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Living in a hard water area can cause problems for your home as well as your hair and skin.
Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium which prevent your products from creating a good lather, meaning that you’ll probably use more shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
These minerals also leave behind a residue that can clog your pores and irritate both your skin and scalp, which can lead to dry skin and dandruff.
Experts at Harvey Water Softeners have given us some top tips on how to reduce the effects of hard water. Here’s what they advise.
Use a rich moisturiser after the shower
In order to keep your skin soft and moisturised, you should invest in a good body moisturiser. Hard water will dry out your skin, so using natural ingredients are best as they don’t contain harsh chemicals. Look for products which contain cocoa butter, shea butter or even emollients if your skin is severely dry.
Use less soap or shower gel
When your soap isn’t lathering up, you'll likely use more on your body. Try to avoid this, as the build-up of product is more likely to irritate your skin over time. Use soap sparingly on your legs and arms, focusing on areas where you perspire more frequently. Be careful on using soap on your face at all, as any residue left behind will clog your pores.
Avoid washing in hot water
To reduce the irritation of the skin, wash in warm to lukewarm water. Although it can be tempting to step into a nice hot bath, the heat can cause your skin to dry up, causing discomfort. Be sure to use a bubble bath which is suited towards sensitive skin, to reduce the chance of irritation. You should also rinse your face in lukewarm water, as cold water is not as effective at removing minerals from the skin.
Look after your hair
If you have washed your hair in hard water, then be careful when using heated styling equipment, as any residue left in your hair can react negatively and cause the strands to become more brittle and damaged.
Use softened water
One way to alleviate these problems is by getting rid of hard water entirely. You could consider having a water softener installed, meaning all water in the home will be softened. The softener is plumbed into the main water supply, removing the calcium and magnesium in the water.
