salts, thus, deeply accumulate in the water making it hard.
Other reasons for the hardening of water also involve the source of the water and the water treatment processes it is subjected to.
While hard water is not particularly harmful to health, it can damage household appliances, plumbing, skin, and hair. 

Hard Water, Harsh Hair: Unveiling the Impact

1. Mineral Build-up: Hard water leaves behind mineral deposits on the scalp which may lead to your hair looking lifeless. Moreover, over time, this may lead to residue buildup, which blocks water penetration, making the hair dry and brittle.

2. Irritation: The salts present in the hard water end up irritating the skin which may cause itchiness and flakiness, sometimes leading to dandruff. This type of irritation ends up weakening the roots and increases hair fall.

3. Breakage and Split Ends: Due to lack of moisture, the hair becomes more susceptible to breakage and damage. It also leads to hair thinning.

4. Fading Colour: If you’re one of those people who wonders what they did wrong to make their hair color fade away so soon even after following all the steps to the T, you’ve finally found the answer. Hard water is the culprit you’re looking for. The minerals present in hard water make the dye fade away not just quickly but also unevenly.

5. Tangling and Frizziness: Constantly washing your hair with hard water also leads it to be more frizzy and tangled than normal.

6. Hair Loss: Hard water doesn’t directly cause hair loss or baldness but the collective effects of dry scalp, irritation, and brittleness may lead to excess shedding due to weakened hair roots.

Will Hard Water Steal your Hair for Good?

We’ve established that hard water is a huge contributor to the excess hair fall you witness on the daily. But does it also cause baldness which is permanent? Prepare to celebrate because the good news is that no, it does not. At least not directly, that is. 

Hair loss due to hard water is connected to purely external factors. There’s no such damage to the hair follicles which might include internal factors. However, prolonged neglect may lead to internal damage or chronic hair conditions which then cause permanent hair thinning or baldness.

If you adopt the right measures and reduce exposure to hard water, your hair can recover.

Soft Solutions for Hard Water Hair Woes

1. Install a Water Softener: A water softener is the best way to get rid of the excess mineral content in your water and keep your hair from becoming dry and brittle. They’re easy to find and install.

2. Use a Clarifying Shampoo: Using a clarifying shampoo once a week will help your scalp and hair get rid of all the buil-up caused by the hard water. They give your hair a deep cleanse.

3. Rinse with Distilled Water: If exposure to hard water is unavoidable, rinse your hair with distilled water post wash with the hard water. This final rinse would help get rid of accumulated minerals.

4. Natural Rinses: You can also opt for a natural rinse made with a mixture of lemon and vinegar. These will neutralize the mineral build-up.

5. Deep Conditioning: Use hair masks or leave-in conditioners to help restore moisture and repair damage.

6. Oils: Apply protective oils one day or one hour before you shampoo to protect your scalp.

Exploring Preventive and Maintenance Care Alternatives

Prevention requires extreme care combined with consistency. Following are some tips you can follow to maintain glowing skin:

1. Diet and Hydration: A balanced diet rich in minerals and omega-3 fatty acids helps improve overall hair health. Additionally, staying hydrated also ensures that your hair and scalp remain moisturized from within.

2. Natural Oils: Oils help in acting as a protective barrier against the damage caused by hard water. You can choose among argan oil, rosemary oil, coconut oil, etc. according to your hair type.

3. Sulphate Free Shampoos: Sulphate free shampoos help in keeping the hair hydrated by retaining natural moisture.

4. Hair Spa: Periodic hair spa treatments are a must! These treatments typically include cleansing, conditioning, and massaging the scalp for improved blood circulation. Hence, they can provide intensive care, helping to reverse damage caused by hard water.

Conclusion

Hence, while not actually harmful, there are several damaging effects caused by hard water. It can definitely be challenging but with the right preventive and maintenance strategies it is not completely impossible to maintain healthy hair. Start by understanding the science behind hard water and then implementing the solutions mentioned to keep your hair looking vibrant and healthy.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Briganantadi Amla, Honey, Hair Fall Control Shampoo | Strong & Healthy Hair

Anti Frizz Shampoo for Dry & Frizzy Hair | Plant Based Biotin Shampoo (15 herbs, 200ml)

Bhringraj Hairfall Control Oil for Healthy Scalp(10 Herbs)

Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth and Hair Fall Control (9 Herbs)

Briganantadi - D Tea Tree Anti Dandruff Hair Oil | Clean & Healthy Scalp

Related Articles:

How to prevent hair loss with the kitchen herbs

Difference Between Hair Shedding and Hair Loss

References:

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3927171/

https://www.kent.co.in/blog/is-hard-water-leading-to-hair-loss-5-ways-to-save-your-hair-from-hard-water/

https://www.hairclub.com/blog/5-tips-washing-hair-hard-water/