Can Drinking Tap Water Cause Hair Loss
While the information above is focused on tap waters external effects, it can also have harmful internal effects. This depends on the chemical composition of your homes tap water.
As mentioned above, it is possible for tap water to contain high levels of metals and elements like lead, mercury, and chlorine. When ingested in high concentrations, these can have both acute and chronic health effects.
Lead toxicity, for example, can have reproductive, respiratory, and neurological effects . Mercury poisoning can similarly cause issues with the nervous and endocrine systems, and it can also be detrimental to hair growth .
Aside from high levels of metals and chemical elements, your homes tap water may also be tainted by pharmaceuticals and pesticides . This will depend largely on the source of your citys water and the age of your citys plumbing system.
The good news is that filtration systems exist to remove the majority, if not all, of the contaminants above. These systems include Reverse Osmosis and Granulated Activated Carbon filters.
Right Shampoo And Conditioner
If the above mentioned options donât work for you and washing your hair in hard water is your only available option, go for a gentle shampoo. Shampoos that do not have sulfates, parabens, sodium chloride, harmful colours and fragrances are your best bet. Using a clarifying shampoo once in a while is good for removing mineral build-up on your scalp. Opt for an Ayurvedic shampoo to reverse the damage caused by hard water and also promote new hair growth.
Shampooing with Reetha and Shikakai is super healthy for hair that has to face hard water corrosion on a daily basis. Both Reetha and Shikakai contain saponins that are natural surfactants derived from plants. They gently clean your hair without stripping it of its natural oils. The antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties of Reetha keep scalp infections away. Shikakai being rich in Vitamin C promotes hair growth. A Reetha Shikakai wash keeps your hair soft and voluminous.
Since hard water is drying, use a conditioner that hydrates your hair. Conditioning your hair with hibiscus or aloe vera is a good way to keep dandruff and dryness away.
How Does Water Hardness Affect Your Hair
A lot happens when you wash your hair in hard water, and not much of it is good. This is because the water contains calcium and magnesium ions that disrupt the hair washing process. As we will see, these ions help produce a head of hair with all the following properties:
- An incessant dry itch
- Brittle follicles that break easily
- Thinning and falling out
- Dull and lifeless
- Hard to keep colorful
Hard water cant cause that many problems, can it? It may seem shocking that your water could do so much damage to your hair and scalp. But its true, and well prove it to you.
Join us as we take a closer look at how hard water produces each of these effects.
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How Do You Know If You Have Hard Water
Though it sounds pretty complex, there are some common telltale signs that hard tap water and excess calcium and magnesium leave behind.
Here are some signs you may have hard water:
If you upkeep a nourishing hair wellness routine, maintain a healthy diet and drink all the apple cider vinegar but still struggle with slow hair growth, it could be time to test your water for unwanted minerals.
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How The Chlorine In Your Water Affects Your Hair
A common chemical cities add to water supplies to disinfect water is chlorine. Adding chlorine to water supplies helps protect against harmful bacteria and pathogens that can make people sick. The chlorine in the water supply should mostly dissipate by the time it arrives at your home, but high amounts of chlorine remaining in your water may cause some issues.
Chlorine in your homes water can affect your hair and skin. When there is too much chlorine in your shower water, it will absorb all of your hair and skins natural oils. This exposure to chlorine will leave your hair extremely dry and cause other damage. Some other side effects of chlorine on hair include:
- Fading hair color
- Leaving your hair tangled and rough.
- Causing your hair to be more susceptible to breakage.
- Over-drying your hair and head, leading to an itchy scalp and dandruff.
- Weakening hair and causing split ends.
One of the most noticeable changes that chlorine can make to your hair is altering your hairs natural color. When a high amount of chlorine washes through your hair, it causes a chemical reaction that changes your hair color and weakens it at the same time. This chemical reaction leaves hard metals behind that cause your hair to look brassy or have a greenish hue. This effect is especially problematic for people who spend money color-treating their hair or invest in high-quality hair products.
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How To Prevent Hair Loss By Changing Your Shower Filter
The water used while showering just might be the reason that youre experiencing thinning hair and loss due to breakage. Soft, healthy hair is just as dependent on the quality of water as it is on the shampoo, oils, and masks that you use. Shower water comprises chemicals, such as chloride, mineralsincluding calcium, mercury, magnesium, and nickelas well as sand, and other impurities that are harsh and may irritate your skin and scalp.
When it comes to hair loss, the different minerals deposited onto the scalp are possibly the biggest culprits. These minerals include calcium, iron, nickel magnesium, and silica, and cause drying, itching, and often hair fall due to breakage. In addition, the mineral buildup prevents necessary oil and moisture to penetrate through the scalp, and in turn, leads to dull, dry strands that feel constantly dirty no matter how many times you rinse them.
A hot shower also widens your pores, which increases the absorption of the chlorine and other chemicals via the dermis and scalp, resulting in a harsh and drying effect on hair and skin.
It is common for women to experience hair fall after moving to a country that uses hard, unfiltered water, which not only exacerbates existing hair and skin conditions, but also creates new concerns as well.
Note: Excessive hair loss can be an indication of an underlying medical condition. If youre experiencing abnormal hair loss, consult a physician or a dermatologist.
Use Purified Bottled Water
To save your hair from damage, you can also use purified bottled water. Many people get bottled water especially for rinsing their hair and saving it from damage. However, using bottled water is not only expensive but also harmful to the environment. Instead of getting bottled water, which is expensive, using a water softener is a better and more feasible option.
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How To Prevent Hair Loss Caused By Hard Water
If your home uses hard water, dont worry its still possible to salvage your hair from hair breakage and loss.
1. Healthy hair care regimen: One of the most effective ways to prevent hair loss caused by hard water is through your very own hair care routine. Use natural shampoos and conditioners that have been specially formulated to fight hair loss. Taking hair growth support vitamins adds another layer of protection from hair loss.2. Water softener: Although pricey, a water softener is often used as a solution to treat hard water. Water softeners work by removing the calcium and magnesium, as well as other metal contents in hard water in order to make it soft.
3. Shower filter: A shower filter is a more affordable alternative to using a water softener. Shower filters treat hard water by eliminating or filtering many chemicals and minerals in hard water. There are many different kinds of water filters available in the market to suit your needs and budget.
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Tap Water Is Drying Out My Hair
My hair is very curly. Keeping my hair properly hydrated is crucial for avoiding frizz and breakage. Chlorine is harsh on hair and strips it of natural oils. Our hair needs those oils to help absorb and lock in moisture. With each shower or bath, the chlorine and chloramines in tap water deplete our hair of natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. When our hair is dehydrated, it loses elasticity and shine. Chlorine also dries out your skin and scalp, increasing the appearance of dandruff.
Subjecting our hair to chlorine and chloramines can also lead to increased hair loss. Yes, hair loss. Chlorine weakens our hair. Thin and fragile hair is more likely to break or fall out.
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Brittle And Breaking Follicles
Not only does your scalp need natural moisture to stay healthy, but so does your hair. Normally, each of your hair follicles receives moisture from oil glands in your scalp. However, the hard water minerals mess up this process as well.
All that calcium and magnesium in the water ends up all over your hair. When the water dries on your hair after a shower, whats left behind is a film made of those minerals on each of the follicles.
This mineral buildup blocks the oil glands from transporting the much-needed moisture to each strand. Because of this, what was once soft and flexible hair turns into something more like straw. The suffocated strands become difficult to control and break easily.
Hair Loss Due To Hard Water Is A Myth
The increased rate of urbanisation has depleted the availability of soft water resources across all major cities in India. Also, water pollution is a growing problem. However, dermatologists maintain that hair loss, breakage, split ends, or dry, frizzy and lifeless hair, are concerns caused by other factors linked to our health, nutritional status and genetics. If you feel your hair is receding at an accelerated rate, or you believe your hair loss is due to hard water, you must share your doubts with a dermatologist. The facts may surprise you!
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Signs Of Hard Water On Hair And How To Prevent Them
There is a lot of talk of hard vs soft water, especially in the health and beauty space. This is because hard water contains a lot of minerals that can be very rough on your skin and hair. The difference between hard and soft water is the concentration of these minerals. Water that runs through a water treatment system such as a water softener does not have as high of a concentration of minerals, which preserves the health of your hair and skin better.
So, what are the signs of hard water on hair, and how do you prevent damage?
The Short Answer Is Yes Soft Water Penetrates The Hair Shaft More Easily Than Hard Water Which Means It Can Most Often Leave Your Hair Feeling Shinier And Softer People Can Mistake This Difference For Their Hair Feeling Thinner And This Is What Most Often Contributes To Concerns About Hair Loss When Shampooing With Soft Water
Many people may notice a change in their hair if they move from a location with hard water to a location with soft water, however this change is generally unrelated to the amount of hair you have rather it has to do with the quality of your hair. In general, other changes in your environment are likely causing any hair loss, specifically changes to your diet and stress levels. If youve begun eating more poorly than youre used to, or recently experienced a stressful event like moving homes or starting a new job, the hair loss culprit is more likely that than your water quality.
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How To Prevent Hair Damage Due To Hard Water
Follow the below tips to prevent hair damage due to hard water:
How Do You Know If You Are Using Hard Water
If you arent sure if you are using hard water at home or not, you can ask your local city council. Another way to find out is by checking the mineral content of your water, or asking your water supplier what classification the water is.
If they dont know the answers, there is the option of having the water tested by using a test kit that can be purchased online or having the water tested at a laboratory.
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What To Look For In A Water Softener
The best model to choose for your home will depend on how hard your water is and where you get your water from. You can determine the hardness of your water by getting your water tested. Once you know the hardness level, you can find a system designed to handle that level of hardness.
You should also factor in whether the water in your home is city water or well water. Homes with city water will want to look for a softener that can filter out chlorine as well as hardness minerals since city water is usually chlorine treated. On the other hand, homes with well water will want a system that can also remove iron, radium 226/228 and barium since untreated well water can contain many of these contaminants.
Ultimately, the best way to make sure your system will do what you want it to do is to make sure its NSF/ANSI 44 certified. This certification means the softener has gone through multiple tests to make sure it works as it should.
How Can We Tell If Our Water Is Soft Or Hard
It is usually hard to tell whether the water is soft or hard, just by looking at it. However, the feel of water and what it does to the items in our washing machine or dishwasher sometimes determines the water quality. Thus said, the following include signs of hard water:
- A Feeling of Film on the Hands
Soap scrum occurs as the soap reacts with the calcium. And as a result, the film can be felt on the hands.
Calcium carbonate deposits may appear on the silverware and glasses when taking them out of the dishwasher.
When taking the clothes out of the washing machines, mineral stains may show on the clothes. Also, the harshness of hard water may wear out clothes faster.
- Less Water Pressure
Mineral deposits may form in the pipes of the home thus essentially shrinking the pipes interior diameter in the home. They can also reduce the water flow in the home.
The signs of soft water are as follows:
- A Healthy Lather
This occurs when washing the body, clothes, and dishes.
- Cleaner Clothes
The clothes will have less wear and tear damage as well as no mineral stains.
- Healthy Water Pressure
Thus, with all these benefits, the home would have healthy water pressure.
- A Slight Taste of Sodium
The drinking water in many cases may have a slight difference in taste.
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What Are The Signs Of Hard Water Damage On Hair
Washing your hair in hard water everyday can be harmful for both your hair and scalp. The common signs of hard water damage are listed below.
1. Dry, frizzy, dull hair with possible split ends
2. Dry, itchy scalp due to mineral build-up
3. Limp, weighed down hair that is difficult to style
4. Gradual hair thinning due to blockage of hair follicles
5. Frail, discoloured strands that are prone to tangles and breakage
The Consequences Of Using Hard Water On Hair
The high concentration of minerals and oxidizers can be harmful to your hair health. These minerals cause the scales in your hair to stand up, creating a rough and tangled feel and look.
As the hair becomes rougher, it can further cause the different minerals to stick to the hair together with your shampoos ingredients.
The mineral build-up and increased oxidation will cause your hair to break, which can then lead to hair loss.
There are also theories that point to the problem of negatively charged hard water and positively charged hair to cause a bad reaction that damages hair.
The research is not conclusive its not scientifically possible yet to claim hard water causes hair loss.
But this doesnt mean that it doesnt have an impact on your hair health or that theres no connection with the two.
Scientists do agree that hard water, due to its high concentration of minerals does cause the hair to feel different.
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