Solving frizz - water softener - is it that easy??!

[YoureBreakingMyHeartCecilia]

The HOURS and the MONEY I have spent trying (and failing) to sort out terrible frizz.

I spent the night away last night at a friend’s who has a water softener.

Washed my hair there last night and The difference is phenomenal

Just FaceTimed my DH (who never notices my hair) and the first thing he said was ‘wow! Your hair looks stunning’.

I literally washed it last night with my regular (CG approved) shampoo and conditioner and slept with it wet which I often do. The only different thing was the soft water.

This morning it is soft, touchable, still a little bit textured but not the halo of frizz that accompanies me everywhere. Loose natural waves. I look like I’ve stepped out of a shampoo ad (well, my hair does, not much that can be done about the rest of me 😂)

Is this the answer I’ve been searching for most of my adult life?!? How have I not twigged this before?! And how easy is it to get a water softener?! Do I need a whole new bathroom? Honestly I’m willing, if that’s what it takes to get stunning hair instead of CRAP hair!

My hair and skin are SO much better when I'm in Scotland than in London, I notice the difference almost immediately. I read that you can get filtering shower heads so I bought this: www.pureshowers.co.uk/paragon-luxury-hand-held-shower-filter-head.html which is going in today. Tomorrow I will definitely have perfect hair.

Eventually I will move back to Scotland and instantly look younger with better hair. Or put a proper water softener in to the house, which will probably be less effort than finding new jobs for DH and me.

A shower head that softens water???!! This would be amazing! Do they work?!

If not, I’ll join you north of the border and get a job as a hair model, obv

I’m so excited to learn this because I’m about to move from London (very hard water) to a very soft water area hadn’t really thought it would make a difference to hair. Wonder if it changes skin too?

Ohh @PenCreed what difference does the soft water to skin?

Amelion yep I’m in london too. Dastardly hard water!!
Also: how have I not worked this out after decades of horrible hair???

It makes a huge difference.

I grew up in Scotland, moved in a soft water area at 21 and then 16 years ago moved to one with v hard water. It is really harsh and totally dries out my hair and my skin - when I go back to Scotland, I time my hair washing so I wash it as soon as I can after arriving. I have lovely soft, defined curls. Come back home and it's nothing like as nice.

PenCreed can you let us know if that showerhead is any good?

@YoureBreakingMyHeartCecilia

Amelion yep I’m in london too. Dastardly hard water!! Also: how have I not worked this out after decades of horrible hair???

Yes it’s so hard - we get lots of limescale buildup. I don’t know - I’d never really thought of it either! It’d be great if those shower filters work though. If I wasn’t moving I’d be looking into one

Yes PenCreed please report on showerhead when you’ve tried it!

I guess looking at the limescale on my shower head it kinda makes sense there’s a lot of crap on my skin and hair really.

We live in a very hard water area, and had a water softener fitted when we had the bathrooms done. I used to have incredibly dry skin and hair: no more.

Very interesting @AuldAlliance. I’m moving to Scotland so now I’m even more excited about my move - hopefully ill see the same benefits you have with my hair and skin!

Shower head report! Definitely much foamier shower gel and my skin didn’t feel dry. My hair is very soft with a slightly better curl than usual (it really needs a decent cut). My skin feels smoother, although that could just be in my head!
So based on day one, I’m feeling positive!

DP’s have a water softener in their house abroad (France) but they have to buy special stuff to put into it so it works - like pink foam if I recall.

Thanks for this, PenCreed. I might look into getting one...

When I’m there the water is really soft but even softer is their friend’s house in foothills of Pyrenees (near Carcassonne if you know that area). That is so soft baths and showers and your hair feels amazing! No idea if natural or with water softener.

I live in Scotland so have soft water and very little frizz. I spent a month in South Africa and my hair got progressively shitter the longer I was there🙄

I've got a proper plumbed in water softener and I've still got hair that turns to firizz when there's any damp in the air.

OP have you tried spraying your (dry) hair with distilled water? It won't completely undo the hard water problem as such but it's good for a refresh, similar to the effect of rainwater.

I'm so tired of battling limescale in my house, we're looking into a softener too.

Had a water softener fitted after putting up with horrible, bleachy hard water for over a decade.
Never regretted it. DD and I have natural afro hair which feels softer and has more defined curls.
DH and I were developing eczema patches. No more since having the water softener fitted.

I have a plumber in water softener and no, doesn't work for me

What works for me is a nano keratin treatment every 4 months

Just about to get a plumbed in softener. The hard water here is awful.

My dad got a water softer last year and other than needing a lot less conditioner it didn't make my hair any better.

But my god the difference on my dry skin. To be gross the inside of my black leggings will be covered in dead skin at the end of the day, even when using good lotion. Showering at his house, not a flake. It's amazing.

I don't about the area around Carcassonne, but I often stay with friends north of Toulouse who have a water softener and now I think about it my hair is maybe a tiny bit better there than here, but nothing like as amazing as in Scotland.
Might try a shower head anyway, though.

Argh. I don't know about the area around Carcassonne...

When will MN let us edit our posts??

An apple cider vinegar rinse is meant to be good as a final rinse when washing hair in hard water.