There are several effects of soft water on hair. The most noticeable is cleanliness, as well as overall feel and texture. “Soft” water is a type of water that generally is low in calcium. It causes better bubbles, and increased lather from shampoo and other cleansing products. Oftentimes, hair gets much cleaner, as the shampoo has the ability to more deeply penetrate every strand. Deep cleaning may strip a bit of the hair’s essential oils away, which may cause locks to appear dull, flat, or listless. Also, most individuals discover that their hair will lack volume or body under those circumstances. Styling tools and products often can beat these effects, yet getting the proper coif oftentimes takes some experimentation and time.
How to Understand Water Softness
Whether water is categorized as hard or soft mostly depends upon its measured calcium content. The higher calcium content, the harder the water is. Soft water, like the water produced by an on the go water softener, is usually found in places that have low limestone deposit levels, or in residences in which water filters or softeners are installed. Besides hair, water’s chemical composition also can impact things such as erosion, appliance maintenance, and dishwashing. It usually is somewhat challenging to taste a difference in drinking water. Both, usually, are safe to drink. The main contrasts come with respect to how they’ll interact with various materials, and whether they’ll leave a residue.
Typically, calcium content is measured by parts per million. In order to be considered soft water, under 160 parts per million of calcium has to be present. For hard water, the acceptable range will be 160 – 320 parts per million. Anything more than 460 parts per million will be considered extremely hard. Besides calcium, additional minerals like manganese and magnesium also are present within hard water, though in small amounts. The calcium content inside water will naturally rise wherever substantial quantities of limestone are discovered in the ground.
Impact on Shampoo
One of the most noticeable effects of the water produced by an on the go water softener has to do with how well shampoo performs, and how clean your hair will actually get. Individuals who lather their hair using soft water oftentimes see more bubbles than they might in more calcium-rich water, partially because the calcium ions usually bind to the shampoo and the hair, decreasing the foam that ultimately results.
