Does Your Hair Have a Hard Water Problem?
By Samantha Sasso
Ask anyone who has really good hair and they’ll probably tell you they do a lot more than just avoid hot tools when possible. From using special brushes and special towels to sleeping on silk pillowcases to getting regular trims, you can bet that their list of rules is long, but worth abiding by. Even so, someone could be doing all of those things and still end up with dull, weak hair — and the culprit may be hiding in your water.
Water has a long trip to take before it hits our groundwater supply. Sometimes, by the time it reaches our pipes, it’s collected a few mineral souvenirs along the way, which can get trapped in the plumbing and water we use to wash our hair. The higher the concentration of these minerals, the “harder” the water. The harder the water, the greater the odds are that it’s partially to blame for your color fading and crunchy texture.
Hard water isn’t an anomaly — it’s estimated that 85 percent of the U.S. deals with it. So, it’s nothing to panic over — and it’s also safe to drink — but if you’re hoping to maintain those fresh $400 highlights, you might want to pay closer attention to how it can affect your hair health.
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It won't stop until it destroys your highlights.
Water has a long trip to take before it hits our groundwater supply. Sometimes, by the time it reaches our pipes, it’s collected a few metal souvenirs, including copper, along the way, which can get trapped in
the plumbing and water we use to wash our hair. The higher the concentration of these contaminants, the “harder” the water. The
harder the water, the greater the odds are that it’s partially to blame
for your color fading and crunchy texture.
Hard water isn’t an anomaly — it’s estimated that 85 percent of the U.S. deals with it. So, it’s nothing to panic over — and it’s also safe to drink — but if you’re hoping to maintain those fresh $400 highlights, you might want to pay closer attention to how it can affect your hair health.
Metal particles — copper being one of the most common — can
have a harsh effect on your hair. Over time, those metal particles
can accumulate inside the hair fiber, which can potentially lead to breakage and color fading. One 2009 study found that an increased uptake of metals can also reduce shine and make hair feel crunchy and straw-like. Wet or dry, hair doesn’t feel or look healthy.
Due to its sponge-like qualities, porous hair can be more susceptible to heavy metal damage, though metals don’t necessarily discriminate against hair color or type. Heavy metals can harm your hair whether you have virgin hair (hair that’s never been dyed) or get a root touch-up every six to eight weeks.
What Can Hard Water Do to Hair?
The potentially negative effects of hard water on hair can be prevented. An easy and affordable solution is to use products that are specifically formulated to counteract the effects of heavy metals, like the L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox collection, which is available at top salons and Sephora. The secret exclusive ingredient is glicoamine, a chelating molecule the brand says is small enough to penetrate the hair fiber. Once there, it can attract, bind to, and neutralize the metals that have accumulated over time. The expected result: Shinier, smoother, and healthier looking hair.
Can Hard Water Damage Be Prevented?
Unlike some treatments out there that are only meant to be used once a month, at most, a sulfate-free shampoo with glicoamine is gentle enough to use every wash, especially if you have color-treated hair. Shampoo is important — after all, it’s in the shower where your hair is exposed to heavy metals — but the styling products you use after are, too. The Metal Detox Hair Oil uses the same technology to help shield hair from harmful metals while helping to increase shine, reduce frizz, and protect against heat up to 450°. Not to mention its ability to help prevent breakage, the pale horse of color-treated hair.
If you’re looking for softer hair, add the Metal Detox Hair Mask to your routine, whether you have hard water or not. It’s an added bonus that this formula just so happens to include — yes, you guessed it! — glicoamine. Here, it can help prevent heavy metals from re-entering the hair fiber to help restore and protect that pricey hair color you pay for. Don’t let your colorist down.
Photographer: Ryan Jenq; Art Director: Meg Konigsburg; Prop Stylist: Laura Woolf; Producer: Alex Friedlander
Production Credits
Glicoamine can attract, bind to, and neutralize metal particles, such as copper, that have accumulated in the hair fiber.
Hit “block” on harmful metal particles from re-entering the hair fiber with the Metal Detox Hair Mask.
The Metal Detox Hair Oil helps prevent breakage, the pale horse of color-treated hair.
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While calcium and magnesium can make it hard for soap to sud, giving you that “clean” feeling, metal particles can have a harsher effect on your hair. Over time, those metal particles can accumulate inside the hair fiber, which can potentially lead to breakage and color fading. One 2009 study found that an increased uptake of metals can also reduce shine and make hair feel crunchy and straw-like. Wet or dry, hair doesn’t feel or look healthy.
Due to its sponge-like qualities, porous hair can be more susceptible to heavy metal damage, though metals don’t necessarily discriminate against hair color or type. Heavy metals can harm your hair whether you have virgin hair (hair that’s never been dyed) or get a root touch-up every six to eight weeks.
A
Ask anyone who has really good hair and they’ll probably tell you they do a lot more than just avoid hot tools when possible. From using special brushes and special towels to sleeping on silk pillowcases to getting regular trims, you can bet that their list of rules is long, but worth abiding by. Even so, someone could be doing all of those things and still end up with dull, weak hair — and the culprit may be hiding in your water.
Water has a long trip to take before it hits our groundwater supply. Sometimes, by the time it reaches our pipes, it’s collected a few mineral souvenirs along the way, which can get trapped in the plumbing and water we use to wash our hair. The higher the concentration of these minerals, the “harder” the water. The harder the water, the greater the odds are that it’s partially to blame for your color fading and crunchy texture.
Hard water isn’t an anomaly — it’s estimated that 85 percent of the U.S. deals with it. So, it’s nothing to panic over — and it’s also safe to drink — but if you’re hoping to maintain those fresh $400 highlights, you might want to pay closer attention to how it can affect your hair health.
possible. From using special brushes and special towels to sleeping on silk pillowcases to getting regular trims, you can bet that their list of rules is long, but worth abiding by. Even so, someone could be doing all of those things and still end up with dull, weak hair — and the culprit may be hiding in your water.
sk anyone who has really good hair and they’ll probably
tell you they do a lot more than just avoid hot tools when
Ask anyone who has really good hair
and they’ll probably tell you they do a
lot more than just avoid hot tools when possible. From using special brushes
and special towels to sleeping on silk pillowcases to getting regular trims, you can bet that their list of rules is long,
but worth abiding by. Even so, someone could be doing all of those things and
still end up with dull, weak hair — and the culprit may be hiding in your water.
Water has a long trip to take before it
hits our groundwater supply. Sometimes, by the time it reaches our pipes, it’s collected a few mineral souvenirs along the way, which can get trapped in the plumbing and water we use to wash
our hair. The higher the concentration
of these minerals, the “harder” the water. The harder the water, the greater the odds are that it’s partially to blame for your color fading and crunchy texture.
Hard water isn’t an anomaly — it’s estimated that 85 percent of the U.S. deals with it. So, it’s nothing to panic
over — and it’s also safe to drink — but
if you’re hoping to maintain those fresh $400 highlights, you might want to pay closer attention to how it can affect your hair health.
From using special brushes and special towels to sleeping on silk pillowcases to getting regular trims, you can bet that their list of rules is long, but worth abiding by. Even so, someone could be doing all of those things and still end up with dull, weak hair — and the culprit may be hiding in your water.
Water has a long trip to take before it
hits our groundwater supply. Sometimes, by the time it reaches our pipes, it’s collected a few mineral souvenirs along the way, which can get trapped in the plumbing and water we use to wash
our hair. The higher the concentration
of these minerals, the “harder” the water. The harder the water, the greater the odds are that it’s partially to blame for your color fading and crunchy texture.
Hard water isn’t an anomaly — it’s estimated that 85 percent of the U.S. deals with it. So, it’s nothing to panic
over — and it’s also safe to drink — but
if you’re hoping to maintain those fresh $400 highlights, you might want to pay closer attention to how it can affect your hair health.