The Impact of Water Quality on Your Hair: How Fermented Rice Water Can Counteract Hard Water Damage
If you have dry or damaged hair, don’t overlook the impact of water quality on your hair. Hard water damage on hair is common and can lead to significant hair and scalp issues over time. Fortunately, once you know that hair damage is caused by hard water, you can take steps to address it.
In this article, we’ll look at what hard water is and how it affects hair and scalp health. We’ll explore how traditional hair care treatments can counteract damage caused by hard water, and practical tips to resolve hard water issues.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is water with a high mineral content, typically containing calcium and magnesium. When groundwater passes through limestone, chalk or other mineral deposits, it picks up minerals from these deposits.
Hard water feels harder to the touch and can leave your skin feeling dry. If you have hard water in your home, you may notice mineral deposits in your kettle or drinking glasses.
Why Hard Water Damages Hair
Hard water washing means that the minerals get stuck to your hair and scalp in the end. This creates a barrier that stops moisture from entering the hair and scalp. In the long term, this can cause hard water damage on hair and a dry, itchy scalp.
Minerals in hard water can also strip natural oils from the scalp and hair. These natural oils protect your hair and help prevent moisture loss, so without them, your hair can become dry and damaged.
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Hard water also weakens hair strands, leading to issues such as split ends. This is particularly true for hair that is already thin or sensitive.
The Benefits of Fermented Rice Water for Hair
Fermented rice water, also known as Chinese rice soap for hair, comes with many benefits. A high concentration of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in the hair and scalp is what the rice water does. Furthermore, rice water regulates the pH of the hair and scalp.
Rice water shampoo from Yao Secret is made from natural ingredients that gently nourish the hair and scalp, and are beneficial for long-term hair health.
How Fermented Rice Water Helps Counteract Hard Water Damage
With all the fermented rice water benefits for hair, rice water can help counteract damage from hard water.
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The minerals in hard water make it difficult for your scalp and hair to retain moisture, leading to dry hair. But fermented rice water can reverse this dryness, with nutrients that help the hair and scalp retain moisture.
Hard water can also strip the hair of its natural oils, which can lead to dry, damaged hair. Rice water restores the pH of the scalp and hair, which helps the scalp and hair retain their natural oils.
Rice water also soothes issues caused by hard water, such as a dry and itchy scalp, and the amino acids in rice water can strengthen hair strands.
Using Fermented Rice Water in Your Hair Care Routine
To use rice water, simply wet your hair and apply the rice water solution like you would a regular shampoo. Leave in your hair for up to 20 minutes, while the rice water gently nourishes your hair and scalp. Rinse all of the rice water away afterward, preferably with soft water.
You don’t have to use rice water every day to feel the fermented rice water benefits for hair. In fact, you should use rice water at most once per week.
Additional Tips for Dealing with Hard Water
If you have hard water in your home, there are some extra measures you can take to deal with this issue:
- Install a water-softening system to filter out minerals in your water.
- Install a water-softening showerhead. This is cheaper but less effective than a water-softening system.
- Put filtered water through your hair rinse after washing.
In conclusion
Hard water has high concentrations of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals create a moisture barrier on the hair and scalp, leading to dry and damaged hair and scalp. Rice water can counteract these issues by nourishing and moisturizing the hair and restoring pH levels and natural oils.
Using rice water is an easy way to treat issues caused by hard water. Simply use rice water on your hair once a week like you would a regular shampoo. Use for several months to see an improvement in hair and scalp health. For better results, install a water softener in your home or rinse your hair with filtered water.
