what are the signs of hard water buildup?

There are a couple of tell-tale signs that hard water is the source of your bad hair days.

• Your shampoo is barely lathering (if at all)

• Your scalp is irritated or itchy

• Your hair feels weighed down and gunky, a sensation that can only be described as instantly greasy. 

• Your color is fading super fast, and if you’ve had a recent color “incident” at the salon (due to the unpredictable chemical reaction that occurs when bleach and color mixes with heavy metals). 

Sound familiar? Finally, you have an explanation.

how does hard water affect hair health?

Leaving buildup on your hair and scalp can have a major impact on overall hair health, especially when that buildup consists of mineral and metal residue. It can leave hair “dull, dry, and brittle, which can result in hair breakage,” says K18 principle formulator Jessica Pierre. For those with color-treated hair, the negative effects can be even more dramatic. “Trace minerals [like] copper and iron can also affect hair health in a number of ways as they can catalyze oxidative reactions initiated by UV (sunlight) exposure or during chemical processing services, which can lead to structural damage of hair proteins.” 

Beyond the buildup that sits on the hair itself, we also have to consider scalp health. Hard water can prove to be a major irritant that leads to clogged pores and hair follicles, itchiness and even dandruff. For people with conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, hard water can exacerbate inflammation or worsen symptoms. 

Because hard water is more alkaline than your skin’s natural pH (which sits somewhere between 4.7-5.75), it can disturb the scalp’s acid mantle, which is essential for trapping moisture, and weaken its protective barrier over time. 

so, what can you do about it?

The best (and easiest) way to address this issue is to clarify your hair with PEPTIDE PREP™ detox shampoo.

This once-a-week power wash effectively removes buildup and metals that are common in tap and hard water, including 99% of product buildup, 95% of sebum + 76% copper*. The shampoo uses activated charcoal to absorb toxins, excess oils, and dirt, plus salicylic acid to clear sebum buildup in follicles (without stripping hair of essential moisture and lipids). 

Weekly use = detoxed and truly clean hair. 

K18 detox shampoo is pH-optimized and color-safe, leaving hair feeling refreshed rather than parched. “Most clarifying or detox shampoos use a high pH to swell the cuticle, which can leave hair feeling rough and dry,” says Pierre. “Our formula clarifies without leaving hair dry or stripped, which is the common complaint of clarifying formulas.”

One common concern is “overusing” clarifying shampoo and stripping hair of all its natural oils. With PEPTIDE PREP™ detox shampoo, you don’t have to worry about that. “It's an ideal product if you suffer from buildup, live in a particularly hard water area, or only wash your hair once a week,” says Pierre. If you are someone who likes to shower every day, “our DAMAGE SHIELD™ pH protective shampoo provides gentle cleansing for frequent washers,” recommends Pierre. 

ready to add detox shampoo to your routine? here’s how.

Once a week: Clarify with detox shampoo and follow with leave-in molecular repair mask for maximum clean + damage repair. Consider this your treatment repair routine.  

Every day: DAMAGE SHIELD™pH protective shampoo + DAMAGE SHIELD™ protective conditioner for soft + smooth hair protected from 3 types of damage* (mechanical, UV, and environmental). Consider this your maintenance routine. 

*k18hair.com/disclaimers