The solution to all those bad hair days

The days when no matter what you do to your hair, things just never seem to go right! Whether it’s hair that looks flat, greasy, dry, or frizzy, the solution to your bad hair days’ may not be what you expect. Many will turn to their shampoo or other hair products, believing these are the cause of a bad hair day. But have you considered that it could be the water?

How can water cause a bad hair day?

You may be wondering how can water cause bad hair days. The answer is hard water mineral content. Hard water is supplied to 60% of the UK and contains excessive calcium and magnesium minerals. Depending on the extent of mineral content determines the hardness of the water.

You can check the water hardness of your area using this map.

These minerals are added naturally long before it reaches your water supplier. The minerals are typically added through rainwater (which is naturally soft) passing through and dissolving the rocks and soil that contain calcium and magnesium minerals.

Other minerals that be found in hard water include copper, iron, and sodium. The presence of these minerals doesn’t affect the density of the water, but it can affect how it feels. In comparison, soft water, which doesn’t contain these minerals, is considered to feel smooth and silky.

It is these minerals present in hard water that can be the cause of your bad day hair. You may already be familiar with scale build-up or deposits (whether around water outlets, inside your appliance, or stains on glassware), which is another common problem from hard water.

While many may notice scale build-up, not many people will make the connection between your water supply and the health of your hair. No matter how effective your hair routine is, if you are using hard water, the damage could already be done to your hair.

How does hard water affect your hair?

Many people will be unaware of the effect that hard water can have on your hair and skin. While hard water can be healthy to drink due to the addition of extra minerals, it has an adverse effect on your hair and skin’s health.

Hard water can affect your hair in two ways. Firstly, through a reaction to the shampoos and soaps, you use, and secondly, the minerals penetrate your hair strands. Let’s look at each of these more closely.

Bad reaction

Hard water is a bad reactant to the soap and shampoo you use when washing. The minerals present in hard water react badly, affecting the cleaning quality and the amount needed to form a lather. The result is the formation of soap scum that forms on your skin or scalp.

The soap scum that’s formed as a result of the reaction between hard water minerals and the fatty acids of your shampoo or soap leaves an insoluble layer that is hard to wash away. The result is you may need to use more soap to create a washable lather or more water to wash away the scum on your skin or scalp.

The residue that remains on your scalp then prevents the pores from keeping your scalp nourished and moisturised. That’s because the scum layer blocks and clogs the pores from releasing natural oils. As a result, your scalp can become dry, itchy, red, or irritable.

Clinging to your hair

Washing your hair in hard water can also cause the minerals to penetrate your hair strands. As your hair dries, the minerals crystalise, creating a layer that blocks moisture from entering and leaving your hair.

With no moisture entering your hair, you’ll experience dry and duller hair. It could also cause your hair to tangle or even break. Other problems caused by hard water include rough or heavy hair, faded colouring, or perms flattening quickly. It can also cause dandruff.

If you have a very porous hair type, you are more susceptible to these hard water minerals absorbing deeper into your hair structure. As these minerals build up in your hair over time, it can lead to a multitude of issues further down the line, such as leaving your scalp eczema caused by skin irritation.

You can check how porous your hair is by taking a strand and leaving it in a glass of water for a few minutes. If the hair sinks to the bottom, it is highly porous. Hair that remains floating is low porous, meaning your hair is much more resistant to hydration.

What’s the solution?

So, now you’ve discovered that hard water could be the cause of all those bad hair days, you’ll want to find a solution. A water descaler is a solution to prevent all the problems that hard water can cause with your hair.

No matter how many different brands of shampoo or soap you use, it won’t make much difference. Instead, you need a permanent solution that will help keep your hair healthy and nourished. If you have a hard water supply, a permanent solution will help prevent future issues with your hair.

A water descaler is a small and convenient electronic device that is fitted directly to your main water supply. Instead of removing the minerals (as a water softener does), a water descaler disturbs the mineral ions to alter their behaviour.

To achieve the change in mineral ion behaviour, a small electromagnetic field is passed through the main water supply. It is the electrical current that alters the mineral ions’ behaviour to prevent them from discharging. As a result, surfaces remain free from scale deposits and a scum layer does not form on your scalp or hair.

That way, you can retain the healthy and beneficial minerals for drinking without the associated drawbacks most witnessed with hard water supplies. You’ll also find you need to use less soap and shampoo for a lather, allowing for savings in toiletry goods too.

If you have been using moisturiser for your hair, installing a water descaler will eliminate the need, as your skin will be able to naturally nourish and moisturise itself as a result of pores no longer clogging.

Alongside the benefits to your hair, consider these additional benefits of installing a water descaler.

So, now you know the cause of all those bad hair days. If you experience problems caused by hard water, consider a water descaler. Not only do they eliminate the problems commonly associated with hard water, but they are also a low-cost solution that will save you money in the long term, as well as experience the benefits of healthy hair. No more bad hair days!