So, if you didn’t know already, hard water is water with a high mineral content which contains a lot of calcium and magnesium bicarbonates. You can tell if your area has hard water by the calcium build up on your sinks or showerheads. One thing I noticed about Waterloo is how hard the water is here. In fact, Waterloo has some of the hardest water in Canada!
Hard water can be pretty damaging to the hair and skin. After a few washes, the minerals build up and create a film on your hair and skin, which can dry it out and make it appear dull and lack lustre.
But don’t worry! There are ways you can protect yourself and your hair from these negative effects.
Firstly, there are rinses you can do to break down the mineral buildup on your hair. Apple cider vinegar rinses work wonders because of the high acidity of the vinegar. Just mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into two cups of water, massage into your hair and rinse it out after a few minutes. If you don’t have any apple cider vinegar on hand, you can use a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice instead, just note that lime juice can lighten your hair over time.
If you would rather not use acidity to remove the mineral buildup, herb rinses are the way to go! Steep some chamomile tea, let cool and massage into hair. You could also steep rose petals, sage or rosemary.
Another way to protect your hair against hard water is by using a clarifying shampoo. These add shine and lustre to your hair while also removing oils and buildup. Unfortunately, clarifying shampoos can cause coloured hair to fade, so make sure not to use them if you dye your hair.
Lastly, make sure to keep your hair moisturized to leave it voluminous and soft. You can do this by using a leave-in conditioner after blow-drying your hair or adding a hair mask to your shower routine.
And of course, you can always take the minimal effort way and wear a hat 24/7.