Hard water is water containing dissolved mineral salts. The salts mostly contain calcium and magnesium ions and the harder the water the more minerals it contains. Because hard water is found so widely across the United States the National Institute of Heath (NIH) has been studying its effect on various health issues for about 5 decades. Studies have been conducted investigating its potential relationship to cardiovascular disease, cancer, central nervous system disorders, Alzeimers, diabetes, dermatitis, digestive and reproductive health, and other afflictions. The NIH has concluded hard water has no known direct major health effects and can provide some supplementary benefits to total calcium and magnesium uptake into the body. But everyone living in regions of the country with hard water knows the effect of hard water on household items in the kitchen and shower, on fabrics and clothing, and on skin and hair. These minerals not only damage your home depositing residues in water lines and on faucets but can make your hair and skin dry and itchy. Hard water is found in about 85% of public water sources in the U.S. including large sections of the southwest and north central states. Top cities with hard water include Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Antonio and Tampa Bay.
When hard water is used to wash hair, it tends to leave behind deposits of these minerals on the hair shaft. Human hair is primarily protein with lipids and melanin. Each hair fiber is a shaft-like structure made up of layer upon layer of flat scale-like overlapping cells. The cuticle constitutes the outer surface area of the hair fiber surrounding the inner layers and acting like a protective sheath. Since this is the visible part of the hair, the cuticle also gives hair it’s optical properties like shine and gloss. When these cells lay flat, hair is smooth, manageable, and shiny. But when hard water deposits get in-between these scale-like cells they cannot lay flat and tend to stick up. This makes hair less shiny, feeling rough, and more prone to tangles and breakage.
The reason these deposits occur is because the calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water can exchange with the more soluble sodium and ammonium ions commonly used in soaps and shampoos. Once the exchange occurs, the calcium and magnesium counterparts are much less soluble and tend to precipitate from the water and then create a filmy deposit over the hair strand and skin. These films give your hair a greasy feel and make it harder for moisture to absorb into the hair shaft. This makes your hair dry and easier to break. Dry hair is dull and without body, and flat and broken hair means more split ends and frizz. Leaving hard water issues unresolved can even lead to thinner hair and appearance of hair loss, not from actual hair loss but due to excessive breakage. This is especially apparent if left unchecked over long periods of time. In 2016 a scientific study was conducted comparing washing with hard water versus distilled water showed hair washed in hard water was thinner, had a more ruffled appearance (frizz), broke and tangled more easily, and resulted in a dry scalp causing dandruff. Similarly, in 2018, a study published in the International Journal of Trichology found hair washed in hard water had significantly less strength than hair washed in distilled water.
The negative effects of hard water are particularly harsh for color-treated and chemically treated hair. Highly porous hair structures are more susceptible to these minerals penetrating the hair structure and can strip away color more quickly leaving your hair looking dull and lifeless. Curly hair types are also more susceptible to hard water damage since their hair is already dry and has a naturally more open structure. To add insult to injury, the mineral deposits make It more difficult for conditioning products to work effectively because they interfere with the moisturizers’ ability to enter the hair shaft and provide the intended and needed benefit.
There are a few ways to combat hard water and the negative effects to your hair and skin. One option is to install a water softener, but this is usually expensive and often not possible for people living in apartment complexes. Installation of a showerhead filter is another option but replacing filters requires upkeep and maintenance. Another option is to rinse your hair after showering with filtered bottled water and use a shower cap when not washing and rinsing. However, one of the easiest options is to use a mild clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing conditioner. Clarifying shampoos are designed to thoroughly clean the hair and remove buildup from products like gel, hair spray, mousse, and hard water soap films.
Desert Botanicals makes a mild sulfate-free shampoo that will clean the hair and scalp and remove mineral build-up. Sulfate-free shampoos are generally more clarifying than standard sulfate-based shampoos and will give your hair a clean but very soft feel. In addition to the sulfate-free cleansers, we also add unique and patented ingredients into our shampoo (and conditioner) formulation proven to dramatically extending the life of hair color over multiple washes.
We highly recommend following-up with a moisturizing conditioner. Our conditioners (both rinse-out and leave-in types) include a variety of oils that are native to the Sonoran Desert that will give you hair moisture, shine, softness, and body. We also includes derivatives of 18-Methyl Eicosanoic Acid (18-MEA) which is the primary lipid of the hair surface. Human hair contains a thin, protective layer of lipids bound to the cuticle which are primarily comprised of 18-MEA. Chemical treatment, environmental stress, and everyday grooming can remove part or all of this lipid layer making hair more susceptible to damage. The use of hair dyes, relaxers, and perms can deplete these lipid layers from the surface of the hair. Use of our conditioners replenish this lipid layer making hair more hydrophobic, improving wet and dry combing, adding lubricity and shine, and restoring the integrity of the hair surface. While hard is not found to cause health issues, it has many negative impacts on appearance and strength of your hair. Fortunately, when it comes to your hair, Desert Botanicals has an easy and affordable solution.
