by If you have hard water in your area, you probably already know about it. From calcified kettles to dried out skin, brittle hair and soap that just doesn’t lather, hard water has a variety of unwanted side effects. But can you do something about it?
First, an explanation. Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals – particularly calcium and magnesium – which are absorbed as it flows through porous rock such as limestone or chalk. For this reason, the south east of England is significantly more affected than the north, as it benefits from more non-porous materials in the soil. Unfortunately, for people in hard water areas, achieving baby-soft skin and smooth, shiny hair is literally much more difficult.
How does hard water affect your skin and hair?
“The minerals in hard water can leave a residue on the skin, disrupting the natural pH balance and weakening the skin barrier. This can cause dryness and irritation and, in some cases, worsen conditions such as eczema or acne,” says Dr. Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and founder of Self London. “In contrast, soft water contains fewer minerals and allows soaps and cleansers to lather more effectively, reducing residue and leaving skin feeling cleaner and more hydrated.”
The same goes for hair, which can feel drier, rougher and duller due to mineral buildup, while your scalp may itch and flake. Not to mention the fact that you’ll use a lot more shampoo because it won’t lather properly in harder water.
Moving between cities with different water quality sparked an “aha moment” for Karlee Ozener, which led to her co-founding the brand Hello Klean, based on combating the effects of hard water on hair and skin through both topical products and shower filter systems.
“After moving, I noticed dramatic changes in my hair and skin,” she says. “The same products would work perfectly in one place but fail in another. It became clear that water quality was the hidden variable. We spend so much on products and overlook what those products are mixed with: our water.”
The benefits of a shower filter
Ozener went straight to the source to address the problem first, developing the Hello Klean Purifying Showerhead, which has a sleek, minimalist design, attaches easily to most shower hoses, and filters the water of chlorine, heavy metals, and rust before it reaches the skin and hair.
Hello Klean filter shower head 2.0
$52.00 at helloklean.com
The brand’s soothing body washes and clarifying shampoos came later—we particularly love the Full Length Anti-Breakage Hard Water Shampoo—and use mineral-neutralizing ingredients like lactic and citric acid to mitigate the negative effects of hard water, either alone or in combination with the filter. “By combining our shower filtration with targeted treatments, your existing products can work as intended,” adds Ozener.
Full length anti-breakage hard water shampoo
$15.30 at helloklean.com
The Best Beauty Products to Combat the Effects of Hard Water
Other brands have also identified a need for products that combat the dull byproducts of hard water, particularly for hair. Kérastase’s Prèmiere Decalcifying Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner are designed for exactly this purpose, while L’Oréal Professionnel’s Metal Detox range is designed to reduce hair breakage and color fading caused by hard water. Hairdresser and salon founder Edward James swears by the latter line for its softening and brightening effects when mastering color transformations at his London locations. “Dealing with very hard water can be a challenge, but this prevents minerals from sticking to the hair during the washing process and the oil improves shine and manageability,” he says.
Professional concentrated metal detox oil
£27.00 at Look Fantastic
In the meantime, if your skin is showing signs of hard water damage such as dryness, tightness, redness, and breakouts, Dr. Remember to stick with gentle and moisturizing products.
“Avoid cleansers with strong exfoliants or high alcohol content, as these can worsen dryness and irritation. “Also, avoid harsh soaps, as they can leave a residue that clogs pores and irritates sensitive skin,” she recommends. “Instead, start by using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser to avoid stripping your skin of its natural oils. Follow with a moisturizer rich in ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid to restore hydration and strengthen your skin barrier.”
Allies of Skin’s Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser replaces soap with gentler modern surfactants and silk amino acids to regenerate and protect sensitive skin. Follow with Ilia Beauty’s Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream, enriched with ceramides and colloidal oatmeal to nourish and strengthen skin.
What if you live in an area with soft water? Sit back and enjoy the foam.
Detox shampoo
This iconic hair cleanser is a lightweight shampoo that is gentle enough to replace your usual hair wash. It contains apple cider vinegar and a chelating (deposit-removing) complex that removes mineral deposits. The scent of cedarwood, rose and bergamot leaves hair smelling luxurious with every swing.
£28.00 at spacenk.com.uk
Clarifying detox shampoo
Like a weekly deep cleanse for the scalp and lengths, this intensive shampoo uses naturally derived chelators to remove up to 65 percent of copper particles in a single wash, keeping brassiness to a minimum. A clever magnetic polymer also attracts product buildup, leaving the hairline lighter and bouncier.
£31.00 at spacenk.com.uk
Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
This pH-balanced formula is particularly gentle on sensitive color-treated hair while removing metal deposits from hard water. Salicylic acid also helps balance sebum production on the scalp. Therefore, this is the ideal occasional hair wash if you find that your roots are getting oily between washes but your ends are on the dry side.
£39.00 at spacenk.com.uk
Soothing Heartleaf Cleanser
A non-foaming, fragrance-free gel cleanser with soothing, moisturizing ceramides to leave all skin types feeling supple and refreshed, even when they struggle with hard water. The soothing heart leaf extract at the core of the formula is an anti-inflammatory botanical that is making waves in the Korean skincare industry for its calming effects.
£29.00 at
Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
The amino acid ectoine was a breakout star in the skincare industry in 2024, with more and more brands recognizing its potential to repair even the most compromised skin barriers. This all-round serum combines the hero molecule with multi-potent hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin immediately after cleansing (and keep it there all day).
£15.00 at Look Fantastic
Anti-dryness body wash
Mineral buildup from hard water can also destroy the natural oils in your limbs; This dual-phase shower gel uses the same chelation technology as the brand’s hair care, combined with soothing Centella Asiatica and gentle PHAs to remove dead skin cells. Leave it on while your conditioner works for optimal softness after showering.
$15.30 at helloklean.com
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