Save Your Hair from Hard Water Damage With These Shampoos

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If your hair is feeling dull and dry, you might be quick to blame your hair dye or the styling tools you use. While frequently using hair dryers or curling irons without a good heat protectant can damage your hair, the root of the problem (get it? 😆) might actually be your water supply: Hard water, which has high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, is common in certain parts of the United States—and it can be bad news for your luscious locks. A quick and easy solution: Get the best shampoo for hard water that works for your hair type!

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These best shampoos are designed to fight buildup and leave your hair feeling squeaky clean. Ree Drummond found this out the hard way (pun intended) when she began to suspect that hard water was wreaking havoc on her hair, and she was right. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, hard water isn't a health concern, but it can be a big inconvenience.

Hard water hair solutions range from more permanent adjustments like installing a shower filter to cheaper, temporary fixes like periodically rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar to help remove mineral buildup. You should also consider how often you should wash your hair—just to make sure you're not accidentally causing even more damage. What's more, incorporating a clarifying shampoo into your haircare routine once or twice a week can help counteract the negative effects of hard water. So, we rounded up some of the best shampoos for hard water that work for a range of hair types and budgets so you can find the solution that's right for you. Say hello to good hair days!

Briogeo Superfoods Mango + Cherry Oil Control & Balancing Shampoo

This balancing and clarifying shampoo actually uses a chelating ingredient (EDDS) to put a stop to the impact of hard water by binding and deactivating certain minerals like calcium and copper that you'll likely face when showering. It also uses natural vitamins and minerals to clean, nourish, minimize dullness and help balance oil production.

Mongongo Oil Exfoliating Shampoo

The secret to this sulfate-free shampoo? Exfoliating properties and clarifying cleansers that gently lift away dirt, oil, and product and mineral build-up while leaving essential moisture in place. It's also packed with five different moisturizing oils that will leave you with softer, healthy and hydrated hair.

Prose Custom Shampoo

Take a quiz and Prose will formulate their shampoo just for you—no matter your hair type! With all natural ingredients like shikakai extract for scalp cleansing and acacia collagen for fiber repair, your formula will not only clean your hair, but bring it back to life with each wash.

The Ordinary Sulphate 4% Shampoo Cleanser for Body & Hair

Sulphates do a phenomenal job of stripping buildup, and The Ordinary uses SLES-2 which is gentler on the scalp than other brands. If you have super sensitive skin or a sulphate allergy, you might want to pass on this product. But if you don't, this lightweight and smoothing formula will make your hair super clean―and the rest of you, too! It doubles as a body wash.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo

With a name like "Perfect Hair Day," you're going to want to sit up and take note of this detox shampoo. Along with removing hard water buildup, it also removes buildup from product and pollution. It's packed with good-for-your-hair ingredients like activated charcoal which absorbs oil and witch hazel to moisturize your scalp. If you have fine strands that need a clean yet voluminous boost, this is your pick.

Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo

This vegan shampoo is specifically designed to counteract hair problems like dryness and discoloration caused by "hidden horrors" (aka hard water). The paraben- and sulfate-free blend works by removing mineral buildup while retaining your hair's natural oils and moisture. If you want to take your haircare to the next level, consider investing in the brand's Hard Water Wellness Kit, which also includes conditioner and hair masks.

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo

The acidity of vinegar helps dissolve minerals, which is what makes it such a great household cleaner. It can work the same way in your hair: This affordable, apple cider vinegar-infused clarifying shampoo is designed restore smoothness and shine to dull hair (without leaving behind the vinegary scent). It's oat-based and free of harsh chemicals, which means it's soothing, too!

OUAI Detox Shampoo

Ingredients like apple cider vinegar and hydrolyzed keratin help exfoliate, soften, and smooth hair while stripping it of dirt and oil. Reviewers especially rave about how little they need to use in each wash: A dime-size amount is all that's needed for a thorough clean.

Ion Hard Water Shampoo

Many products created to strip mineral buildup are too strong to use on color-treated hair, and they'll dry out your locks if you use them every day. This hard water shampoo is color-safe and mild enough for daily use. If you're looking for more color-safe shampoo options, check out this one that Ree uses.

PATTERN Clarifying Shampoo

Created by the actress Tracee Ellis Ross, PATTERN Beauty is all about curly hair. The curl care line's paraben-free clarifying shampoo removes buildup and residue while strengthening your hair with ingredients like matcha green tea and aloe vera.

Kenra Clarifying Shampoo

Amazon customers wax poetic about this clarifying, color-safe shampoo, which is designed to remove up to 99% of dulling deposits from hard water, chlorinated pools, and styling products. It uses mica to improve shine and promote restoration. Washing your hair with it creates a clean slate, which is why professional stylists use it as a deep cleanse before color treatments.

Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo

Swap your usual shampoo for this detoxifying formula once a week to remove buildup from hard water as well as products and pollutants. It contains ginseng, rosemary and sage to invigorate and restore fullness and sheen to your tresses. One important note: This one isn't safe for color-treated hair.

Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three

If you've ever taken a dip in the pool and come out with green hair, you know that chlorine isn't very nice to your locks. This shampoo removes chlorine, iron, and minerals from your hair, and it helps reduce future buildup. Plus, those of you with oily hair will like that it minimizes oil production with its moisturizing and shine blend while adding body to your locks.

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