Hard Water’s Minerals Effects On Hair
So how do these minerals even get in our water to begin with?
Our water journeys through underground aquifers, passing through layers of rocks and minerals before being treated at a facility for public use. While this process ensures clean drinking water, it also infuses your water with minerals that can have a major impact on your hair’s health.
When water swells the cuticle of your hair, positively charged minerals latch onto the protein structure. This buildup blocks the effectiveness of treatments and chemical services. And because of their magnetic nature, these minerals can’t simply be washed away with shampoo.
Let’s dive into the biggest culprits coming out of your shower head
Chlorine
You’ve likely heard of chlorine—it’s used to disinfect drinking water and pools. While it’s great for keeping bacteria at bay, it’s worth steering clear of when it comes to your hair.
Chlorine is a bleach, but unlike the controlled use in a salon, it damages the cuticle and causes discoloration a lot easier. Wet hair exposed to active chlorine can feel gummy or slimy, while dry hair takes on a straw-like texture.
Worse, chlorine can alter the electrical charge of minerals in your hair, speeding up discoloration and damage.
Calcium(Lime)
This is a common mineral in the United States that can cause serious issues most stylist aren’t trained to recognize.
Calcium is commonly added to water systems to neutralize chlorine treatments. If you’ve ever noticed pink residue or ‘mold’ near your shower drains, that’s calcium at play.
When calcium builds up on your hair, it can leave it feeling dry and weighed down
Calcium salts build up and flake on the scalp and often mistaken for dandruff! This build up can cause the follicle to clog, breaking the hair, and hindering future growth.
Iron
Iron is often found most abundantly in well water and gradually tints hair darker over time. For blondes, this can appear as an orange hue, while brunettes may notice a dark red tint.
Oxidize iron acts like peroxide and will lead to excessive dryness or even texture changes. As a visualization, when your cast iron skillet rusts, that’s iron that has been oxidized.
Copper
Copper can leach into water from pipes or appear as copper sulfates, commonly used to control algae growth.
If you’ve ever seen a blonde turn green after an afternoon in the pool, it’s actually copper sulfates and not the chlorine! The reaction is similar to an old green penny or the Statue of Liberty!
Magnesium
Magnesium, a naturally occurring mineral, is essential in our diets but not in our hair. When combined with calcium buildup, it delivers a double whammy of dryness, leaving your hair brittle and lifeless.
So What Is There To Do?
Invest in a Shower Filter
Shower filters use carbon, vitamin C, and other methods to trap harsh minerals before they reach your hair. For those with well water or hard water, a filter is non-negotiable—especially if you receive chemical services like coloring, lightening, or smoothing treatments.
I recommend The Jolie filter. It’s affordable, easy to install, and you’ll notice the difference quickly—your shampoo will lather better, and your hair will feel softer!
Try a Chelating Treatment
Chelating agents are powerful compounds that bond with minerals, forming a water-soluble complex that can be rinsed away. Unlike regular shampoos, chelating treatments deeply cleanse your hair from the inside out
This service is a game-changer for your hair health and might just become your new favorite.
Here’s what to expect:
A clarifying shampoo with a high pH opens the cuticle as wide as possible.
A chelating agent is applied and processed under a heat lamp
A steam treatment follows to deeply cleanse further
Your fresh scalp enjoys a tingly tea tree treatment, while your ends soak in a nourishing deep conditioner under the steamer
The experience ends with a relaxing head massage and a signature waterfall rinse.
With a private room, weighted blanket, and jade eye mask, it’s easy to see why some have fallen asleep!
Ready to take the first step in your healthy hair journey? Book a Hair and Scalp Detox today—your hair and scalp will thank you.
I’ll see you soon!