Hard water help

[NOEChic]

I need help. Where I stay we have hard water and it reeks havoc on my hair. What can i do? I need help

 

[cutenappygrl]

Purchase a shower filter - it screws into your shower fixture just like a shower head and filters out chlorine and sediments. I bought mine from Lowe's and I wrote a review about it in my blog. You can also do a vinegar rinse to remove chlorine and sediments from your hair. Just add 50/50 vinegar to water - or dilute more and use it as a final rinse after shampooing. You should only do vinegar rinses once per month so you don't dry put your hair.

 

[Bublin]

I also live in a hard water area - i have just acknowledged that it is wreaking havoc on my hair.

I have just started to do final rinses with distilled water (once after shampoo rinsed out and again after rinsing out the conditioner)

I hope to see an improvement in my hair soon.

 

[onyxcabelo]

We have terrible hard water issues too. I use distilled water for all of my washes. Even when I henna I use distilled water, about 5 gallons - at 79 cents a gallon, it's not bad(that's when I henna - for my normal wash i use about 3 gallons). I think a water filter is probably a better option, but I've just been too lazy to get one - also I've heard that the filters tend to have to be be replaced fairly often and it ain't cheap, but I don't know this for a fact, perhaps someone who is using a water filter can speak to this.

 

[Bublin]

We have terrible hard water issues too. I use distilled water for all of my washes. Even when I henna I use distilled water, about 5 gallons - at 79 cents a gallon, it's not bad(that's when I henna - for my normal wash i use about 3 gallons). I think a water filter is probably a better option, but I've just been too lazy to get one - also I've heard that the filters tend to have to be be replaced fairly often and it ain't cheap, but I don't know this for a fact, perhaps someone who is using a water filter can speak to this.

Me too.

Onyxcabelo, you have fantastic hair.

How exactly are you using bottled water to rinse....do you dunk your head in the water or do you use a jug? Sounds like a stupid question but i seem to be rinsing my hair for ages with the shower attachment so i can only assume i'll be pouring gallons and spending ages in the bathroom with a jug.

 

[HoneyDew]

I just make sure I use shampoos that have chelaters (EDTA). Honestly, most do. I used to think that I HAD to use Kenra Clarifying Chelating shampoo everytime, but now I just avoid shampoos without EDTA. Some conditioners have EDTA in them, as well. If I am not shampooing, there is a chelating spray that you can use before co-washing. It is by Enjoy Hair Care. You can get a cheap on on ebay. It lasts forever.

Shower filters don't help me with hard water. I MUST use chelating agents or I am doomed.

 

[locabouthair]

I just make sure I use shampoos that have chelaters (EDTA). Honestly, most do. I used to think that I HAD to use Kenra Clarifying Chelating shampoo everytime, but now I just avoid shampoos without EDTA. Some conditioners have EDTA in them, as well. If I am not shampooing, there is a chelating spray that you can use before co-washing. It is by Enjoy Hair Care. You can get a cheap on on ebay. It lasts forever.

Shower filters don't help me with hard water. I MUST use chelating agents or I am doomed.

I agree with this. If you have hard water you should use a chelating poo. ORS aloe shampoo is a good one to remove the mineral deposits from the water.

I also herad shower filters dont help much. You are better off with a water softener.

using distilled water can help.

 

[Nonie]

I think you can get chelating shampoos without EDTA too. L'anza Chelating Shampoo is said not to have EDTA.

Disodium EDTA: May contain dangerous levels of ethylene oxide and/or dixane, both potent toxins. EDTA is used as a stabilizer, viscosity adjuster and chelating compound in cosmetic products. These chelating agents are cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic, but not carcinogenic. Oral exposures to EDTA produced negative reproductive and developmental effects in animals. Clinical tests showed no absorption of an EDTA salt through the skin, however it is likely that EDTA could increase the penetration of other chemicals into the skin because of their ability to chelate calcium. Therefore EDTA could affect the safety of using other ingredients which had previously been determined to be safe, primarily because they were not significantly absorbed.

(Source: http://www.cranberrylanenaturalbeauty.com/mainpage_elements/syntheticingredients_FULL.html)

If I had to wash my hair with hard water, I would have to add ACV to the water. I don't know if it would dilute it to a point of being neutral or acidic, but from the chemistry I retained in high school, acids neutralize alkalines and vice versa. So I'd probably get as much distilled water as I needed, and maybe do some initial rinsing with an ACV solution--if I thought the distilled water would not be enough--and then conclude the wash with the distilled water.

 

[HoneyDew]

I agree with this. If you have hard water you should use a chelating poo. ORS aloe shampoo is a good one to remove the mineral deposits from the water.

I also herad shower filters dont help much. You are better off with a water softener.

using distilled water can help.

I must keep a big bottle of that one around. Amazing shampoo.

 

[HoneyDew]

I think you can get chelating shampoos without EDTA too. L'anza Chelating Shampoo is said not to have EDTA.

(Source: http://www.cranberrylanenaturalbeauty.com/mainpage_elements/syntheticingredients_FULL.html)

If I had to wash my hair with hard water, I would have to add ACV to the water. I don't know if it would dilute it to a point of being neutral or acidic, but from the chemistry I retained in high school, acids neutralize alkalines and vice versa. So I'd probably get as much distilled water as I needed, and maybe do some initial rinsing with an ACV solution--if I thought the distilled water would not be enough--and then conclude the wash with the distilled water.

I do like that one from L'anza, too. (I think I have used so many kinds over the years! LOL) I got it one on clearance for like $1 at Beauty First once. It looked all beat up and they were getting rid of summer stuff. I grabbed it right up! I have not seen it in the store since then though. I do see it on Ebay sometimes.

 

[locabouthair]

I must keep a big bottle of that one around. Amazing shampoo.

Yeah suprisingly it doesnt strip my hair like my clarifying shampoo does.
With the ORS, my hair feels clean but not stripped to death.

 

[onyxcabelo]

Me too.

Onyxcabelo, you have fantastic hair.

How exactly are you using bottled water to rinse....do you dunk your head in the water or do you use a jug? Sounds like a stupid question but i seem to be rinsing my hair for ages with the shower attachment so i can only assume i'll be pouring gallons and spending ages in the bathroom with a jug.

Thank you, Bublin:Rose:! Not at all( to bolded). It took me a little time to get used to using only distilled water, and if you decide to do the same it will probably take you a little time to adjust too. At first, it almost seemed like I needed hard water to get all my conditioner out (I mainly do co-washing, but I do clarify every 3 to 4 weeks depending on the products I use), I was so used to that "rougher" feeling water, lol.

For me the best way to use distilled water is to pour smaller amounts into a plastic tumbler(cup) and use that to rinse my hair. This keeps me from using too much at one time. When I've just poured straight from the gallon jug I usually end up dumping a bunch on my head at one time and then end up running out too soon.

So here's how it would work for me with 3 gallons of distilled water:
1)Use a half gallon of water to get hair wet for co-washing.
2)Use 2nd half of that gallon to rinse out the co-wash(it's usually not enough to completely rinse out co-wash but that's ok- I've got two more gallons).
3)Apply my heavier conditioner - let sit on hair.
4)Use all of second gallon to rinse out heavier conditioner(with every rinse I'm pouring from my gallon jug into my tumbler and then pouring the tumbler water over my head).
5)The final gallon is my cool rinse( the other two gallons were warmed in hot water in my tub before using), I don't heat this gallon at all - so this one can be a little shocking, lol.

At any rate, it works for me, and I like the way my hair feels afterwards. One thing I'll just point out though, if you like using oils as a pre-poo, you may find that you need more distilled water or that you need to really use your shampoo or co-wash more efficiently to get rid of the extra oil, othewise, your hair will still feel pretty oily using just 3 gallons. I sometimes use a lite oil like jojoba as a pre-poo and I really don't mind if my hair feels a little oily, since I tend to wear it up any way. If you're using something heavier like amla oil, it will really feel oily with only 3 gallons - just something to keep in mind.

Anyway, I hope this helps, but if not feel free to pm me.

 

[bbdgirl]

We have terrible hard water issues too. I use distilled water for all of my washes. Even when I henna I use distilled water, about 5 gallons - at 79 cents a gallon, it's not bad(that's when I henna - for my normal wash i use about 3 gallons). I think a water filter is probably a better option, but I've just been too lazy to get one - also I've heard that the filters tend to have to be be replaced fairly often and it ain't cheap, but I don't know this for a fact, perhaps someone who is using a water filter can speak to this.

Onyx, you have gorgeous Hair...what do you use to make it shine so??

 

[tlstacy]

We have terrible hard water issues too. I use distilled water for all of my washes. Even when I henna I use distilled water, about 5 gallons - at 79 cents a gallon, it's not bad(that's when I henna - for my normal wash i use about 3 gallons). I think a water filter is probably a better option, but I've just been too lazy to get one - also I've heard that the filters tend to have to be be replaced fairly often and it ain't cheap, but I don't know this for a fact, perhaps someone who is using a water filter can speak to this.

i recently purchased a shower filter at Home Depot. It was around $20. I believe I can see a difference in my hair - real soft, no tangles. It was rather easy to put on & its supposed to be universal so it fits almost any showerhead. The filter is supposed to be changed once a year. I will take a pic tomorrow and put it my fotki.

 

[onyxcabelo]

Onyx, you have gorgeous Hair...what do you use to make it shine so??

Thanks so much! The shine you see comes henna, . I had just done a henna gloss like a day or so before I took this picture - also I applied some spectrum coconut oil to my hair just before I did my braidout. Whew, combine a henna treatment and some coconut oil and you get lots of bling.

 

[onyxcabelo]

i recently purchased a shower filter at Home Depot. It was around $20. I believe I can see a difference in my hair - real soft, no tangles. It was rather easy to put on & its supposed to be universal so it fits almost any showerhead. The filter is supposed to be changed once a year. I will take a pic tomorrow and put it my fotki.

Hmmmm, that's actually not too bad - neither the cost nor the length of time before changing it. I'll take a look at your fotki.

 

[discobiscuits]

i have this & i love it!

Aquasana Shower Filter.

http://www.aquasanastore.com/aq-shower-filter.html

ETA: you can also try shampoos and conditioners designed for water types. here are some:

Robert Craig:http://robertcraig.com/store/page8.html


Ouidad: http://www.amazon.com/Ouidad-Water-Works-Shampoo/dp/B000260KJS


Lush: http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/224

 

[onyxcabelo]

i have this & i love it!

Aquasana Shower Filter.

http://www.aquasanastore.com/aq-shower-filter.html

ETA: you can also try shampoos and conditioners designed for water types. here are some:

Robert Craig:http://robertcraig.com/store/page8.html


Ouidad: http://www.amazon.com/Ouidad-Water-Works-Shampoo/dp/B000260KJS


Lush: http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/224

Great information! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Nonie]

i recently purchased a shower filter at Home Depot. It was around $20. I believe I can see a difference in my hair - real soft, no tangles. It was rather easy to put on & its supposed to be universal so it fits almost any showerhead. The filter is supposed to be changed once a year. I will take a pic tomorrow and put it my fotki.

Hey lady, are you sure about one year? Hubby-mine had installed a water filter/pump thingy for the water in our home but when he had to replace it, couldn't find the same brand and the one he got instead made the water pressure so low that he took it out. I saw your post and decided I'll get a shower filter but when I saw online that Lowe's have a variety of filters going for about that price, I called them to find out which of those had a filter that didn't need changing for a year--so I could get that one. They told me ALL their filters must be changed every 30 days. So do double check on that. Still cheaper than buying distilled water if you wash your hair at least twice a week.

ETA: I think the guy who answered the phone hasn't got a clue. Doesn't the statement "Filter rating 6 mo or 5,000 gallons", which I see is beside each filter on the website, mean that that's how long you can use before the need to change filter? That's way more than 30 days.

 

[la mosca]

Hey lady, are you sure about one year? Hubby-mine had installed a water filter/pump thingy for the water in our home but when he had to replace it, couldn't find the same brand and the one he got instead made the water pressure so low that he took it out. I saw your post and decided I'll get a shower filter but when I saw online that Lowe's have a variety of filters going for about that price, I called them to find out which of those had a filter that didn't need changing for a year--so I could get that one. They told me ALL their filters must be changed every 30 days. So do double check on that. Still cheaper than buying distilled water if you wash your hair at least twice a week.

ETA: I think the guy who answered the phone hasn't got a clue. Doesn't the statement "Filter rating 6 mo or 5,000 gallons", which I see is beside each filter on the website, mean that that's how long you can use before the need to change filter? That's way more than 30 days.

My Paragon water filter (a cheapie from Home Depot) needs a filter change only once a year. It works great!

 

[discobiscuits]

Hey lady, are you sure about one year? Hubby-mine had installed a water filter/pump thingy for the water in our home but when he had to replace it, couldn't find the same brand and the one he got instead made the water pressure so low that he took it out. I saw your post and decided I'll get a shower filter but when I saw online that Lowe's have a variety of filters going for about that price, I called them to find out which of those had a filter that didn't need changing for a year--so I could get that one. They told me ALL their filters must be changed every 30 days. So do double check on that. Still cheaper than buying distilled water if you wash your hair at least twice a week.

ETA: I think the guy who answered the phone hasn't got a clue. Doesn't the statement "Filter rating 6 mo or 5,000 gallons", which I see is beside each filter on the website, mean that that's how long you can use before the need to change filter? That's way more than 30 days.

hey Nonie!!!!

yeah, i read the paragon FAQs and the description for each shower filter. the length of life is what you said, depending on how many gallons it is qualified for. some said up to 6 mos some said up to 1 yr for family of 4 (based on gallons used in that time frame).