Is Hard Water Bad for Your Skin and Hair?

You’re likely familiar with the term “hard water,” and you might even have it at your Miami-area home. Have you noticed any of the telltale signs? The most common indicators include cloudy spots on your dishes after they’ve been washed, clothes that feel rough after being laundered, and lime scale buildup on your faucets and water-using appliances. If you do have hard water, you’re certainly not alone. Recent studies suggest that as many as 90% of homes in the U.S. have a high enough concentration of calcium and magnesium for the water to be considered hard. While there are no known negative health risks associated with consuming hard water, it can have an effect on everyday tasks like bathing, leading some homeowners to wonder if hard water is bad for their skin and hair.

Hard Water Headaches

If your hair and skin feel dry and scratchy after you take a shower, or if you don’t feel quite as clean as you would like to, hard water is likely the culprit. The abundance of metallic minerals in hard water prevents the water molecules from penetrating your pores and nourishing your skin. These minerals also make it more difficult for soap and shampoo to come to a full lather, which affects the way these products interact with your skin and hair and diminishes their ability to wash away dirt and bodily oils. So, while hard water may not be overly damaging to your skin and hair, it can make it more challenging to achieve the level of self-care you desire.

Dry, Frizzy Hair

Hard water can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle, which many homeowners find unpleasant. After a while, this dryness can cause damage that results in split ends and overly frizzy hair. Hard water also tends to leave a residue behind on your scalp that can cause irritation such as a rash or itchy spots.

Lackluster Color

Hard water is also notorious for interfering with colored hair. The metallic minerals in hard water can react with the chemicals in the hair coloring, causing the hair to lose its luster and look faded. Homeowners who dye their hair regularly may want to consider investing in a water softener. That way, their hair will get the nourishment it needs and the money they’re spending to color their hair won’t be going down the drain.

Itchy Skin

Just as hard water leaves a residue on your scalp, it does so all over the rest of your body. This most commonly causes skin to feel dry and irritated as it upsets the natural oil balance in your skin and can even clog pores. Applying a lotion after showering can help with the dry feeling, but it won’t do anything to address the root cause of the issue.

Partner With Miami Water & Air for a Lasting Solution

The most effective way to address your hard water is to have a water softener system installed. Miami Water & Air is a certified RainSoft dealer serving homeowners throughout the Miami area. We offer a wide selection of home water treatment products, including water softeners, that can alter the chemical balance of your hard water through a process called ion exchange. Through this process, the hard water is run through a resin tank which removes the metallic minerals and replaces them with sodium ions to “soften” the water. What results is beautifully conditioned water that will give you the deep clean you’re looking for and leave you feeling refreshed.

If you’d like to learn more about having a water softener installed at your home, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.