Hair is the most important thing that adds to your personality and style. Hair loss is very common and can happen to anyone. Losing 50-100 strands of hair a day is normal, but if you notice more than that on your bathroom floor or a clump of hair in the drain, that’s alarming and cause for concern. Anagen effluviumanother name for the condition when hair stops growing for unknown reasons, causes hair loss.
There are many reasons why you can lose your hair, but the most normal or common reason people lose their hair is the water they wash their hair with.
Causes of Hair Loss
Bad and poor diet
If you are not consuming many nutrients or vitamins, you may notice changes in your hair and skin. A good diet is essential for your hair to grow and prevent hair loss. As you age, your body produces fewer vitamins which are also essential for healthy skin and hair, which also leads to hair loss.
Continuous stress
Stress can cause a lot of hair loss and can also do a lot of damage to your health. Lack of sleep or many workloads can lead to hair loss. If you are losing a lot of hair suddenly, it may be due to stress.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects the hair follicles resulting in hair loss. The condition affects both men and women equally.
Hormonal imbalance
When you go through hormonal changes, your skin and hair are affected. Your skin starts to break out and you also start losing hair. This type of hair loss is usually temporary, but it can also become permanent depending on the health of the individual.
lack of exercise
Your body needs to detox to stay clean. If you don’t exercise daily, your body will accumulate a lot of sweat and fat, which will lead to hair loss and other skin problems.
Not knowing what’s bad for your hair
If you use too much harsh shampoo or conditioner in your hair, you may suffer from hair loss problems. Using harsh products like gels and creams can also cause hair loss.
The increase in age
Some people also begin to lose their hair or suffer complete baldness when they reach a certain age.
Besides all these causes, many people have complained of suffering from hair loss or other hair issues due to the quality of their water.
Have you ever noticed that after washing your hair with a very mild shampoo, you still have a dry scalp? No matter what shampoo or conditioner you try, you can’t get rid of that gunk that builds up on your scalp. Well, it’s not the shampoo you use but it’s the water that’s used to wash your hair. This is called hard water.
Hard water has a lot of accumulated minerals such as calcium and magnesium which film the hair and leave it dry and prone to breakage.
Hard water can also cause:
- Dull hair and maybe a change in your hair color.
- Dry, flaky scalp that weakens the roots.
- Tangled hair due to dryness.
- Split ends and easy hair breakage.
- Thinning hair also decreases volume.
How to check the quality of your water?
Hard water can cause permanent hair loss due to the excessive amount of salt present in the water. When the hair is not washed properly, the grime accumulated on the scalp leads to dandruff and breakage. High pH levels in hard water also negatively charge your hair, causing chafing and breakage. You can have your water tested by a tester to check the pH level and take action accordingly.
Difference Between Soft Water and Hard Water
Hard water is a type of water that contains minerals like magnesium and calcium, it is harmful to our skin and hair, but it adds flavor to hard water. Soap is not effective in this water.
Soft water only contains cations and that is sodium. It tastes salty. It is good for our skin and hair if used daily. The soap is very effective in this water.
Now that you know your water is not good for your hair and is harming it, what can you do to prevent it?
- You can change the water first using a water softener to control hair loss. The only way to fix the problem and protect your hair from damage is to use mild water.
- A water softener can automatically convert hard water to soft water. This device exchanges excess minerals such as calcium and magnesium with sodium and softens the water.
- A fabric softener won’t be able to fix damaged hair instantly, but it can do something for your hair. The softener is a small device, so you can put it anywhere and it is also affordable.
Effective techniques for washing hair with hard water
1) Use hair masks
To restore shine and hydration you can use a repairing hair mask that will nourish and cleanse your scalp. You can apply it twice a week. While using the mask, you can also spray your hair and scalp. Massaging your hair while applying the mask is also a good way to cleanse your scalp.
2) Try a Citrus or Vinegar Rinse
To repair the damage, you must first take care of your scalp. Applying lemon or vinegar or any other citrus juice can be a good natural treatment for your hair.
3) Use a cleansing shampoo
Some chelating shampoos or hard water shampoos combat the damaging effects of hard water and leave your scalp feeling lighter, cleaner and grease-free.
Investing in a chelating shampoo can help reverse the effects of hard water on your hair. These help remove mineral deposits and product residue. They make your hair cleaner, lighter and even grease-free.
4) Demineralising products
Demineralizing products are used to remove salt particles and hard water residue from the hair. These products give instant results and you notice it soon after a few weeks.
5) Essential oils for head massage
Your hair has been damaged by excess dirt and salt. It stripped all the natural oils from the scalp when washing your hair with hard water. Using essential oils and massaging your hair will exfoliate your scalp and help get rid of grime.
6) Add apple cider vinegar
When washing your hair instead of using a shower, you can use a bucket and add apple cider vinegar to it. It will help as an antibacterial and help your scalp repair itself.
Can hard water cause permanent hair loss?
Hard water can cause permanent hair loss as it tears our scalp and damages it. The scalp has roots and follicles and once our follicles are damaged, hair cannot grow back. Hard water weakens your hair and restricts blood flow to the hair follicles, which will prevent it from growing new hair. If you suffer from permanent hair loss and hair damage, you can try some of these products to prevent it.
1) Mino-xidil topical solution
It is a topical solution that promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. This Mino-xidil solution not only promotes hair growth, but also conditions the scalp. This solution is easily available everywhere and can be used without a doctor’s prescription.
2) Anti-dandruff shampoo
Some dandruff shampoos can prevent hair damage and keep your scalp clean. They have an antibacterial formula that prevents dandruff from building up on the scalp.
3) Avoid hot showers
Hot water can also draw out all of your scalp’s natural oils. These natural oils are there to nourish your scalp and prevent hair loss. Hot water rips the oils and leaves the skin dry.
4) Onion juice for hair loss
Rub onion juice on your scalp twice a week and leave it on overnight. Wash it off in the morning. Onion has shown results in preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth.
5) Stop smoking and drinking
If you love smoking and drinking, it’s time to quit those habits. These are very harmful for your body and can be the cause of your hair loss. Smoking and drinking suck all the nutrition out of your body and leave you feeling weak. It can also do a lot of damage to your hair and skin.
6) DHT Blocker Shampoo
DHT builds up on your scalp and is responsible for your hair loss. DHT is made by testosterone using an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.
If you can’t change your water from hard water to soft water, you can even shower with hard water and avoid damage.
- Use a DHT Clarifying Shampoo and one sulfate-free. It will remove excess oil and debris from your scalp.
- Wash your hair in the direction of hair growth so that dirt washes off easily
- Try adding apple cider vinegar while washing your hair in your bathtub to prevent minerals from depositing on your scalp.
- Make sure that before applying conditioner, your scalp is completely clean.
Carry
Change your water before it completely damages your skin and hair. These short-term issues can turn into long-term issues that will also affect your hair growth. If you want to buy dermatologist recommended products such as Mino-xidil, Phi-nasteride, Biotin and many more, you can visit our Mars by GHC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does boiling hard water make it soft?
Yes, boiling hard water makes it soft.
2. Does baking soda help with hard water?
Baking soda is one of the most effective home treatments for hard water.
3. How can I test my home for hard water?
Fill the bottle one-third full, then add a few drops of pure liquid soap and shake vigorously for a few seconds. If there are no fluffy bubbles and the water looks cloudy or milky, your water is hard.
References:
- Anagen effluvium
- hard water – Wikipedia
