Hard water vs. soft water

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
I have very hard water where I live--which is not unhealthy or anything, it just means it contains more minerals, especially calcium. Although it is not good for your systems--it corrodes plumbing & stuff much faster than soft water.

At my beach house I have really soft water.

So here's my problem & please don't laugh at me. My hair looks great with hard water. I think soft water leaves more of a residue or doesn't wash out shampoo/conditioner as well. So, with curly hair, the residue left makes my hair less curly & just kind of limp & frizzy. Since the annual bulk of my social events are during the summer down the shore, this makes me crazy & I don't want to wear a ponytail every time I go out at night.

I know there are water softeners people use when they have hard water. So, on the other hand, does anyone know of a device that can harden water? Maybe something that can be attached to the shower head only?

Can you tell I'm looking forward to the summer? :p
 
They don't have a water softener--it's just a difference in the quality of water between towns--or should I say the source. Ground water is usually hard, reservoir/tank water is usually soft.

The only stuff I can find through Google is a powder to add for aquariums. I don't think that's gonna work for me. :-(
 
Hey Laura -
Is your soft water naturally soft, or is it softened by the city or a mechanical water softener?

My water is naturally hard. I have well water with a LOT of iron in it. Blonde people who live around here turn their hair orange if they don't soften the water. I have a water softener in my pump house that uses salt to filter the iron out. Otherwise, all my white clothes, my sinks and my bathtub would be orange. Ugh.

If you can't find a water hardener (I've never heard of one) can you try some of the hair relaxer products, or maybe get one of those straightening irons. I love mine iron - it gives me nice straight, frizz-less hair whenever I'm in the mood. Otherwise, I have very curly hair too.
 
The soft water should actually allow you to have cleaner hair, because the minerals in the hard water(calcium and magnesium ions) actually bond to soap molecules and cause them to precipitate out as soap scum. This actually makes it harder to clean your hair, and sometimes you get sort of a build-up on your hair--which in your case seems to be helpful. So maybe switch to a more mild shampoo with the soft water and then buy some sort of gel or mousse as an attempt to coat your hair with product instead of the soap scum.

Resa
 
Interesting...

We have a well with hard water, and I noticed a definite improvement in my hair and skin after we installed a water softener.

I would try looking for shampoos that are made to rinse well...maybe clarifying shampoos? Does that make sense?
 
Laura,

I wonder if you can buy hairproducts that are made for people with curly hair who use soft water? You could try a beauty supply store or even ask your hair stylist if she/he has any suggestions.

Becky
 
I have the same problem! At my house the water is hard, but at my parents' house the water is very soft. I have wavy/curly hair that I usually blow dry straight, and my hair looks horrible when I am at my parents house. This is usually not a big deal to me, but, I had my wedding in the city my parents live and I was staying at their house. I was worried I would have horrible hair at not only my wedding, but the dinners and family gatherings that preceeded it.

Here is what I did and it actually worked very well. I would take the entire shower with the soft water (shampoo and conditioner etc) but at the very end of the shower before I got out, I rinsed my hair with a large bottle of water (I think it was Aquafina, so was purified water). This would obviously be expensive long term, but you may want to try it before a special event or party.

Hope this helps,
Diane
 
I agree...the harder the water the harder it is to get clean using it. I'm laughing that you actually PREFER the hard water to soft! lol

We are on a well system and we have spent thousands on softening and mineral removal systems to make our water as nice as 'town' water. My mother lives in an apartment were the water is not softened and I hate, absolutely hate taking showers when we're visting because I feel like I'm covered in scum all the time. I have very long hair and it is a gigantic challenge to get enough shampoo worked into a lather to clean my hair when I'm at my mother's. Ugh! As soon as we get home the first thing all of us do is get in the shower/tub so we can feel clean again.

Lauramax...you are indeed nuts!:7
 
OK I found it. Have you tried it CurlQ? It looks like it might be the answer to my problem............thanks!:)
 
I have terrible Hard water even with a softener. I was so disgusted getting my hair done and instantly my highlights would orange up. I started filling jugs and I wash my hair seperately with store bought water so maybe fill a couple of jugs and take them with you.

beth6395
 
Hey Laura,

I can't help you but I have always noticed the difference between the water in Middlesex county and down in atlantic city. Even the difference from where I live now in Monmouth County to atlantic city so I know what you are talking about! In my case though, I PREFER the soft water! I spend the weekend in A/C and my hair always looks BETTER! Mine's not curly though...
 
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