From cleansing your skin every single night to using a weekly hair mask, you’re probably doing everything right in your beauty routine. So why are you still dealing with dry skin and crunchy hair? Blame your water. Hard water and soft water have different effects on your skin and hair—some of which may do serious damage.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water has a high mineral content, meaning it’s packed with minerals like calcium and magnesium. This mineral content differs depending on where you live, because the water’s path through soil (where it picks up those minerals) determines the levels. Hard water is totally safe for drinking, showering, cooking, so on and so forth. The only thing it’s not ideal for? Your hair and skin.
“The abundance of minerals and chemicals in hard water can leave behind buildup,” says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson of BeautyStat.com. They prevent hard water from completely dissolving the ingredients in your formulas (as well as the grime you’re trying to get rid of) so washing with it can leave behind a film-like residue. On skin, that residue can exacerbate breakouts, dryness and even bring on irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. That’s not all: Hard water can affect the skin on your scalp, too, causing dryness and that telltale itch. Read more
