How Hard Water Damages Your Wavy or Curly Hair, and What You Can Do About It

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Have you ever wondered why, even though you’ve done everything right—bought the right products for your hair and spent two to three hours styling it—you still have to deal with frizzy hair?

You should take a closer look at your water.

Hard water is full of minerals, chlorine, and heavy metals that strip the natural oils from your hair and skin. Over time, it breaks down the amino acids in your hair, causing it to lose its natural strength. It dissolves the oils that keep your hair shiny. It can even react with the melanin in your hair and slowly change your hair color.

For wavy and curly hair in particular, this means frizz, dullness, loss of definition, and curls that just won’t hold their shape, no matter what you do. And the frustrating part is that none of your products can fix this, because the problem starts before even a single product reaches your hair.

There are two ways to address this. The first is a chelating shampoo. Chelation is different from a clarifying treatment. While a clarifying treatment removes product buildup, chelation specifically targets the minerals in hard water. The downside is that you have to keep using the product consistently; otherwise, the buildup will return immediately. Furthermore, it has no effect on your skin.

I used to use a chelating shampoo. My favorite is the Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo.

The second option is to install a water filter directly on your showerhead, which tackles the problem at the source before the water even touches you. I personally use the Jolie Filtered Shower Head.

In the shower at my house

Close-up of a showerhead

Since I've been using it, my hair has become noticeably softer and shinier, and my curls hold their shape much better. If you decide to buy one, you can easily install it yourself. Here's what's in the box:

  • The showerhead with a built-in filter

  • A wrench

  • Plumber's Tape

  • An instruction booklet

You don't need any extra tools or a plumber. The filter needs to be replaced every 90 days, and you can sign up for a subscription so it’s automatically delivered without you having to think about it. It’s also available in five different finishes, so it looks great in your bathroom, and you can return it for free within 60 days, so there’s no risk at all if you want to give it a try.

One thing is worth mentioning, though: if your waves or curls are very soft, a water filter might actually be counterproductive for you. That’s because curls need some body and texture to hold their shape and stay looking good longer. So keep that in mind.

You can use this link to get your copy. :)

Thanks for reading! xx

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Your Journey with Wavy and Curly Hair for Beginners: Your First Routine for Hair Types 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3A