Dealing with Hard Water Hair + Dry Climate

Moving from southern Louisiana (aka the humidity capital of the country!), I had envisioned how my perfect my hair would be once we moved to a dry climate. Soft, shiny, smooth, straight, zero frizz, right?



Then I discovered hard water for the first time.



Within a few weeks, my thick soft hair had turned into straw and started falling out any time I did something with it. As a naturally dark brunette who has been going blonde for the past 11 years, my hair is more susceptible to dryness and damage than most people's. My hair was finally starting to get long (and healthy!) again, and now I had to deal with this. I first noticed when I washed it, it no longer felt silky or smooth after conditioned. And you can forget trying to get a comb through it. Once it dried, it was flat and gross at the roots and parched and super frizzy on the ends. THIS COULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I frantically scoured the internet for every possible explanation of what could be happening and I came across this:

Hello Colorado, my hair hates your water.



I spent quite a few days researching every possible solution, and after exhausting through a lot of them, I have found what works for me.



The number one recommendation I found was to install a water softener. Unfortunately, this wasn't an option for me since we live in a small one bedroom apartment in the city. Nexxxt! If you are able to do this though, it would be your best bet. We did install a filtered showerhead, which even though it's not technically a 'water softener', it has made a world of difference! I was actually crazy enough to wash my hair with only bottled water for a few weeks until this shower filter came into my life.

I know there are more popular brands/types that may work even better, but I just couldn't give up the 'rain' style showerhead. This one works perfectly for us.




I've also read a good bit about doing a rinse with either apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to help remove mineral buildup. I opted for the lemon juice to avoid any potential discoloration of my blonde hair.

I've been doing this following a clarifying shampoo every 3-4 washes, and it works perfectly at getting build up out of my hair. I'm also following up with a deep conditioning mask.

Alas, this product is my new-found obsession. It's the NOUNOU Pak from Davines- this is their repairing mask. Moisturizes unlike anything I've ever tried before (which is a lot!).


I also sleep with avocado oil in my hair the night before I wash it. The longer it soaks, the better. I find this keeps my ends from getting too parched.

Unfortunately, I did have to trim a good 1.5 inches off to get rid of the hard water damage that those first few weeks caused, but everything has been smooth sailing since! Has anyone else had hair troubles like this with a change in climate or water? What's your experience been?