Hard water is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals give specific properties to water, which makes it different from soft water. According to USGS, around 85 percent of water in the US is hard water.
Showering with hard water can be problematic for your skin and hair. In this article, we are going to discuss the impacts of hard water showering on your body and how you can deal with them.
Showering with hard water is not a good option!
Hard Water Problems
You will most probably face all of the below-mentioned problems if you shower in hard water.
Lather Problems: Hard water does not form proper lather with the soaps and shampoos. You may think that your soap or shampoo is of poor quality, but the problem may be with your water. You will end up applying more soap and shampoo, and hard water will keep on wasting them.
Improper Cleaning: Calcium and magnesium in your water react with soap, shampoo, and body wash. Insoluble lime soaps are formed due to this reaction and prevent proper cleaning of dirt and sweat off your body. Hard water may be the reason why some people do not smell good even after having a shower. You may notice a very thin layer of soap residue on your skin as well.
Skin Problems: Hard water has some negative impacts on your skin after taking a shower. If you shower continuously with hard water, these problems can become more serious.
- Dryness and Dandruff: Hard water damages the natural oils and serums on your skin. As a result, your skin becomes dry, and you start suffering from dandruff. Calcium salts in hard water can build up on your scalp and skin, causing dandruff.
- Rashes: Dryness leads to rash and itch. When you scratch the dried parts of your skin, it develops into rashes and can lead to allergies and severe skin problems.
- Sunburns: Sunburns do not happen as a direct result of showering in hard water. You can get more severe sunburns if you bath with hard water. Minerals in hard water react with collagen on your skin and reduce your skin’s defense against sunburns.
Hair Problems: The quality of water can gravely affect the quality of your hair. You may have nocked that when you take a shower at a place other than your home, your hair has a different outlook. The reason is the different levels of hardness in water. Hard water can make your hair dry; take away the shine and natural look from your hair. Hard water also causes dandruff in your hair, and it leads to hair fall.
Solutions
Don’t worry; there are some solutions you can use to get rid of the hard water problems after having a shower.
Skin Moisturizers: You can use a skin moisturizer to get rid of dryness on your skin. Remember to apply a gentle layer of skin moisturizers on your skin after having a bath with hard water or washing your face.
Clarifying Shampoo: You can also use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of mineral buildup on your head. These shampoos keep calcium and magnesium away from your hair, and hard water does not affect your hair.
Bottled/Filtered Water: Another way to deal with the problem of hard water is to use filtered water/bottled water for cleaning your hair and body after you are done showering. You can fill a bucket of filtered water before going for a shower and wash your hair and body once after having a shower.
Shower Filters: There are some shower filters available on the market which you can use to get rid of the hardness of water while having a shower. These filters also ensure that other contaminants are filtered from your water, and you get pure water for bathing. A good shower filter can also filter chlorine from your water, making your water breathable.
Water Softeners: Water softeners are the most effective and economical solution to get rid of hardness in your water. They are installed just after the entry point of water in your home. Water softeners use water softening salts to make your water soft. Water softeners not only make water safe for shower, but it also makes it safe for plumbing, crockery, and water-related appliances as well. Check this guide to know if your water softener runs out of salt.
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