Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is hard water? It’s a word used to describe mineral-rich water, which doesn’t necessarily sound awful, does it?
The problem is that these minerals accumulate and solidify on your hair, eventually leaving it dry and brittle and causing color changes. Aside from changes in hair texture and tone, additional indicators of hard water include a lackluster lather with shampoo and soap, flat and easily tangled hair, and a film-like covering on the skin.
Whether or whether you have hard water is ultimately determined by where you reside, but the good news is that there are alternatives to packing up and relocating. Installing a showerhead filter and expert treatments are both choices, but the simplest (and least expensive) solution is to use the correct shampoo.
A chelating ingredient binds to the minerals and metals present in hard water and whisks them away, whereas clarifying shampoos break down residue on the outer surface of the hair, whether from hard water or extra product. Look for ingredients like vitamin C, apple cider vinegar, and EDTA, which can help eliminate mineral buildup.
We combed the web, read many reviews, and spoke with stylists to compile a list of the best shampoos (and shampoo-related items) for combating the effects of hard water. Our recommendations will not only clear your strands and scalp of mineral buildup, but will also maintain your hair looking and feeling great.
GET TO KNOW THE EXPERT
- Mark DeBolt is a famous hairstylist and co-owner of Mark Ryan Salon. His areas of expertise include his own combination of foil highlighting, balayage, and specialist color placement methods. He is a protégé of famous colorist Marie Robinson. He is currently a Wella Professionals ambassador, trainer, and hair color specialist.
- Shelly Aguirre works as a stylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. She specializes in precision cuts and extensions and is well-known for teaching her customers how to appreciate and style their hair texture.
List of The Best Shampoos For Hard Water In 2023
The finest shampoos to try if you have hard water are listed below.
1. Overall winner: Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo
Mark DeBolt, celebrity colorist and co-founder of Mark Ryan Salon, considers this shampoo to be the greatest in the world for severe water-damaged hair—and we have to agree. This solution takes a two-pronged approach to getting your hair in tip-top shape by eliminating the waterborne minerals that damage and discolor your hair while also depositing strong proteins and necessary moisture.
Furthermore, the sulfate-free composition contains antioxidants that protect hair from environmental harm such as UV radiation and pollution. While the sudser may be purchased alone, there is also a bundle that includes a conditioner and more intensive treatments.
Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, also likes it. She emphasizes that it works especially well for folks who have chlorine buildup on their hair and that she also like the brand’s in-salon clarifying treatment.
What We Like
- Formula for Strengthening
- It smells fantastic.
- Antioxidants are present.
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
2. Budget-friendly: GIRL+HAIR CLEAR+ Clarifying Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV (apple cider vinegar) reigns supreme when it comes to natural compounds that can have a significant influence on your hair. It’s an excellent choice for eliminating all types of buildup from your hair. You could make your own vinegar rinse at home, but this budget-friendly approach is a far easier choice. Use it in lieu of your normal shampoo a few times each week to remove build-up from your hair and scalp without leaving them feeling dry or stripped.
What We Like
- Suitable for a wide range of hair types
- Tingly, chilly sensation
- Formula that works
What We Don’t Like
- Bottle size
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3. Ion Purifying Solutions Hard Water Shampoo, Best Budget, Runner-Up
The name says it all. This shampoo not only removes minerals (from hard water and well water), but it also prevents them from accumulating in the future.
It also provides shine and hydration while being suitable for color-treated hair and soft enough to use everyday, which is not usually the case with clarifying treatments. Happy reviewers also mention how much lighter and healthier their hair feels after just one application.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Everyday usage is safe.
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t have much of a fragrance.
4. Pacifica Coconut Power Strong and Long Moisturizing Shampoo is ideal for dry hair.
Dealing with dry hair with hard water may be a difficult issue since the last thing you want to do is make your hair more drier by using a harsh wash. This recipe focuses on extra moisturizing coconut oil for a heavy dose of hydration, as well as rice protein to keep hair strong, all while removing all the crud and filth that causes hair stress. The tropical coconut aroma is only an added bonus.
What We Like
- Does not cause hair loss
- Tropical scent
- Coconut water is present.
What We Don’t Like
- It may be too mild for heavy accumulation.
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5. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo is the best shampoo for colored hair.
Any chelating or clarifying shampoo has the potential to strip color, but this selection not only is color-safe, but it also eliminates build-up from product, pollution, and hard water to make your color extra vivid and lustrous. It also includes a hard water test strip, so you can determine whether you have hard water. (Oh, and if you do, let it sit for a minute or two before washing.)
What We Like
- There are three sizes available.
- Excellent value
What We Don’t Like
- It has the potential to be a little drying.
6. Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo is the best for itchy scalps.
In addition to producing hair problems, hard water can cause a stressed-out scalp. According to Aguirre, iron in the water can dry up the scalp and cause peeling. To combat it, use this clarifying shampoo, which thoroughly cleans while simultaneously treating dandruff and itchy by regulating the pH of your scalp and soothing irritation with rosemary oil, ginger, and menthol.
What We Like
- Soothes the scalp
- Salicylic acid is present.
- Feeling of coolness
What We Don’t Like
- Sulfates are present.
7. Aquis Rebalancing Hair Wash is ideal for damaged hair.
Water, whether hard or soft, may be damaging to your hair. Wet hair is 56 percent weaker and more prone to damage, which is why this brand concentrates on water damage prevention. It not only uses plant-based cleansers to gently but efficiently remove filth and build-up, but it also rebalances the pH and moisture levels of the hair and strengthens it at the root, owing to an amino acid combination.
What We Like
- Formula for Strengthening
- Contains moisturizing aloe
- There are no sulfates.
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
Let’s check: Best Drugstore Shampoos And Conditioners For Your Healthy Haircare
8. ORIBE The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo is the best luxury.
Some clarifying shampoos might have a clinical or pharmaceutical sense to them, however this is not the case with this one. This seems more like a premium spa shampoo than a heavy-hitting hair purifier, with a frothy, mousse-like texture and a refined aroma.
Still, it accomplishes this by utilizing volcanic ash, which “polishes away filth, oil, and product build-up,” according to Aguirre of another of her faves. “Follow up with a nice conditioner, and your hair will feel brand new,” she says.
What We Like
- Formula for nourishment
- Exceptional mousse consistency
- Scalp exfoliation
- What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
9. Color is the best pre-shampoo. Amazing Dream Filter Mineral Remover for Pre-Shampoo
While this is not exactly a shampoo, it deserves to be on our list because of its potency and ease of usage. Simply spray it all over your hair and let it on for a minute or two before washing as usual; four distinct filters work their magic, eliminating even the tiniest trace of harmful minerals.
It’s nevertheless mild enough to use on a regular basis if necessary, and while it works on all hair types and colors, it’s especially suitable for lighter blonde or gray tones, which are more prone to mineral discoloration.
What We Like
- Simple to use
- Excellent for swimmers
- It aids in the preservation of lighter blonde and gray hair.
What We Don’t Like
- An additional step in the haircare regimen
Let’s check: Best Conditioner For Natural Hair In 2023
10. R+Co Oblivion Clarifying Shampoo has the best scent.
If you’re anything like us, a shampoo can be fantastic, but if it doesn’t smell pleasant, you won’t use it. This smells clean, crisp, and fresh, just as we want our hair to. But it also cleans, with rosemary leaf extract, tea tree oil, and witch hazel breaking down gunk left behind by hard water, styling chemicals, or both.
What We Like
- Formula that works
- A pleasant aroma
- Protein and amino acids are present.
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
FAQ
What to Look for in a Hard Water Shampoo?
Clarifying vs. Chelating Products
When looking through hard water shampoos, DeBolt recommends determining if a chelating shampoo or a clarifying shampoo would be ideal for your unique hair requirements. As previously stated, both are beneficial in addressing the symptoms of hard water, but in different ways.
“Chelating products are particularly developed to remove minerals,” he explains. These function by binding to mineral buildup in the hair and washing it away.
He claims that clarifying shampoos, on the other hand, frequently contain stronger detergents that are fantastic for breaking away all residue, including excess oil and product buildup in addition to mineral residue. Clarifying shampoos, on the other hand, may be highly stripping and may discolor color-treated hair.
Mineral-Prospecting Claims
Whatever shampoo you use, DeBolt says it must promise to target mineral build-up, especially copper, iron, and calcium. He believes that vitamin C is the most efficient mineral-removing substance, although EDTA and apple cider vinegar are also excellent choices.
A Gentle Method
DeBolt emphasizes the need of using a mild formula. Even if you remove minerals and debris from your hair and scalp, you don’t want to completely deplete them of their natural oils. This might result in increased sebum production and an oily scalp.
How often should you use hard water shampoo?
For shampoos for hard water to be successful, DeBolt recommends using them as frequently as you shampoo, or at least every other wash. If clarifying and chelating shampoos are too drying for your hair, use a conditioner or other moisturizing treatment afterward.
