Do you live in one of the 85 percent of US homes that have hard water? Hard water contains an excessive amount of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. If you have hard water, mineral buildup can cause problems not only for your pipes and appliances but also for your hair and skin. However, a water softener can remove these minerals from your running water. Here are a few ways that an investment in a water softener can benefit your skin and hair.

No Residue

Your soap and shampoo aren’t as effective when you have hard water. The minerals in the water keep these products from lathering properly and rinsing out thoroughly. This leads to a buildup of not only minerals but also the products you use in your hair. This can leave your skin and hair looking dull and dry. Softening the water allows everything to rinse clean, so your hair and skin can be fully cleansed.

Healthier Scalp

Have you tried dozens of dandruff shampoos? The answer to your scalp woes might be a water filtration system to remove minerals and soften the water. Hard water is a common cause of dandruff and an itchy scalp. The minerals can dry your scalp and feed the growth of bacteria and fungi that cause dandruff. You may no longer need special shampoos or medications after fixing your home’s hard water problem.

Smoother Hair

Mineral buildup on your hair shaft can make your hair rougher in texture. This causes more tangles, and a dull appearance, and makes your hair more susceptible to breakage. If you struggle with frizz and tangles, your hard water could be the culprit. Soft water will help your hair be smoother, shinier, and easier to manage.

Fewer Breakouts

Many acne sufferers don’t know that their breakouts could be caused by hard water. The excessive minerals in hard water mix with the sebum and bacteria on your skin to clog your pores. The drying effects of hard water can also cause your skin to produce excess sebum that leads to breakouts. If you struggle with acne, it’s time to consider whether your home’s hard water may be the culprit.

Vibrant Color

If you spend a lot of money on vibrant hair color, you want it to last as long as possible, but hard water can make your color fade faster. This is especially true for reds and fashion colors. The minerals themselves can strip your color, and so can the clarifying shampoos you need to remove hard water buildup from your hair. A water softener can even pay for itself when you spend less at the salon retouching your color every few weeks.

Are you wondering if your home has hard water? Limescale, mineral buildup around showerheads and faucets, and spots on dishes and flatware are a few telltale signs that you have hard water. You can find out for sure by using a simple test kit or asking your municipal water supplier for a recent water quality report.