How To Care for Hair When You Have Well Water

05
27

When we moved last summer, we moved into a house with well water. This was going to be the first time I lived in a place with a well. Prior to that, we were on city water.

My only other experience with well water was at my parents’ lake house in Wisconsin, but that was never a place I permanently lived so I didn’t spend a great deal of time focusing on it.

I did, though, always hate how my hair felt and styled when I would stay at my folks’ place. And in fact, my sister got married there so we actually washed her hair with purified bottled water for her wedding day in order to make sure it wasn’t too weighed down or “soft” from the well water!

当我们进入房子,去年我anticipated having to adjust my hair care routine in order to compensate for the completely different water I was going to be using. We’re going on nearly a year of residing here, so I wanted to share a bit about what I’ve learned in case you are in this situation as well!

Why is well water perceived as bad?

Well water in itself isn’t bad, but for the sake of this post, I’m focusing on well water in regards to washing your hair. Generally, city water is more filtered than well water, so when it comes to washing, styling, or maintaining hair color, well water can dramatically affect it.

What negatively happens to hair when washed with well water?

For most people, any lighter hair color (anywhere from the lightest blonde to even the lightest brown) can develop a yellowish, brassy tint from well water. This is generally an undesired tone on most, so it’s important to talk to your stylist about how to combat this at home. There arehair color tonersthat help counteract the brassiness, oreven full shampoo and conditioner sets designed to cut yellow tones. One of我最喜欢的产品使用IGK混合的感觉ings Leave-in Blonde drops.

Well water can also make your hair feel heavy like there is a layer of extra *stuff* on it. A good purifying shampoo will help remove extra chemical build-up, but make sure you choose one that isn’t too harsh on any coloring you do to your hair.Drybar On the Rocks Clarifying shampoo won’t strip hair colorand is a gentle clarifying option.Virtue Refresh Purifying shampoois another great option that always makes my hair feel lighter than air!

Well water can also make your hair overly dry or coarse because it tricks you into over-rinsing. When you’re rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, it’s ideal to leave a tiny bit behind to “coat” the hair with the product. With well water, it feels like you need to keep rinsing since the water can sometimes feel slimy (this can be tweaked with a water softener) but you will actually rinse out too much.

What have I had success with?

I bought a $35 shower head filterthat attaches right on to the pipe coming out from the wall. I noticed a very quick difference in how smooth my hair felt. I also noticed less frizz! My hair still felt a little weighed down but in general, I would say that the shower head makes a noticeable difference!

Using a purifying or clarifying shampoo at least once a week has made a difference in the “lightness” (as in volume, not color) of my hair. I also alternate between using a volumizing shampoo and a purple shampoo. The volumizing shampoo would be my choice if I had city water, but the purple shampoo helps cut brassiness.

When I’m able, I wash my hair at the gym. Even occasionally washing my hair with city water helps prevent the build-up from coming back. Before Coronavirus happened I was washing my hair at the gym twice a week. Since I haven’t been to the gym, I’ve just been washing at home and that’s been fine. I do miss the clean feeling I get from washing with city water though!

If I could choose, I would love to still be using city water, but since that isn’t an option, I’m making do with what I’ve got.

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Comments (38)

  1. Angelasays
    Posted May 27, 2020

    I’m on well water too and immediately invested in a water softener. My hair always comes out silky soft now!

    https://BlushandPearls.com

  2. Sadiesays
    Posted May 27, 2020

    Thanks Kate. This is a great article. I too have well water and know little about it . . . nor do any of my friends have well water. You have some great tips and knowledge on this subject . . . very helpful!

  3. Tarasays
    Posted May 27, 2020

    I grew up on well water without a softener, and everything you said is totally true. Since I left for college in 2002, I’ve always been on city water until several months ago when we moved to a house with a well. I’m a realtor and had several clients tell me over the years how fantastic their Kinetico water softener/filter is. They were 100% right. I noticed a difference even between that and the other softener that was there. It’s pretty pricey, but there’s definitely a difference.. If you have the option for that sometime, I highly recommend it to anyone with a well.

    • Karasays
      Posted May 28, 2020

      I’ve always been on city water but we just bought a new house in October and have a well now. I wonder if this has anything to do with my hair never wanting to hold a curl anymore. Interesting!

  4. Tarasays
    Posted May 27, 2020

    Forgot to ask— where did that adorable leopard hair clip come from?!?

  5. Michelesays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    I’ve always (save for the 2.5 years I had city water) had well water and never thought I could be doing it better. We have a water softener, but since I don’t have colored hair (just my natural brown), is there anything you’d recommend as far as shampoos or conditioners for maintaining volume, or just the clarifying shampoo?

  6. Andreasays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Don’t y’all have a whole home filtration system as well? How does that play into the hair situation?

    • Katesays
      Posted May 28, 2020

      We do! We needed to have it adjusted since we moved in but I had already gotten the shower head filter before we fixed the efficiency of our softener.

  7. Mallory Hornesays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Hi Kate! Do you have a water filtration system?

    • Katesays
      Posted May 28, 2020

      Yes we do!

  8. Kadiesays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Thanks for this post! This is something I have struggled with lots of times in the past. Currently, I am on a well but it’s an artesian well with beautiful spring water, but when I visit my parents they are on well water and I hate taking a shower there for these exact reasons! My hairs not dyed but still, I hate the slimy water and feeling that there is still shampoo or conditioner especially in my hair. I will keep this stuff in mind next time I’m there.

  9. Nataliesays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    My mother in law let her hair go grey naturally, but their well water turns the front part yellow a few inches from the roots and down. (noticeable difference from the rest) I can’t wait to share this with her.

  10. Ashley Brownsays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    That’s interesting because my curly hair prefers well water!

  11. Katy Wehmeyersays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    If you don’t have one, you might look into a water softener. It helps

  12. Cyndisays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    We moved from one city water system to another and found a huge difference. Back when you mentioned installing the shower filter, I bought one also and have been really pleased with the result. Thanks for all of your tips!

  13. Annie Robinssays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Kate, Great article and thank you so much! I am someone who has dealt with this issue most of my life, as I grew up in a lovely small town but everyone has well water here! I have a question for you….what product do you use when you add the IDK blonde drops???? Thank you, kindly
    Annie

    • Katesays
      Posted May 28, 2020

      Just any shampoo or conditioner!

      • Annie Davissays
        Posted May 29, 2020

        Thank you, Kate!!!!! Have a wonderful weekend! Also, Placed an order yesterday for the Aquabliss water filter, and cannot wait to get it!!!!!

        • Katesays
          Posted May 29, 2020

          I hope it helps!

  14. Posted May 28, 2020

    That’s so interesting – I sound so dumb but I didn’t know there were places with ‘well water’ haha! Your hair looks great! ❤️✨

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

    • Laurasays
      Posted June 11, 2020

      Most houses in the country have wells. Also, you don’t sound dumb.

  15. Sheilasays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    A few weeks ago you mentioned a personalized shampoo and conditioner. You could pick and choose concerning your own personal hair issues and then they would give you your own mix. Is this what you use? I don’t have well water but we do have hard water and my stylist always mentions the brassiness in my hair. What do you use for volume

    • Katesays
      Posted May 29, 2020

      It’s called Function of Beauty!

  16. Tiffanysays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Is well water the same as hard water? I am currently struggling with the water at my house. When washing, as soon as the water hits my hair it feels extremely dry/straw like! I bought a shower head filter through amazon and still don’t feel a difference

    • Katesays
      Posted May 29, 2020

      No, well water comes from a well. City water comes from the city. You may have hard city water! If you have a water bill, you have city water. You could still try a softener!

  17. Kimberlysays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    What shower head filter did you purchase and where from? Thanks!

    • Katesays
      Posted May 29, 2020

      It’s linked in the post!

  18. Kristinesays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    What!! I’m 34 and have lived with well water for a majority of my life and I am JUST now realizing how well water plays a part in the condition of my hair. although we do have a water softener.

  19. Heather Samsays
    Posted May 28, 2020

    Thank you this is helpful! We bought a house with well water about a year ago as well. My hair was in great shape prior to the move and a cool blonde color. Now it is hard to keep the brass out despite using purple shampoo once a week. I tried the shower heard but I did not see a noticeable difference. After I use conditioner and rinse maybe rinsing too much it’s course and hard to comb through. I’m going to try a purifying shampoo and try not to wash all the conditioner out and see if this makes a difference. I’ve been looking for hair care with well water on the internet for months and found nothing really. Thank you so much!!

  20. Mikellesays
    Posted May 30, 2020

    I LOVE your curls in this picture. What size wand did you use?

  21. Leigh Mooresays
    Posted May 30, 2020

    Can you share a link for the clip? Love it!

  22. Katherinesays
    Posted May 30, 2020

    Yes! Thank you for this post. I struggle with my highlights on well water. I bought the shower head this winter and at the same time started a purifying shampoo weekly and blonde shampoo weekly. I’ve also started washing every 2-3 days. What gets me is the next day re-style. I feel like I am damaging my hair.

  23. Whitneysays
    Posted May 30, 2020

    Do you use the drops with every wash? For me, that’s every other day. I can’t really find that information, just the actual dosing on drops. Can’t wait to try them!!

    • Katesays
      Posted May 31, 2020

      It’s just whatever you prefer. I usually use them once a week.

  24. Shauna O’Reillysays
    Posted May 31, 2020

    I am In the same boat!! I miss city water for this reason. I bought the filter you suggested maybe last year right after you got it and I LOVE it. It has definitely made a huge difference.
    Thanks for the recommendation!

  25. Cherene Donaldsonsays
    Posted May 31, 2020

    What brand shower head filter did you use?

  26. JenBCsays
    Posted May 31, 2020

    Thank you so much for this post. I hadn’t put two and two together yet since we just bought our lake house last fall. Initially, I thought it was because I am transitioning to my gray color from my colored blonde and thought that was the major difference. However, we stayed there throughout most of the Pandemic so I really started seeing a difference in my hair. I will implement the things you suggested.

  27. Briannasays
    Posted June 5, 2020

    很高兴知道我不是唯一的一个问题m! I’ve lived in a house with well water for 10 years and, as someone with highlighted blonde hair, it has been the bane of my existence. I’ve tried EVERYTHING to get rid of the brassiness – a shower filter, malibus, toners, purple shampoos, clarifying shampoos, and even iron-out softener salt (I do have a softener). Nothing has made a noticeable difference for me, so I finally started washing my hair with bottled water a few months ago. Finally the orange is disappearing! It’s a hassle and I have to choose iron-free water over soft water, but for anyone who’s as desperate as I am, it works!