Soft Water Help!

**myotislucifugus** · October 20th, 2009, 09:25 AM

Can anyone direct me to info on how to help my hair cope with new super soft water? Hair feels gross, how can I fix this?

The water in my apartment is very soft, and I'm used to really hard water. Will my hair adapt? Is there anything I can do about this?

Or is this really better for me, and I'm just not used to it?

**ravenreed** · October 20th, 2009, 09:40 AM

Does it feel really slippery? I am not sure, but I think it is better for you. I have really hard water and it does a number on my hair and skin.

**florenonite** · October 20th, 2009, 09:45 AM

I think soft water is generally better on hair, partially because it's acidic, but you might have to tweak your routine to cope with it. What is your routine like right now? That'll help us to help you change it to deal with the hard water.

**Arctic** · October 20th, 2009, 09:47 AM

I have very soft water too, but I have never tried very hard water so this water feels normal to me. Mostly people here seem to complaine about hard water which can leave mineral build-up behind.

**spidermom** · October 20th, 2009, 09:48 AM

It's really better for you. Soft water won't be leaving mineral deposits on your hair. It will probably take some getting used to. I live in a soft water area but visited in a hard water area for a couple of weeks, and I thought it killed my hair; it felt so different. But by the time I was home for a couple of weeks, my hair felt back to normal. How your hair feels with soft water will become normal if you stay long enough.

**Fractalsofhair** · October 20th, 2009, 09:56 AM

Do you mean "slimey"? I have relatives who live in a soft water area and use a water softener on top of it and my hair feels disgusting when I visit them. However, shampoo bars help since it's slightly alkaline, so it slightly balances it out so I don't have to do a vinegar rinse.

**DMARTINEZ** · October 20th, 2009, 11:14 AM

It will get better and your will love it! When I first got our softener,it was "different"hair,
but now,I cant imagine having hard or even slightly hard water to wash,bathe or shampoo
with. Give it some time!

Deb

**Fethenwen** · October 20th, 2009, 11:20 AM

Hmm, I don't really like soft water either. My hair becomes so limp and it gets greasy faster. I use cornstarch those mornings when my hair looks like it needs it

I wonder if adding salt to your shampoo could help too.

**myotislucifugus** · October 20th, 2009, 11:27 AM

It is limp, and clumpy looking like it has a lot of oil in it.

I use CV shampoo bars, right now Cafe Moreno. I'm thinking maybe it is just harder to wash the soap out than I'm used to, and maybe its just there.

I rinsed as thouroughly as I could last night, and did an extra rinse with V05 chamomile green tea conditioner, and then rinsed everything out as well as possible.

My hair feels softer, but limp and clumpy. I just got my hair back to decent looking. Gah!

If its better and I'll adapt, that's great, but right now I feel like I need another shower.

**florenonite** · October 20th, 2009, 11:30 AM

You know, I think this might be why my hair's been complaining at my shampoo bar recently! Ever since I came back to Scotland (soft water, compared to the hard at home) my hair's been getting greasy really quickly.

Last year and the year before I don't recall having this problem, and in the spring I stretched my washings out to once a week, so I think your hair should adapt. In the meantime, I recommend using arrowroot powder (or something similar, like cornstarch) to hide the greasiness and help your hair adapt. Also try brushing it to move the oil through it, and wear it up if you don't already.