What to Know
- Hard water can dry out and even damage hair and skin.
- You’ll notice more of the effects of hard water in the summer due to a higher mineral concentration.
- Softening water (i.e., removing excess minerals like magnesium and calcium) improves skin and hair health, reduces limescale buildup, and extends appliance lifespans.
Have you jumped out of the shower recently and felt something a little different about your skin and hair? It might not be your soap, shampoo, or conditioner causing the change, but your water. In this guide, we’re comparing hard water versus soft water, exploring how excess minerals in your water supply can affect your hair and skin, and offering a few solutions for hard water at home.
What Is the Difference Between Hard Water and Soft Water?
Before we get into the effects of water minerals on the hair and skin, what’s the difference between hard and soft water? When we talk about hard water, we’re referring to the level of dissolved minerals it contains, such as calcium and magnesium. While these minerals aren’t toxic or harmful to consume, hard water can still cause damage, including to appliances, fixtures, and even your hair and skin over time. Soft water, on the other hand, has most or all of these minerals removed, resulting in a smoother feel, a more neutral taste, and no more limescale buildup on your stainless steel.
How Does Hard Water Affect Your Skin?
Let’s take a look at hard water’s effect on skin. The minerals found in hard water can strip your skin of its natural moisture when you shower, disrupting the pH balance and potentially leaving behind a thin film of soap residue that clogs pores, worsens acne, and triggers skin flare-ups. Plus, hard water limits your soap’s ability to lather, so you might feel less clean after a shower.
How Does Hard Water Affect Your Hair?
Hard water minerals don’t just affect skin. You might notice hard water effects on your hair as well, including a dry, chalky residue from dissolved minerals that remain after the water dries. Depending on your hair texture, this can lead to dry, frizzy, or brittle hair, resulting in increased hair breakage, faster color fading in dyed hair, or scalp irritation.
Common Signs Your Home Has Hard Water
Now that we know a little about how hard water buildup affects the hair and skin, how do you know if you’re dealing with excess minerals in your home’s water supply? Here are a few hard water symptoms to be on the lookout for:
- Chalky, white limescale buildup on plumbing fixtures
- Cloudy white spots or a thin film on clean dishes after drying
- Soap not lathering properly when showering or washing dishes
- Clothes feeling stiff or rough or appearing faded after doing laundry
- Lower water pressure
- Dry or irritated skin
- Frizzy, dry hair
- Strong mineral taste in drinking water
If these signs of hard water in the home seem familiar, it’s time to look into a solution like a water softener or water filtration.
Why Hard Water Problems May Feel Worse in Summer
Water evaporates in high temperatures, which means that in the summertime, the minerals found in hard water become more concentrated as liquid water evaporates, leading to even higher mineral content in your home’s water supply. This is a common reason people suffer from drier skin and hair in the summer.
How to Check If Hard Water Is Affecting Your Skin, Hair, or Shower
To determine the hardness of your water, keep an eye out for hard water shower problems, as well as dry hair and itchy skin. If you suspect you’re dealing with hard water in the home, there are a few simple ways to confirm your suspicions:
- Soap test: Fill a clean, empty bottle or jar halfway with tap water, and then add a few drops of dish soap. Close it up and shake vigorously. If the water is cloudy and has few bubbles, it’s hard. If it has plenty of bubbles and the water is clear, the water is soft.
- Test strips: You can buy at-home water testing kits that let you quickly and accurately determine the mineral content of your tap water.
- Pro testing: The best way to determine exactly what’s in your water is to get a professional test, such as from the water treatment pros at Cozy Home Services.
Hard Water vs. Soft Water for Skin and Hair
How do hard water and soft water stack up when it comes to skin and hair health? We’ve looked at the negative effects of hard water, so let’s explore a few soft water benefits to keep in mind:
- Soap lathers very easily
- No dulling mineral buildup
- Helps your skin retain its natural moisture barrier
- Deeper hydration for skin and hair
- Enhanced hair shine and color
- Better removal of excess scalp oils
- Clearer pores
- Relief for skin sensitivities and conditions
Do You Need a Water Softener or Whole-Home Water Filtration System?
If you have hard water at home, the next step is deciding what to do about it. There are two main options for dealing with excessively hard water: water softeners and whole-home water filtration.
Water filtration systems remove excess minerals along with several other contaminants, including chemicals, biological hazards, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). There are many kinds of water filtration systems, but the gold standard is reverse osmosis filtration, which efficiently removes a wide range of impurities.
The other option is to focus on removing mineral impurities with a water softener. Water softener benefits include reduced limescale buildup, longer appliance lifespans, lower energy bills, and relief from the hair and skin issues mentioned above.
When to Call a Professional Like Cozy About Hard Water
If you’re tired of dealing with the multitude of issues caused by excessively hard water, it’s time to call a pro for help. At Cozy Home Services, we take pride in helping our clients find the perfect solution for their water treatment needs by performing in-depth testing to identify and remove contaminants and excess minerals, delivering pure, great-tasting water that leaves you feeling your best.
Why Hard Water Is a Common Concern for Vacaville, Sonoma, and Nearby Homes
Hard water is a common issue in Northern California. Because groundwater in the region flows through heavy mineral deposits in the soil and bedrock, it picks up calcium and magnesium along the way. While these minerals make the region’s soil uniquely suited to winemaking, it’s less ideal when they end up in your showerhead. But because these minerals aren’t considered harmful by municipal water treatment, they stay in the water all the way until they reach your home.
How Cozy Home Services Can Help Improve Your Home’s Water Quality
At Cozy Home Services, we know a thing or two about improving water quality. Depending on the exact minerals and contaminants contained in your water supply, we can set you up with efficient, reliable treatment systems that leave your water feeling great. To learn more or to schedule a water treatment consultation today, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes calcium buildup on showerheads and faucets?
Calcium buildup, known as limescale, is a common sign of excessively hard water. This limescale also affects appliances, hair, and skin, so removing the minerals with a water softener is recommended.
Is soft water better for sensitive skin?
Soft water can definitely offer relief for those with sensitive skin. Softening water will likely reduce the frequency and intensity of eczema and psoriasis flare-ups.
Can hard water damage plumbing fixtures?
Hard water can damage fixtures and appliances over time as the mineral buildup accumulates. This can even shorten the lifespan of laundry machines and dishwashers.
