Hair Loss? It Could Be Your Water

Are you still losing hair even though you have done pretty much everything to hold on to it? Well maybe it’s time to take a look at your water. Yes, what you don’t know is that your water could very well be the culprit for your locks excessively shedding off.

Hard water, in particular, can be a culprit to hair loss. It is called as such because it contains high mineral content. Usually this is because of high levels of calcium, but it is increased amounts of magnesium and copper which gives the water a low quality. Water may lead to hair loss but it doesn't always have to. It only results to it when the water possesses contaminants.

Even though hard water is okay for drinking or bathing, it can cause a number of problems for the hair and scalp. It can make the hair dry, thin, discolored, and it can severely reduce volume. This type of water can also cause dandruff.

Water sources

The water your household uses can come from two sources. It can either be ground or surface water. As the name implies, ground water comes from the ground, your own well, or from a local treatment plan whose main source is also a well. This type of water passes through a body of rock which contains layers of minerals called an aquifer. When rain comes in, its acidity causes the minerals found in these rock formations to dissolve. This water content will eventually be pumped into your pipes for bathing.

Surface water on the other hand comes from a treatment plant whose source is either a river or a lake. It is called as such because it is taken from bodies of water that are seen on the surface. This type of water contains less minerals. However, the downside is that the sources are the usual bodies of water which are easily polluted by people. This results to more bacterial growth. So to make the water safe for consumption, treatment plants add chlorine to get rid of the bacteria. They also add lime, which is a calcium compound, to buffer the chlorine content.

The term hard water really boils down to the amount of calcium it contains, but there are also other elements in water that can affect shine, texture, volume and overall hair health.

So how does calcium affect hair?

Too much of it in your water can leave the hair dry and lifeless, making a perm to appear less bouncy. Calcium can cause hair breakage because it can affect the area near the mouth of the follicle. It can also coat the scalp which blocks further hair growth. As the amount of calcium builds up on the scalp, this eventually results to flaking which leads to dandruff.

The effects of other minerals

Copper is a particular mineral in water which can also cause damage. It comes from the ground and it can make its way to your pipes. Increased copper content in your water can also come from your own piping which could very well be made out of copper. The copper particles from the pipe are washed into the water and then leaving your hair and skin vulnerable to its detrimental effects.

Another mineral in water that is also believed to cause hair loss is magnesium.  It is found in abundant amount s in the ground therefore it also makes its way to the water supply. This mineral can make the hair dry, wilted, and it can affect hair salon treatments.

Silica, lead, and iron which are also found in hard water can also pose the same effect to the hair.

We have mentioned chlorine earlier as part of the water treatment. Even though it is not a mineral, but rather an oxidizer that kills bacteria, it can also damage the hair. This is placed into drinking water or swimming pools to make these safe for human use. However, it is the very oxidizing effect of chlorine that causes the hair to become dry and brittle because it damages the hair proteins and cuticle.

You might have heard of the news just recently, of how a California high school’s swimming pool has to be shut down because it is causing student skin irritation and to hair loss. The reason behind it is faulty carbon dioxide tank mixed with low chlorine levels. This is a nasty pair for the skin and hair because it sends the pH level of the water too high.

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Possible solutions

So what then can you do to make your water gentler to the hair? Get a water treatment and soften your water. This means decreasing the mineral content through water softeners. The salt pellets that are inside the machine decreases the mineral content of water when it is ran through it. This can be quite costly on your part, but it will be a good investment if you want to avoid hair loss and other water related problems.

You can also be more creative and use a vinegar rinse for your hair. This can relieve hard water-related hair loss because it can regulate the pH level of the hair. You prepare this by placing a tablespoon or two of white vinegar into a warm bucket of water and mix them. When rinsing makes sure that you covered each hair strand for optimum results.

There are also shampoos that are formulated to fight the effects of hard water on the hair. This can be quite expensive and it may not be readily available in drugstores or beauty supply stores. Usually they are sold online, and they can be a good purchase especially if your hair loss stems out from the type of water you have.

For those who are well water users, a technology which employs reverse osmosis is advised to remove water contaminants up to 99%.

But is your water is pure and is not the cause for your hair loss, it is best to have yourself checked by a board-certified hair surgeon. Sometimes, this can also indicate a serious health issue which can be bigger than your aesthetic concerns.