As soon as I moved to Los Angeles, I noticed my hair was looking a bit…funky. It felt different, too: like I constantly had conditioner in it at the roots, yet extremely dry on the ends. A friend mentioned that this was my inauguration into a Hard Water City – welcome! If anything about this experience sounds familiar, consider this your ‘aha’ moment: 85% of people have hard water, and you might be one of them. Luckily, I have tips!
As I mentioned (I’m still reeling, too), 85% of people have hard water, so there’s a really good chance you do. It’s not shy or picky – hard water can be found all across the United States. In addition to hair frustrations, you can identify hard water if you've noticed limescale deposits on your faucets, showerheads, or dishes, or if your soap doesn't lather easily. Here’s a map with more info.
The hardness of your water is determined by the concentration of minerals – like calcium and magnesium – in it. These minerals cling to your hair, creating a barrier that makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate or escape. That’s why your hair may feel dull, dry, brittle, and prone to frizz. Not only does hard water affect your hair's appearance, but it can also wreak havoc on your scalp, leaving it dry, flaky, and even oily in some cases. It’s not unsafe, but it is extremely frustrating – thankfully, there are ways to combat it.
Rescuing your hair from the clutches of hard water isn’t all that stressful when you have the right products. Consider grabbing a sulfate-free shampoo, which can cleanse your hair without stripping away its natural oils and a scalp and hair mask to remove mineral buildup and restore your hair's natural shine. A great moisturizing conditioner can also quench your strands’ thirst, and a hair oil can nourish and smooth your cuticle and help dull hair regain its shine. If you’re unsure exactly where to start, meet Prose.
I was stressed trying to get my hair situation sorted until I found Prose. The brand provides comfort in its 80-factor online quiz that asks questions like ‘how porous is your hair’ and ‘what’s your zip code’ to get the full picture of what you’re working with. From there, Prose creates and bottles a solution just for you. Mine includes a pre-shampoo mask, pre-shampoo deep conditioner and shampoo that smells out of this world and performs even better. My hair finally feels like my hair again and looks so good that I’ve convinced two friends to try it. Finding a solution for hard water wasn't so hard after all!
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