People have long considered their hair to be one of their most priceless possessions. Nowadays, misleading advertising that makes hair-strengthening claims is widespread, preying on consumers’ concern for their hair. People these days have a water filter for bathroom shower as they are very concerned about their hair’s health. Because of the widespread water shortage, cleaning and washing are frequently done with groundwater. The idea that hard water causes hair to break is a common one.
The Basics of Hair Loss and Hard water
“Hard water” is a term for water that contains a lot of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. If you have hard water in your home, your dishes might occasionally get stains or have a cloudy, film-like texture. It’s possible to see a thin layer of residue after washing your hands with soap. Scientific data on the effects of hard water on hair are contradictory. This is the reason why a lot of people are opting to have shower filters for hard hair. While some studies have shown that washing your hair in hard water weakens it and changes the way it looks, other studies have shown that your hair’s strength and elasticity remain the same. If you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis that can cause hair loss, hard water may exacerbate your symptoms. Installing a water filter in your bathroom shower, a magnetic water softener that softens water, or washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo can help lessen the effects of hard water on your hair. Hard water may not always be the root of severe hair loss in some individuals. The majority of men’s hair loss is caused by male pattern baldness, which is medicated.
What really is “hard water”?
In hard water, the metals calcium and magnesium in particular can precipitate out and cause problems in water-conducting or water-storing vessels like pipes because they are present in high concentrations as ions. Hard water can be distinguished from other types of water by its metallic, dry taste and the dry sensation it leaves on the skin. It is the reason why bathtub scum rings and soap that doesn’t lather are present.
Types of hard water
The term “hard water” refers to water that contains a lot of mineral ions. The most common metal cations found in hard water are calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), though iron, aluminum, and manganese may also be present in some locations. Due to their water solubility, these metals will dissolve in liquid. Since these ions are present in relatively high concentrations, the solution may become saturated, which would cause these solutes to be more evenly distributed away from reactants and towards the left. Alternatively, the ions may separate from the mixture and precipitate. This removal of minerals from the solution results in the calcination, or precipitation, of calcium or magnesium carbonate, which is frequently seen on water faucets.
- Temporary hard water
Temporary hard water is described as having a high concentration of calcium (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (HCO3) ions. Heat causes the bicarbonate ions in temporarily hard water to disintegrate into carbonate ions (CO32-), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). The resulting carbonate ion, CO32-, can then react with other ions in the solution to form insoluble compounds like CaCO3 and MgCO3. Carbonate ions interact with one another in the solution to form boiler scale, a rust that develops on the sides of water-boiling pots. The bicarbonate ion is broken down when the temperature of temporarily hard water rises, which changes the equilibrium equation.
- Permanent hard water
Water becomes permanently hard (SO42-) when anions, such as the sulfate anion, are present in large quantities. It is referred to as “permanent” hard water as opposed to “temporary” hard water because the hardness of this kind of hard water cannot be removed by simply boiling the water and causing the mineral ions to precipitate out. Although the name is deceptive, “permanent” hard water can be softened in other ways. Scale, which is produced by permanent hard water, can obstruct pipe water flow and have negative effects akin to those of temporary hard water. Another effect of permanently hard water is the “ring” or soap scum that develops in the bathtub after a shower or bath. Permanently hard water contains calcium and magnesium cations, as was already mentioned. And to deal with this, Teknovous offers water filter for the bathroom shower, which will indeed help you to protect your hair.
How hard water affects your body?
Although some people don’t like the taste of hard water, it has many health benefits over soft water. Among the minerals most frequently present in hard water are calcium and magnesium. Both calcium and magnesium are regarded as essential nutrients, which means that they must be consumed in sufficient quantities to support healthy body function. Calcium, a crucial component of bones, has many health advantages for the body, including the capacity to ward off painful, severe conditions like osteoporosis, kidney stones, hypertension, stroke, obesity, and coronary artery disease. Calcium also plays a role in the development of bones.
Magnesium has additional health advantages. A lack of magnesium increases the risk of developing several illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmia. People who drink more soft water than hard water have much higher rates of heart disease, as well as higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels and faster heart rates, according to studies on the health effects of drinking hard or soft water. Due to the corrosive nature of soft water on pipes, lead and other dangerous contaminants can contaminate drinking water.
Hair loss really caused by hard water?
There isn’t any evidence at this time that hard water contributes to hair loss. However, some research suggests that the minerals in hard water may weaken your hair, which could result in breakage and thinning. For instance, ten to fifteen hair samples were washed in either hard water or distilled water for one study that was published in the International Journal of Dermatology. The hairs were divided into two equal lengths and washed every day for 30 days in either type of water. The hairs washed in hard water had a significantly higher calcium carbonate content at the end of the 30-day period. Additionally, they were about 7% thinner than hairs washed in distilled water.
It’s important to remember that because this study used hairs that were lost during combing, the same results might not apply to hairs that are still actively growing, or “live” hairs. The effects of hard water on the health of hair were also examined in a similar study that was published in the International Journal of Trichology. Seventy men’s hair samples were taken for this study. The hair samples were either treated with deionized water or hard water or left untreated in a control group.
At the end of the study, the hard water-treated hair samples had significantly lower levels of tensile strength than the other hairs. The researchers came to the conclusion that hair is less resilient and is more likely to break when exposed to hard water. In spite of the fact that weaker hair doesn’t cause hair loss directly, it may be more prone to falling out or breaking off when you comb, brush, or style your hair. However, another study that examined the tensile strength of hair that had been exposed to hard water and was published in the International Journal of Trichology in 2013 came to the opposite conclusion.
Do’s and Don’ts of hard water-related hair damage
These techniques should work if you’re trying to revive damaged hair.
Use best magnetic water softener shower head
The polar opposite of hard water is soft water. Although it has some minerals, they are not nearly as concentrated as in hard water. This implies that it’s healthier and cleaner. The best way to purify your water at home is to install a water softener, but this can be quite expensive. Investing in a water filter for bathroom shower with best magnetic water softener is a more affordable alternative. According to Martino Cartier, hairstylist and proprietor of Martino Cartier Salon, “These shower heads have cartridges that are filled with carbon to remove the minerals before the water touches the hair.”
Use a cleansing shampoo
Maria Elizabeth, the proprietor of Salon dezen, asserts that a clarifying shampoo can restore hair that has been harmed by hard water. According to Elizabeth, removing the mineral buildup is the best way to restore the hair to its previous state. Elizabeth suggests using one “that focuses on this issue and not just removal of styling product buildup” at least once a week.
Apply a hair mask or a conditioner
At least twice weekly, apply a nourishing hair mask to your locks to rehydrate and brighten them. Lin advises massaging your scalp thoroughly and all the way down to the tips of your hair. Masks should be worn for at least five minutes. The hair can also be made softer with a leave-in conditioner. It is suggested to select the low-pH option. This will help the cuticle close by keeping moisture in place and obstructing the entry of minerals. Alternatively you can use a conditioner too.
