Hair is important in life, as it is vital for beauty and instills self-confidence. So, we prefer taking extra care of the hair to prevent it from damage. The main problems related to the hair are hair loss and breakage. This is what a Bengaluru techie encountered, and she took to Twitter to share her ordeal and even asked for solutions to her problem. Her tweet took the internet by storm, with many relating to her situation.
In the tweet, the Bengaluru techie mentioned that she was considering switching to RO water for washing hair, as she encountered massive hair fall due to hard water. She also requested the locals provide solutions like a water softening solution or filter to help her prevent hair fall and protect her hair.
To understand the effects of hard water, first, let's know the different types of water. The various types of water are:
1. Freshwater: water that is found on the surface of the earth, such as ponds, lakes, and rivers, and which contains small amounts of dissolved salts.
2. Hard water: water that has a high mineral content, especially magnesium and calcium salts.
3. Soft water: it contains a low amount of dissolved salts, i.e., <50 mg/l of CaC03.
4. Distilled water: water obtained through a process of distillation where it is subjected to boiling and then steam is captured and cooled to turn it into liquid.
5. De-ionized water: water in which all the mineral ions are removed.
A study titled “Effect of topical application of hard water in weakening of hair in men” was conducted to compare the tensile strength and elasticity of hair when treated with hard water and de-ionized water. For the study, water was collected from different districts in Pakistan to determine the hardness of the water. It was found that Kohat district had maximum hardness, whereas Peshawar had minimum water hardness. Hair samples were collected from 76 males, and each hair sample was divided into equal halves, half were treated with water from Kohat district, i.e., hard water, and the remaining half were treated with de-ionized water for 10 minutes every alternate day for 3 months. The result proved that the hair samples treated with hard water showed reduced tensile strength compared to those treated with de-ionized water.2
In another study titled “To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with de-ionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage," hair samples were collected from 70 male individuals and divided into 3 equal parts. One group was labeled as control, and out of the remaining two, one was treated with hard water and the other with de-ionized water for 10 minutes every alternate day for 3 months. The results concluded that the baseline strength of hair reduced effectively after treatment with hard water.3
In another study titled “Scanning electron microscopy of hair treated in hard water," Hair strands lost during combing were taken from 15 female volunteers, and strands were cut into 2 equal halves. Half of the hair samples were washed and air-dried with hard water and the remaining half with distilled water for 10 minutes for 30 days. The results showed that the surface of the hair treated with hard water was ruffled due to high mineral deposition and reduced hair thickness compared to distilled water-treated hair.4
How does hard water affect hair?
Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium. As a result, whenever we wash hair, these salts get deposited on the scalp, making the scalp dry and causing hair damage, making it more prone to hair fall resulting in hair thinning. Some of the effects of hard water are:
1. Hair dryness: the mineral deposition blocks the moisture and leads to dryness of the scalp and hair.
2. Hair loss: due to a dry scalp, the nutrients cannot reach the roots and cause hair loss, split ends, and breakage.
3. Excess minerals block the pores and make hair dry and frizzy.
4. The minerals in hard water can reduce the effectiveness of shampoo.
5. Sometimes the mineral buildup can also lead to bacterial and fungal infections.
Effective ways to prevent hair damage from hard water:
1. Using a water softener, which works on the principle of exchanging calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, making the water soft.
2. Installing shower filters as they filter out the excess minerals and chlorine in the water.
3. Using purified water for washing hair but it can prove to be an expensive option.
4. As one of the reasons for hard water damage is the lack of moisture, using moisturizing masks and conditioners can provide the necessary moisture to the hair and scalp.
5. The absence of nutrients can also cause hair damage, so adding nutrients to the diet is important to prevent hair loss.
6. For reducing the mineral buildup of hard water, rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar can be an option as it also controls sebum production.
7. Stress is also one of the important factors in hair loss, so managing stress is essential.
Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium salts. These salts build up on the scalp, block moisture, and cause hair dryness, frizzing breakage, and hair loss. To prevent the hair from harsh hard water, the options to consider are installing a water softener, using purified water, applying moisturizing conditioner, rinsing the hair with acidic agents to wash out the buildup of minerals, and avoiding stress, as sometimes it can also be the reason for hair loss.
REFERENCES:
1. Team, S. (2024, May 23). What are the different types of water? Smart Water Magazine. https://smartwatermagazine.com/q-a/what-are-different-types-water
2. Effect of topical application of hard water in weakening of hair in men. (2016, September 1). PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27654734/
3. Luqman, M., Ramzan, M., Javaid, U., Ali, R., Shoaib, M., & Luqman, M. (2018). To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with deionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage. International Journal of Trichology, 10(3), 113. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijt.ijt_115_16
4. Srinivasan, G., & Rangachari, S. C. (2015). Scanning electron microscopy of hair treated in hard water. International Journal of Dermatology, 55(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.13141
5. Systems, K. R. (n.d.). How Hard Water Damages your Hair and Leads to Excessive Hair Fall. https://www.kent.co.in/blog/is-hard-water-leading-to-hair-loss-5-ways-to-save-your-hair-from-hard-water/