Do you live in a hard water area in the UK? Are you looking for tips and products to keep your hair soft and shiny when washing with hard water? You've come to the right place.
In this post, we explore how hard water harms hair and share our recommendations for the best hard water shampoo and conditioner.
How hard water affects hair
Have you ever returned from holiday shocked by how your hair felt full of vitality while away, even though you used the same shampoo? You’re not imagining it.
Those of us who live in hard water areas, such as London and South-East England, regularly wash our hair in mineral-laden hard water that dulls and diminishes its shine.
Why is this? Well, the water in southern England comes from chalk aquifers[i]. This chalk is rich in calcium, which can coat the hair, making it coarse, dull, and prone to breakage. Sigh.
While we can’t do much about the water (we wish!), our experts have devised a great natural hair care routine to help restore strength and shine to hair damaged by hard water.
Best shampoo and conditioner for hard water
Are you looking for a hard water shampoo and conditioner? Our Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner are our best hair care products for hard, water-washed hair. The shampoo was even declared the best hard water shampoo for damaged hair by Yours magazine.
This hair-strengthening shampoo set rescues hair radiance using the power of Quinoa Protein to boost shine by a staggering 50% after just five washes. A little goes a long way, too! It's perfect if you’re shampooing twice.
Here are some reasons why we consider Intensive Repair Shampoo to be our best shampoo for hard water:
- Suitable for all hair types
- Restores vitality to dry, damaged hair
- Quinoa Protein boosts shine by 50% in just five washes
- Soothing Yucca creates a gentle, scalp-kind foam
- No silicones, SLS or chelating agents
Intensive Repair Shampoo 200ml
Repair and strengthen with this certified organic shampoo for colour-damaged hair
€22,95
“Love this product. I've really noticed a difference in the condition of my hair since using it regularly. It's often very dry because of the hard London water, but this shampoo has restored my hair's gloss and it feels moisturised and healthy. Would definitely recommend!” Jayne
Complete your routine with its perfect hard water conditioner, Intensive Repair Conditioner. Luxuriously light, there’s no need to worry about this silicone-free conditioner for hard water weighing your hair down. This gloss-giving, organic conditioner detangles your tresses to leave you with beautifully bouncy hair.
Intensive Repair Conditioner 200ml
Boost your hair’s shine with a natural reparative conditioner
€22,95
How to wash your hair in hard water
STEP 1: REDUCE
If you live in a hard water area and want to keep your hair healthy and soft, try not to wash your hair every day. Instead, do a deep clean 2-3 times a week.
STEP 2: CLARIFY
Always shampoo your hair twice. This deep-cleaning step suits all hair types and is the most effective way to release minerals and products that can build up in the hair and weigh it down.
Some residents of hard water areas use shampoos containing chelating agents, but these won’t be suitable for a sensitive scalp. A gentler way to wash your hair in hard water is to shampoo twice using an organic shampoo that strengthens your hair without stripping your scalp. For extra cleansing power, disperse your shampoo with a scalp massage tool.
STEP 3: RINSE
If hard water minerals have dulled your hair, make a natural hair rinse part of your hard water hair care routine. This will help release product and mineral build-up and, as a bonus, boost your hair's shine.
Our vitamin shine hair rinse recipe is easy to make at home and will soon add softness and shine to your hair. Mix the following ingredients and pour the rinse over your hair following each shampoo.
GREEN PEOPLE’S HOMEMADE HAIR RINSE RECIPE
- 1 cup of water
- 2 teaspoons of organic cider vinegar
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 1 cup of beer (trust us, it’s the best shine booster)
- 5 drops of rosemary essential oil
STEP 4: REPEAT
Repeat the steps above for your second shampoo, and then soften and detangle your hair by applying plenty of conditioner.
STEP 5: TREAT
Has hard water left your hair dry and damaged? Damaged hair needs extra care, so treat it with an intense conditioning mask at least once weekly.
To do this, apply conditioner to clean, damp hair and wrap it in a warm towel for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, rinse your hair thoroughly and glide your comb through it easily.
Complete your hard water shower routine
Hard water can disturb your skin barrier balance, too. Protect your skin as you shower and support your skin barrier with our skin-kind shower gels and body lotions for hard water areas.
Do you need help choosing a natural shampoo and conditioner for hard water? Our friendly UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350 or at organic@greenpeople.co.uk.
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals
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[i] https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/help/water-supply/water-hardness/
