For many of us in India, the water we get in our taps can actually ruin our hair over a period of time. You will notice that your shampoo doesn’t sud easily and your hair easily falls. If you’re looking to reverse this, we got you covered.
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“Hard water commonly contains a high concentration of metallic salts, which cause a buildup on the hair shafts, making them heavy and greasy with no shine, and causing them to break, resulting in hair loss from the roots,” says Pooja Singh, National Creative Director - Hair, Lakmé Salon.
In addition, hard water can also affect your freshly coloured mane, as the metallic salts bond with the hair, causing it to fade your colour and also make it appear dull. Another result of using hard water is an itchy scalp.
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Instead of exposing your hair to hard water, use a water softener or bottled water to wash your hair.A water softener is easily available at most hardware stores or you can pick a shower head that has an inbuilt filter to help ease your mane woes.
Pooja also recommends simultaneously using a low pH or sulphate-free shampoo, such as the De Fabulous Ginger Energising Shampoo and Conditioner, which will help cleanse and nourish the hair.
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Buy it here.
“Another great option is the Schwarzkopf Bonacure Peptide Repair Rescue Shampoo & Conditioner, which contains mild micellar technology and gently cleans, repairs and replenishes lost protein while being gentle enough for daily use,” says Singh.
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Buy it here.
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Another easy solution that can be easily done from the comfort of your home is rinsing your mane with an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse. When diluted, ACV can help remove product buildup and also help make your scalp flake-free and less irritated. The key is to use one part ACV to three parts water to ensure that the vinegar doesn’t damage your mane. When using the rinse, you can skip the conditioner.
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If the buildup is old and extreme, it is best to invest in a clarifying shampoo that can be used once a week, Singh advises. Clarifying shampoos help get rid of long term product buildup owing to their formulation. Hair treatments at salons also help ensure your hair gets back to normal.
Here’s to better hair days!
Photo credit: lead and social Instagram/ananyapanday