Chlorine treated water at home --

[Wasabipea]

Hi everyone - this is my first question-post, really hope some folks can help me. I live in town, and the water in my house is heavily chlorinated. Not long after I moved into this house, I bought a shower filter (vitashower - neutralizes chlorine with vitamin c) and that helped a lot with the condition of my hair - it was so dry from the chlorine treated water.

Anyway, fast forward two years... my hair looks like garbage lately. Similar to my pre-shower filter days. I've recently changed the filter, so it's not like the filter is too old to do its job. I wonder if some of the chlorine is still getting on my hair and building up?

I was considering trying a Malibu chelating treatment - clarifying is doing nothing except drying my length out more.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Honestly I'm not even sure if chlorine is the problem... I don't know what I'm doing wrong and entertaining the idea of the Big Chop. Please talk me down!

Thanks in advance -

[HairyCarrie]

A timely post for me as I too want to eliminate chlorine (and other chemicals) from my hair and drinking water. I just bought a Pur Water Filter jug to keep in the shower for a last rinse.

But if you've already got a shower filter that you know was effective for 2 years, then something else must be awry. So I'm just posting to share your concern, but don't have much to offer at this time.

I hope you find the culprit and refrain from the Big Chop. :)

[Wasabipea]

Hi - Good luck with your dechlorination quest! I have a Pur on my downstairs tap for drinking water, too. I've been happy with the vitashower for a filter (which can be found here: http://www.ronin-online.com/) but now I'm wondering if possibly the vitamin C dechlorinating agent is building up on my tresses?

[Raederle]

Is your municipal water supplier doing anything different with the water?

[Tapioca]

I'd try clarifying again, but be sure to mega-mouisturize after clarifying. Clarifying strips *everything* off, good and bad. Including the natural oils. When I first clarified, I followed up with my normal conditioner and wondered why my hair was so horribly dry. Now I follow up with a SMT or oiling, and it's much better.

[Wasabipea]

I'm not sure if the town is doing anything different to the water, I'm going to have to either get a water quality report or maybe just get it independently tested. I talked to the CS at the shower filter distributor and he thought I may have iron in the water. I really think this problem is stemming from my water somehow...

I may try clarifying again, but ditching the clarifying shampoo I have now. Neutrogena has worked well for me in the past and didn't dry me as badly as the Suave I recently picked up. I haven't done a SMT in a long time, and oiling hasn't produced the greatest results lately either.

*sigh* I'm brand new and being difficult! :) I'm just frustrated...!

[Finoriel]

You could try to do a final acidic rinse. In your case I would recommend to use distilled water with ascorbic acid (vit c) and citric acid. Those two should be able to help you with most mineral or metal buildup on your hair. I think this special mixture for an acidic rinse was called "miracle water" here.
You could try to look on the website of your water supplier or email/call them. They get questions about their water very frequently and normally have a data-sheet handy about what is in there. High amounts of iones and minerals, besides the clorine, would be noted there.


edit:
Found the link from the archive: Miracle water (http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=51184)

[2TortyCats]

The great thing about chlorine - it evaporates! Put some water in a jug and let it sit open for 24 hours. The chlorine should have completely evaporated by then. You can then use this water either for your whole wash process, or for just a last rinse.

I'm afraid you're still going to need to clarify though if you have too much metal buildup. Chlorinated water passing through your pipes can pull copper or iron into the water, and clarifying will remove any dullness you get on your hair because of those metals. Clarifying is really drying though, like you said, there's no need to do that too often. Once a month ought to do it, and you have to condition really well afterwards.

Actually, though, a dilute vinegar rinse done last would remove those metals and the chlorine as well as clarifying would if you didn't let them build up. That would be much better for your hair health.

[Wasabipea]

That miracle water sounds like it might be a plan... very interesting link, thanks!
I did go to the water company's website and I printed out the pdf of the water quality report. Off the bat it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me (I was absent on chemistry day), will take a closer look at it later.

I'm going to try this miracle water, what can it hurt? Thanks!

[Wasabipea]

2Tortys, we cross posted - thanks for your reply too! I could try that too, I wouldn't have to order anything special :wink:
On the topic of clarifying... what's the difference between chelating and clarifying, or are they more or less the same thing?
[Apologies if I'm taking this off topic.]

[Chromis]

The great thing about chlorine - it evaporates! Put some water in a jug and let it sit open for 24 hours. The chlorine should have completely evaporated by then. You can then use this water either for your whole wash process, or for just a last rinse.

I'm afraid you're still going to need to clarify though if you have too much metal buildup. Chlorinated water passing through your pipes can pull copper or iron into the water, and clarifying will remove any dullness you get on your hair because of those metals. Clarifying is really drying though, like you said, there's no need to do that too often. Once a month ought to do it, and you have to condition really well afterwards.

Actually, though, a dilute vinegar rinse done last would remove those metals and the chlorine as well as clarifying would if you didn't let them build up. That would be much better for your hair health.

You do need to check and make sure it is chlorine and not *chloramine* though in order for that method to work. I recently found out our area has chloramine, which might be what my scalp is protesting so badly and not just the hardness of the water.

[Finoriel]

You´re welcome Wasabipea :wink: and when I´m at posting helpful links... Recent and very helpful discussion about Please Clarify "Clarifying" (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10692) :) chelating is also mentioned a little down the side.

[Chromis]

You´re welcome Wasabipea :wink: and when I´m at posting helpful links... Recent and very helpful discussion about Please Clarify "Clarifying" (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10692) :) chelating is also mentioned a little down the side.

Oooh, I'm glad you mentioned that! I hadn't checked that thread since I'm more interested in chelating!