Hard Water Ruining Your Hair? A Hairstylist Shares Her Tips
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If you've ever been to an area with hard water and needed to wash your hair, you know it can be a struggle to have it feeling clean and looking good. The minerals can coat your hair, leaving it looking dull and dry and feeling oily no matter how many times you wash it.
Because of how frustrating this can be, we reached out to Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon, to find out how she remedies this common problem when she's doing her clients' hair. Ahead, you'll find her tips for keeping your hair looking good in areas with hard water.
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What Is Hard Water?
Water is referred to as "hard" when it has a high mineral content. If you wash your hair with hard water, you may experience a film left over from the high percentages of calcium and magnesium in the water, which can cause your hair to become tangled and look dirty.
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Use a Good Clarifying Shampoo
One way to get rid of the "film" left on your hair is to use a good clarifying shampoo. "When my clients who have issues with hard water at home come into the salon for a color service, I usually pretreat the hair with a strong clarifying shampoo such as Nioxin Clarifying Cleanser ($10), which gently removes impurities from the hair prior to applying hair color," Cleveland said. It's important to supplement your new routine with a deep conditioner like Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask ($36) so the clarifying shampoo doesn't dry out your hair.
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Invest in a Shower Filter
If you have hard water at home and are constantly battling to get your hair feeling clean, there is something you can do. "You may consider installing a shower head filter to remove unwanted minerals," Cleveland said. We recommend the T3 Source Showerhead Mineral Water Filter ($150)
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Rinse With Bottled Water in a Pinch
If you are traveling to an area with hard water and need to have your hair looking its best, pick up a few bottle of water. "I've found myself working out of hotel rooms in different cities to accommodate my clients' busy demands, and I will rinse with bottled water to ensure a healthy and polished finish," Cleveland said.