Brio

You hear a lot about hard water, but what about soft water? What can having soft water do to your hair? How can I find out if I have soft water?

As background, I live close to the coast and I have "city" water. From growing up around here, I know the regular water can often be very hard with iron and stinky with sulfur (sulphur?). (You know, that rotten egg smell.) While I haven't done any investigation, I am guessing the water is pretty heavily treated to remove yucky stuff. One of the reasons I think that is the fact that the water around here leaves a film on my body after a shower. You sort of feel like the soap is never fully rinsed clean. When I moved back, it took forever to get used to this feel.

I was in DC a few days this week and after showering, I didn't get that feel on my skin. Also, my hair was amazing. I had these awesome ringlets with great definition and lots of BOING. I am curious if soft water could be weighing my curls down some and if yes, what I can do about it.

THANKS!

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CurliLocks

RC has a kit to test your water: http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=water

Here's a map that may help too: http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=story

You can get the kit, or just the strips, here:
http://www.merchantamerica.com/rober...&category=4316

HTH From what I hear, soft water can make your hair limp so you need to go light on product.

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Koukla72

Edited due to a cyberstalker. Sorry, guys.

Brio

No. I haven't pursued getting any water testing supplies. I suppose I could call the water provider and ask them, but I've been too lazy.

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Brio

Have you ever used the kit? I note that the strips alone say you have to use it with the kit. Wonder why? Think it's because they don't give you the legend to read the colors with the strips?

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ItsiRC

here's another link by morton salt. i agree with it b/c i'm from TN and depending on where you are in the state, the water hardness varies.

http://www.systemsaver.com/morton-we...-problems.html

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I'm going to Mexico until this bills business blows over.

pw:master shake

CurliLocks

Yes, I have an old kit with the legend, and just get new strips when I run out. I forgot you need the original legend.

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Koukla72

Edited due to a cyberstalker. Sorry, guys.

xcptnl

I got the free (paid for shipping) testing kit and my water is like yours Koukla72 - hard hard hard! I thought it was (we have well water). I did buy the nexxus aloe rid shampoo and I figure I will use that once a month or so. But I was wondering - does the vinegar rinse also remove hard water buildup?

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Central Massachusetts

One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim. ~George Carlin~

In regards to Vagazzling: They just want to get into the goods without worrying about getting scratched up by fake crystals. ~spring1onu~

Koukla72

Edited due to a cyberstalker. Sorry, guys.

xcptnl

Thats what I was thinking too - there can only be so much vinegar can do.

I have to say when I used the Nexxus Aloe Rid a couple of weeks ago my hair was verrry bouncy after so obviously it removed some build up- I liked it! I am just finding that my hair looks dull as well with this new well water (I moved in February).

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Central Massachusetts

One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim. ~George Carlin~

In regards to Vagazzling: They just want to get into the goods without worrying about getting scratched up by fake crystals. ~spring1onu~

meriellyn

Oooh, I had super soft water when I lived in Northern Virginia and it was really hard to get used to. It actually *felt* "soft" when you took a bath and stuff. Really weird. It was nearly impossible to rinse soap off and hard to use the right amount of products because I had to adjust so much. Of course as soon as I really got used to it, I moved. :P
My hair liked it though. It would freak out when I came down to my Dad's and washed my hair. Looked like crap the whole time.
Surprisingly I've noticed after a couple of trips that the water in Myrtle Beach seems to be softer than what I have now and my hair is always happy when I wash it up there. :P

Nexxus Aloe Rid is my fav clarifying 'poo. I use ACV fairly regularly but I do like to use a little Aloe Rid then do a DT every now and then (very infrequently) and it realy does seem to work. I like that it's still pretty gentle and doesn't freak my hair out like other sulfate 'poo.

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2/f/i, waist length w/ long layers

http://public.fotki.com/thekittenavenger
pwd: hair

~a wave in a sea of curls

xcptnl

I bought it because you had mentioned it other times and it really did help.

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Central Massachusetts

One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim. ~George Carlin~

In regards to Vagazzling: They just want to get into the goods without worrying about getting scratched up by fake crystals. ~spring1onu~

Brio

Now everyone really has me curious about the softness or hardness of my tap water.

Hey Culligan man!

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meriellyn

Yay! I'm glad it helped. I'm so surprised that it can work so well and not be drying. I've tried a couple other things and they dried my hair out with just one use but the Aloe Rid leaves my hair happy.

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2/f/i, waist length w/ long layers

http://public.fotki.com/thekittenavenger
pwd: hair

~a wave in a sea of curls