Hard water playing havok with hair

[MackerelOfFact]

Since living in London my hair has mostly looked a limp, lank mess. Shampoo which used to make my hair luscious and lovely just makes it feel coarse and nasty. When I go and visit family in Scotland, or when we went camping in the Isle of Man last year, or even when I stay at my parents' in nearby Essex, I'm amazed at how much better my hair looks and feels. Aside from moving to Edinburgh (which I'd do in a heartbeat if it was feasible) is there any way to work with the hard water to make my hair nicer?

My hair is extremely thick, slightly wavy and shoulder-length, if that helps. I currently just use a little serum after washing to make it feel a little softer, and sometimes put salts in the bath to soften the water, but neither really have that much of a dramatic effect on my hair.

Surely I'm not the only lank-haired Londoner out there?

You are not the only one! When I go to visit friends in Yorkshire or go abroad on holiday I preen in front of the mirror thinking how lovely and bouncy my hair is - then come back to the SE and it's lank and unlovely. Have yet to find a solution

my hair is awful in north-east london water, when i wash my hair at the gym in leafy chigwell in essex, only a few miles up the road, it is soft and bouncy and beautiful... very frustrating i agree!

I think you can buy a machine that plumbs into the water supply and softens the water in the whole house. Some people have it just in their kitchens to soften and 'purify' the water.
Not sure how you get the shower water treated unless you treat it at source?

I've previously used an attachment which fits to the head of shower which softens the water without chemicals etc.

I'd got it from an allergy type of website as was recommended for helping dry skin.

boil your water to do a final rinse. Also try a filter on your bathroom taps I use a culligan one.

Try a weekly shampoo with something like L?Anza Swim & Sun Daily Chelating Shampoo.
I have been known to use head and shoulders before as it feels so disgusting as my water is vile.

also once a week treatment

Also heard this is good

you can buy those here check around though you might get them cheaper.

I also have a water softener that was £1800 and its still crap !

www.beautyexpert.co.uk/gclid/CPXEgselj6cCFYpO4Qod-VjPcA/shop-hairfix/

link added doh !

my hair (v curly) really likes london water but always looks rubbish when i go & stay with my parents in york .

I feel your pain.

When at home in NI, I don't even need to condition my hair. I literally wash and go.

London water destroys my hair. I can't seem to find the balance between conditioned and lank in 12 hrs. Bummer.

Thanks for all the great responses! I have heard of the water softeners you can attach to the pipes but I rent so it's not really an option. Will look into the shower attachments though, that sounds like something I could try. And the weekly treatments too.

Certain shampoos are better than others I think, I used to find Elvive turned my hair to an oil slick, but in London it's one of the best ones for my hair. Aussie used to be my favourite shampoo but here it makes my hair feel wiry and coarse.

Glad I'm not the only one who notices the difference even between Essex and London! So weird, isn't it?