Hard water leaves minerals on and in the hair, so it turns dull, dry and straw-like and products stop working as they should; a clarifying wash clears the build-up and a repair treatment restores moisture. At kruLA cold hair recovery restores moisture without straightening.
kruLA does cold hair recovery and deep conditioning in Century City for $150 to $300, by hair length: call (949) 883-8301.
What is hard water?
Hard water is tap water that carries a lot of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. It is not unsafe to drink or wash in; it simply behaves differently on hair and skin.
How hard your water is depends on where it comes from, and it can differ between neighborhoods and even buildings.
What does hard water do to your hair?
Hard water leaves mineral deposits on the surface of the strand and in the outer layer, which makes hair feel rough and dull and keeps shampoo from lathering well.
Over time hair can feel heavy and dry, tangle more and hold less shine, and it can be harder to style. The minerals do not repair or protect the strand; they sit on it.
Is hard water bad for your hair? Signs of mineral build-up
It is not bad for the health of the hair, but build-up makes it look and feel worse, and rough, dry hair breaks more easily. These signs point to build-up:
- Hair that feels coated, stiff or like straw even after conditioning.
- Dullness that a new shampoo does not fix.
- Shampoo that lathers poorly.
- Hair that is limp, flat or tangles at the ends.
Is tap water in Los Angeles hard?
Water in much of the Los Angeles area is commonly described as hard, because part of the supply carries dissolved minerals; how hard it is varies by neighborhood and by building.
Your water supplier publishes a yearly water quality report that lists the hardness for your area, and that report is the place to check your own water.
Does hard water make hair greasy or flat?
It can: minerals and soap residue coat the strand, so hair can look dull, heavy and flat, and some people read that as greasy.
A thorough rinse and an occasional clarifying wash take the coating off. If hair is still limp afterwards, the cause may be something else, and the consultation is where a specialist looks at the hair and scalp.
How do I get mineral build-up out of my hair?
A clarifying shampoo removes mineral and product build-up, followed by conditioner because it can leave the hair dry. Use it now and then rather than at every wash.
Build-up also matters before a smoothing treatment, because the product needs a clean strand; the preparation guide covers it.
What repairs hard-water-dry hair?
Cold hair recovery restores moisture to dry, rough hair without straightening it, and the collagen version suits extremely dry, brittle hair with split ends. Hair dusting takes off the ends that have split.
The consultation, $0 for 20 min, shows which one your hair needs. Hard water and chlorine often go together in Los Angeles: see how to protect hair from chlorine, sun and salt water.
What drives the price of repairing hard-water-dry hair? Hair length and thickness set the price: at kruLA cold hair recovery is $150 to $300, the collagen version is $180 to $400 and hair dusting is $120, and thick hair adds $30 to $90.
Every length step is on the prices page.
Hard water FAQ
Does a shower filter help hair that suffers from hard water?
A shower filter may reduce some of what is in the water that reaches your hair; how much depends on the filter and on your water. It does not repair hair that has already been affected. A clarifying wash now and then and conditioner still matter.
Can hard water make hair frizzy?
Yes: mineral build-up roughens the outer layer of the strand, and rough hair frizzes more easily. A clarifying wash and a moisturizing conditioner help. If the frizz comes with dry, brittle ends, Cold Hair Recovery ($150) restores moisture.
Does hard water affect lightened hair more?
Lightened hair is more porous, so it picks up minerals and loses moisture faster. Rinse well, use a clarifying wash now and then and condition every time. A repair treatment starts at $150 at kruLA.
Can hard water cause split ends?
Not by itself: split ends come from heat, friction and dryness. Hard water can make hair rougher and drier, which makes it easier for the ends to split. Hair dusting ($120) removes the splits and keeps the length.
Should I use a clarifying shampoo at every wash?
No: it is strong and can leave the hair dry. Use it now and then to take off build-up and follow it with conditioner. Your specialist can say how much suits your hair.
Does hard water stop a smoothing treatment from taking?
Mineral and product build-up can get in the way, because the product needs a clean strand. The specialist washes your hair before a treatment. Tell them if you think your water is hard.
Is well water hard?
Often, but not always: well water takes up minerals from the ground it passes through, and the level differs from well to well. A water test tells you for yours.
How do I reverse the effects of hard water on hair?
Clear the build-up with a clarifying wash, then restore moisture with a deep conditioner or a salon treatment. At kruLA Cold Hair Recovery is $150 to $300. Ends that have already split are cut, not repaired; hair dusting is $120.