The effect of hard water on hair
While hard water itself isn’t harmful, there are some downsides when it comes to the hair and skin.
One 2016 study involving 15 females found that hard water damaged hair. This was found after washing hair samples in both hard water and distilled water for 30 days.
At the end of the study, the hair from the hard water samples had decreased in thickness, in addition to having a ruffled appearance.
Additional hair symptoms you may experience from washing your hair in hard water include:
Some people have even experienced hair loss as a result of hair breakage.
“These short-term issues will turn into long-term problems that will inevitably affect healthy hair growth as well,” explains master hairstylist Marshall Lin.
One study involving 70 males found that hair lost strength when exposed to hard water, compared with deionized water. As a result, this led to hair breakage. And when the hair is weak, it thins.
Hard water can even make your hair colorist’s job harder, says Mara Roszak, celebrity hairstylist and salon owner. When the hair is difficult to work with, “this leads to more stress on the hair overall.”
Additionally, Dr. Patrick Angelos, author of “The Science and Art of Hair Restoration,” says that hair loss can occur when hard water is severely affecting the scalp. This, however, is more common in people with eczema or psoriasis.
