Hard water and your hair

Some people live in areas that have hard water; that means they have to use the same water to wash their hair. Hard water is water that has a high content of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and copper that makes the hair feel rough and dry.

When these minerals deposit on your hair, they leave a residue that is not easy to clean. Hard water and soap does not mix and you will hardly get any lather from the two. They normally produce a white precipitate. Our black hair is naturally dry and adding hard water to it worsens the dryness. Prolonged mineral build up on the hair damages it. Fortunately, there are certain steps you can take to keep your hair soft and healthy.

Bottled/distilled water: It can be an expensive venture but distilled or bottled water for a final rinse when you wash your hair is a good idea. If your water is, however, very hard, then you may have to sacrifice and do the entire washing process with bottled water.

Deep conditioning: For those who use hard water on their hair, frequent deep conditioning would help. Once or twice a week conditioning will combat the drying effect of the water- use low heat when conditioning to ensure the conditioner penetrates into the hair fully. Ensure any product you use on your hair is as hydrating as possible.

Clarifying shampoo: These are shampoos that are designed to remove mineral build up in the hair. They are also known as ‘neutralising’ shampoos. Always ensure you use a shampoo that has the ingredient EDTA, an acid widely used to dissolve lime-scale. Use these shampoos only once a week as they too, have a tendency of stripping the hair of natural oils. Always follow it up with a deep conditioning moisturiser.

Vinegar rinse: An apple cider vinegar rinse removes mineral build up from your hair, offering it a shine and bounce. Mix half a teaspoon of the vinegar with a pint of distilled water. Shampoo your hair, rinse thoroughly, apply the mixture on your hair then leave it on your hair for a few seconds before rinsing with cold water. Vinegar is acidic, and as such, it is advisable that you use the mixture once a week.

Argan oil: This oil offers the hair shine, moisture and a healthy look. It restores all the moisture that is taken away by hard water. Apply it to your hair while it is still damp then style as usual. Just ensure you don’t apply too much or else, your hair will be too greasy.

Rain water: This can be a good solution if you only have hard water. Collect rain water, heat it, then use it to bath and also wash your hair.