Hard water vs soft water – the effects on your body – from skin to hair

The quality of the water in your home will have an impact on a number of daily activities. From affecting the way your laundry detergent works to clogging up your showerhead, your water, and the minerals it contains, can influence the way your home works.
Some of the most noticeable ways that hard and soft water affect our daily lives can be found in our beauty regimes. Different types of water will impact on your body in various ways. Understanding how H2O can affect your skin, hair, and beauty routine will help you to get the most out of your water and find the right products for your body.
The difference between hard water and soft water
Hard water is formed when H2O percolates through deposits of limestone and chalk. On its way through these porous rocks, it picks up a number of minerals and other impurities. Although some of these will be removed when the water is treated ready for human consumption, a large proportion of minerals will still be in the H2O when it arrives at your home.
Soft water on the other hand, doesn’t filter through limestone or chalk. It’s collected from areas that have hard, impervious stone and calcium-poor rocks. As a result, soft water contains very few minerals and impurities.
How hard water affects your beauty routine
The minerals contained in hard water make it more difficult to get a good lather on soap and shampoo. The minerals can also leave behind a scummy residue on your hair and on your skin. This can mean you have to use more soap or shampoo to achieve the results you want.
The minerals in hard water are also prone to leaving your hair and skin feeling dry. You may find that you need to use moisturiser on your skin to leave it feeling smooth and firm, and good quality conditioner in your hair to counteract the effects of hard water.
Soft water and your beauty routine
In general, soft water is kinder on your hair and your skin. It’s less likely to leave your skin and hair feeling dry and works a lot better with soaps and shampoos. The only downside of soft water is that it can leave hair looking a little limp. As @Dermstore says, “Soft water may flatten your hair or give it a greasy texture.”
If you find your hair is lacking body, try using a specially formulated shampoo and see if that makes a difference.
An Extra Tip
In addition, washing your hair or skin in cool water can have a huge impact on the health of your hair and skin. Cool water will leave your hair looking ultra glossy, luxurious, and soft. Cool water will also keep your skin soft, save you money on your heating bill, and help save the planet.
Your body also naturally heats up in a cool water environment – transforming and cool shower into a warm one (and you’ll burn calories in the process!). So try a cooler shower next time to gain on these many benefits.
Understanding the impact that your water has on your beauty regime will help you find the perfect products for you hair and skin. Learn more about the effects of hard and soft water in the home by exploring our site today.
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