4 Things I Do to Save My Hair from Hard Water
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Hard water has given my hair a real hard time. I have talked about my struggles with hard water. It caused my hair to become dry, rough, and lifeless.
But Now, after many trials and errors, looks like I have finally won the fight against hard water. Now hard water doesnโt bother my hair anymore.
I still live in London and I havenโt installed a water purification system. I just follow certain hair rituals and use certain herbs and those seem to work beautifully in hard water. I will share with you what I do and use, so it may benefit you as well. Itโs really very simple. Here are my tips to beat hard water hair.
4 Things I Do to Save My Hair from Hard Water
1. Shield My Hair
I wash my hair twice a week. And before washing I always oil my hair โ I use Brahmi & Amla oil. Oiling helps massively. It kind of works like a protective shield and prevents hard water from leaving any mineral residues on my hair.
I have noticed whenever I skip oil massage my hair feels dry and rough โ as if it has accumulated the mineral deposits. You donโt have to let the oil sit overnight, even as little as half an hour works pretty well.
Once a week I leave the oil on overnight and other time I just keep it for an hour. That way I deep condition my scalp and hair and keep it nourished and shiny.
Some goods oils for hair massage are:
- Dry Hair: sesame oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil and olive oil
- Normal Hair: coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil
- Oliy Hair: almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and apricot kernel oil
2. Use a Magic Shampoo
Reetha and shikakai are the best hair cleansers for hard water. Trust me, I have literally tried every shampoo on the market.
These Indian herbs work so well in hard water because they contain natural chelating agents which help to remove the mineral build-up. Plus, both shikakai and reetha are known for their benefits for healthy scalp and hair. They not only cleanse hair, they add body and luster and make hair feel thicker, silky and smooth. I donโt even have to use conditioner anymore.
You donโt have to use reetha and shikakai together, but I do. I find the combination of these two herbs absolutely magical for my hair.
I also add:
- amla โ for its conditioning properties
- licorice (mulethi) โ for its hydrating and softening properties.
If you have normal to dry hair then use shikakai, amla and licorice or marshmallow combination
And if your hair is normal to oily you can use reetha, shikakai and amla together.
Never used these herbs before hereโs my favourite recipe, you can also try this one or this one.
3. Egg Shampoo is Super too
Eggs too work really well in hard water and doesnโt let hard water deposits sit on your hair. They are also naturally pH balancing and conditioning. ( I usually alternate between reetha-shikakai and egg shampoo)
Using an egg as shampoo is pretty simple. Crack a couple of eggs into a bowl and use a fork to whisk them well. I also like to add amla or shikakai (you donโt have to) to the egg shampoo. It just helps to mask the egg smell and benefits my hair too.
To use, massage through the hair like a shampoo, then rinse off thoroughly.
You can also add essential oils, warm water, oil, honey, amla or other herbs to the egg mixture โ more on how to do it here.
4.ย Nourish & Shine with a Natural Hair Rinse
Natural hair rinses or herbal teas are another wonderful way to tackle hard water.
They are as simple to create as making your favorite cup of tea. You can use fresh or dried herbs. Here are some I like on my hair:
- Black tea
- Green tea
- Shikakai
- Amla
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Marshmallow
- Chamomile
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 or more tsp of herb of your choice. Steep for at least 30 minutes covered. Then strain and use. Itโs that simple!
Use as a final rinse. You can gently rinse with cool water or, for extra conditioning benefits, just leave it in and towel dry hair.
(Here are some simple hair rinse recipes for you to create at home)
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These are the ways I use to deal with hard water.
But there are few other methods that will help to wash away hard water blues. Most of them are simple, yet effective and will help restore luster, body and bounce of your hair. Read on โฆโฆ
7 More Ways to deal with hard water
1. Use Besan (Chickpea flour) to Fight Hard Water
Besan works really well in hard water and cleans hair beautifully. Plus, it even get oil and grease out of your hair.
To make besan cleanser, take 3 tablespoons of besan in a bowl. To this add 2 tablespoons of yogurt and some water to make a smooth paste. You can also add some aloe vera juiceย for silky shiny effect.
To use, wet hair, then massage the besan mixture into the scalp and hair and leave it on for 4 to 5 minutes. Then rinse off really well.
You may also enjoy: How to make besan + orange peel powder Hair Cleanser
2. Try Rye Flour Cleanser
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Rye flour is another good option to wash your hair if you live in a hard water area. Similar to besan, this too cleans your hair pretty well.
Just mix rye flour with water to make a smooth paste โ consistency of a yogurt. And use this mixture to wash your hair.
For those of you with dry hair, make a rye flour tea. Mix 2 tablespoon of rye flour with 1 cup of water, and let this mixture sit for 2 to 3 hours โ this will infuse the water with all rye goodness. Next, strain it out and use this rye tea to wash your hair.
3. Rhassoul Clay wash can help too
This lovely Moroccan clay is another wonderful option you can use. It is highly moisturising and works best for people with dry, coarse hair.
There are few ways you can use this rhassoul clay to wash your hair. The simplest way is just mix rhassoul clay with water and use that wash your hair. For an extra boost, use floral water or an herbal infusion instead of plain water.
Here are some more ways you can use it.
4. Soften your Water
I have tried shower head filters in past, and they do help to a certain extent. Water filter vary in function and design. Some good ones are aquasana and culligan. But reverse osmosis filter system is said to the most effective.
A few people also use water from filter jugs โ hard work I would say and I have done it. Another option that is good for hair, but not so good for the environment is using bottled mineral water. You can use it as a quick fix or when you are traveling to a hard water area.
5. Use Rainwater to Wash Your Hair
Rainwater is soft water. And the best thing is itโs free! You can catch rain water in a wide mouth container and use that to wash your hair. Itโs said to make your hair really soft and glossy.
The only drawback โ you canโt have it all the time ๐
6. Try Baking Soda (Soda Bicarbonate)
Many people have had successes with baking soda. But this is not a good option for those with dry, damaged hair as it can be a little harsh on such hair types.
To make, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 2 cups of water and boil this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool and use this to wash your hair.
If this too doesnโt work, then try applying this mixture on dry hair (an in without wetting your hair). Work it into your hair and rinse off with plain water.
You can then follow-up with an herbal hair rinse.
7. Finish off with a Leave-in conditioner
This will not remove build-up from your hair, but it will surely pep your hair up.
Apply a few drops of any light oil to damp, towel dried hair โ this will seal the moisture and keep your hair shiny and frizz-free throughout the day. Try one of these types of oil or butter:
Why I donโt use lemon juice anymore?
I have talked about using lime/lemon juice rinse in my previous posts on hard water, but I donโt use it anymore. After using it for few months, I realised that regular use of lemon can be drying for the scalp and hair. Has anyone else had this problem?
Do you live in a hard-water area? What do you do to save your hair?
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