The Impact of Water Pollutants on Your Hair and How to Safeguard It with the Right Products
Hard water packs a punch for our hair with high levels of minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, lead, and manganese. These minerals can linger on your hair as deposits and become almost impossible to wash out, causing brittle and dull hair.
Have you ever spent a few days in the city – or maybe you moved here and wondered, "Why does my hair suddenly feel flat and damaged?" The water in cities, and most other places, is hard water. Let's not even talk about your water temperature—the scalding hot showers—cut it out.
Here are a few tricks and tips to prevent hard water damage and start washing your hair with the TLC it deserves. After all, a good hair day is determined under the shower-head.
Clarifying Shampoo
A good clarifying shampoo is a must-have in your hair care routine, but even more so if you live in an area with hard water or your pipes are made of copper! Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, I am looking at you. Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove stubborn residue like those minerals and leave it clean and thankfully refreshed. Mineral residue clogging up our hair, be gone.
L'Oreal Professional Series Expert Metal Detox Shampoo and K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo are two products we take our hats off to for this exact reason. The L'Oreal Professional Series Expert Metal Detox Shampoo features an anti-metal cleansing cream that detoxifies hair. But what does this mean? With internationally patented technology, this shampoo halts the risk of breakage and colour dullness caused by the pollutants in your water, leaving hair instantly smoother, softer, and more nourished. K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo is micro dosed with the patented K18 Peptide to nourish hair while removing build-up for a clean, healthy hair canvas. Without messing with your colour, it cleanses your scalp effectively from hard water without being harsh on the scalp – you only get one!
Leave-in Conditioner
Using a leave-in conditioner isn't just to save a few minutes in the morning; it can provide an extra layer of protection against chlorine and other pollutants. It helps to seal the hair cuticle, locking in moisture and preventing damage. It is critical to avoid sulphates or parabens, especially if your hair has any sort of wave to it. The NAK Replends Crème Leave-in Moisturizer is a best seller for a reason. A daily leave-in essential to soften and protect hair, it provides an extra level of protection against chlorine and other pollutants by sealing the hair cuticle and locking in the moisture to prevent damage. The less the pollutants can touch your hair fibre, the better.
Hair Masks
The regular use of hair masks is essential for everybody to maintain healthy, shiny hair. So, if you don't, pick a day a week, set up Netflix, and get masking! Regular use of hair masks enriched with nourishing ingredients can repair and strengthen hair damaged by pollutants. Intense hydration and improved hair elasticity are only going to help you stave off mineral damage. L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Metal Detox Mask features an anti-deposit protector mask that protects your hair from particle deposits, leaving hair instantly smoother, softer, and protected. To get a little scientific, this internationally patented technology is enriched with Glicoamine, a molecule small enough to penetrate and neutralize metal inside the fibre. The best thing about this mask – you only have to wear it for one minute, so pick your favourite Taylor Swift song and belt the chorus. Finished? So is your hair.
Heat Protectant
Yes, yes, it seems like almost everything damages our hair—the water in our shower, and now the sun! Well, it's a little worse, UV rays from the sun can actually exacerbate the damage caused by water pollutants. Damage from the sun (where are we safe?) can induce dryness and fade your colour. That doesn't mean you have to hide in the shade if you live in the city or banish your favourite blow dryer, it just means you may need a couple of sprays of heat protectant before Sunday brunch. AG Care Deflect can be used on hair wet and dry, so you can pop it on before you leave the house or after you shower, either way, maximum protection from your styling tools and noon rays. Or if you haven't tried it yet, AG Care Firewall Argan Shine & Flat Iron Spray combines heat protection with shine enhancement and frizz prevention, perfect if you are partial to heating tools and love a little extra shine for a night out—I mean, who doesn't?
Now let's talk about your shower temperature…
We all know hot water can be terrible for our hair, but most of us put that dial up to scalding and act like nothing is happening under the hood. Hot water opens your hair cuticle, meaning it's great to have warm water flowing when cleansing and conditioning your hair. But when you risk turning that dial cold – you want to lock in the moisture, meaning your hair will look frizz-free and hydrated. We are not saying you need to dip into an ice bath every morning, although we are sure it has other benefits. Warm water is perfect for getting rid of dirt or build up in your hair and even encourages hair growth by stimulating the flow of blood to the follicles. For my girls that get oily from time to time, warm water strips those extra oils from your scalp and creates texture – yes, even more volume! But the catch, we are talking lukewarm, with a cold dash when you rinse. Don't worry; you shouldn't be washing your hair every day anyway, so if you love it hot in the shower, just pop a cap on for those other days to protect it from the heat of the shower. Your skin may not thank you, but your hair cuticles sure will!
For a quick recap: cleanse, leave in that conditioner, don't forget a weekly mask, spray that heat protectant honey, and turn down the heat in the shower. If not for us, for your hair, it's been through so much.
Find our whole collection for damaged here.
