Buying Shampoo Bars When You Have Hard Water

Shampoo bars are a great alternative to liquid shampoos, and not just because of their lower impact on the environment. However, I had a problem. I live in a house with very hard water. Even when I used liquid shampoo, the minerals from the water left residue on my hair that was visible even after conditioning. It wasn’t pleasant. So when I decided I wanted to switch to solid shampoo nearly two years ago as part of a new zero-waste lifestyle, I found they didn’t do well with my hard water either. But I discovered there are shampoo bars that do work! Here’s the low-down on buying shampoo bars when you have hard water.

Finding A Shampoo Bar That Works in Hard Water

Choosing the right shampoo bar is an important part of the process. Shampoo bars are made from a variety of different herbal, botanical and other ingredients, which can make a big difference to the way your hair feels. Ingredients such as cocoa butter and coconut oil have moisturizing properties that can be great for dry hair, while peppermint will make your scalp tingle, stimulating blood flow and hair growth.

However, there’s one major ingredient that makes all the difference in a 100% natural shampoo bar. The bar must be slightly acidic. Lye is an alkali, which is essential for making natural soap. However, it usually leaves soap slightly alkaline. This lifts the cuticle, making hair rough and brittle. [Source]

You may find that you need to try out a few different bars to find one that works for you! However, I’m confident that if you try the All for Better Health (AFTB) shampoo bar, you’ll be very happy with how your hair feels even if you have very hard water. My hair is smooth and shiny—even without conditioner.

Other Tips for Buying Shampoo Bars When You Have Hard Water

When choosing a shampoo bar you also need to think about the scent. With no added fragrance, solid shampoos have a distinct natural smell. While this might be great if you’re trying to reduce your chemical exposure, yet bad if you want your shampoo bar to smell good for a long time. Things like essential oils are natural anti-oxidants, so the keep the shampoo bar from going rancid.

Note: When a soap goes rancid, it still does its job very well. It just smells off.

Some shampoo bars contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a chemical that is sometimes used in liquid shampoos to create lather. SLS is mildly toxic and a potential irritant to people with sensitive skin and scalps. If you are switching to solid shampoo because you are sensitive to SLS, make sure to read the ingredients list to look for a SLS-free bar!

Others contain clay, which is great for binding to minerals in water. It’s like adding a clay masque to your hair, yet just for the time it takes to shampoo your hair.

Myths about Shampoo Bars and Hard Water

Reducing the amount of lather makes a better shampoo bar for hard water.

Fact: It’s not lather that’s the problem. It’s excess oil and alkalinity that forms scum. This means a good shampoo bar demands minimal super-fatting (the practice of leaving 4% or more oil unsaponified by the lye in the soap recipe.)

Running water colder reduces scum.

Fact: This myth confuses the power of water temperature to smooth the cuticle of the hair with the production of scum. Scum forms at all water temperatures if there’s too much oil and the soap bar is alkaline. However, when the shampoo bar is acidic (like the AFBH shampoo bar), the cuticle stays tightly bonded to the hair shaft. The best strategy is to use comfortably warm water to rinse away the suds, and then to finish with cooler water to enhance the effect.

Baking soda is great for hard water.

Fact: While baking soda has some mild effect on binding minerals, it’s not good for your hair. It’s really alkaline, which makes it especially bad for those with dry or delicate hair. So use baking soda where it shines. It is great for cleaning away soap scum—on your shower walls and tub. Don’t use it where it dulls—your hair.

Final Tips for Finding the Right Hard Water Shampoo Bar

Once you’ve solved the problem of avoiding hard water scum deposits in your hair, you’re free to explore other desirable qualities.

Look for shampoo bars that use essential oils for scent. Not only does this mean your hair will smell nice. It means you’ll experience the benefits of the essential oils. For example, ingredients like peppermint or rosemary are known to stimulate blood flow and promote hair growth.

Remember, solid shampoos are not only easier to store and travel with. They also take up considerably less space in a tiny bathroom.

Check Out Our Shampoo Bars

Explore buying shampoo bars when you have hard water here.