Hard Water? Read On...

[Source: Aminah]

I was perplexed at why my hair would come out much better at my mom's house versus my own. I would use the same products, and the very same technique across the board, yet the outcome was noticeably different.  Then one day, it dawned on me.  It was my water.

If you have experienced dull, dry, lackluster hair [no matter how clean you get it], issues with dry scalp, hair that lacks body, or hair that almost has a "rough/hard/tangled" feeling after shampooing/conditioning, then your water might be to blame.

Hard water leaves behind traces of minerals on your hair, and creates hair that is a lot more tangle prone due to the deposits of minerals, and improper PH balance of the hair. Did I also mention that hard water takes a major toll on shampoo consumption? You may also notice you need to use more shampoo because hard water significantly decreases soaps lathering capabilities.

In a perfect world, I would collect rainwater to shampoo my hair with, start a petition against my local municipal water district, and have a water softener installed in my overpriced apartment. The reality is; I lack the time and funds. So I came up with less expensive ways to get around those nasty effects of hard water:

1. After rinsing out your condish, do a final rinse with TWO TABLESPOONS of Apple Cider Vinegar per THREE CUPS of bottled spring water [Start off with this formula, then up the ante with the ACV as needed]. 

• Simply pour this mixture throughout your hair [be cautious of your eyes, this stuff burns], and voila. There is no need to rinse out the ACV.  You will notice a distinct smell, however as your hair dries the smell dissipates. 
• Once every two weeks is a normal regimen for ACV rinsing, however I usually do this once a week because my water is just that bad.

** If you are not a big fan of ACV rinsing, you can also try Aveda Shampure [This product won Allure's Editor's Choice Award]. This shampoo is formulated to gently strip minerals from your hair, and is safe enough for everyday use. I would recommend using this shampoo twice a month.