One of the few downsides of growing up in Los Angeles is dealing with the city’s very hard water. Thanks to the mineral buildup, my teenage and college years were spent trying different hair products to make my thick, long hair feel less dry (and oh, it was dry) and look less dull. It all changed when I learned the key to washing hair in hard water is in my shampoo.
Vogue’s Favorite Shampoos for Hard Water: Best Detox: L’Oreal Professional Metal Detox Shampoo, $40 Best for Scalp: Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub, $19 Best for Buildup: Chris McMillan The Clarifying Shampoo, $38 Best Multitasking: OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo, $34 Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex N. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, $34 As Morgan Rabach, MD, board-certified dermatologist at LM Medical NYC, explains, certain shampoos, also known as chelating shampoos, are designed specifically to bind to minerals so that they can be rinsed away easily. When incorporating it into your routine, a shampoo for hard water sets up a good base for your hair to stay healthy and mineral-free. Best Detox: L’Oreal Professional Metal Detox Shampoo Why We Love It: Arguably the ultimate detox shampoo, this sulfate-free option is designed to remove the metal particles and buildup that come with washing your hair with hard water (via a patented technology called Glicoamine).
You’ll find your hair feels softer and looks smoother (fly aways and frizz be damned) after one use, and it doesn’t get better than that. Editor’s Experience: This shampoo has saved my hair multiple times whenever I travel to a place that has hard water. It’s rich lather that’s super nourishing and thoroughly cleanses my hair without it feeling overly stripped and dry.
I’m left with super soft hair that I can style easily and I no longer worry about my hair being a matted mess. I’ll forever sing this shampoo’s praises. — Audrey Noble, contributor Key Ingredients: Glicoamine Size: 10.1 fl oz. Best for Scalp: Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist Sharif Poston loves this shampoo and scalp scrub.
To effectively remove buildup, it uses fermented purple willow bark, a natural salicylic acid, and microcrystalline cellulose, a physical exfoliant derived from wood, to thoroughly cleanse the skin. It also has citric acid to help remove the mineral impurities and tea tree oil to combat any dryness. Best for All Hair Textures: Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo Why We Love It: Both Dr.
Erickson and Poston love this shampoo for hard water as it is specifically designed to address mineral buildup, which Poston says can make hair dry and dull (and if your hair is color-treated, you might also face discoloration). It uses a synthetic ingredient called disodium EDTA, which binds metals found in water together and neutralizes them. It also contains rice protein and panthenol for added moisture and to strengthen strands.
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