If you love your fresh, salon-fresh hair color (and who doesn't), you probably know that it needs protection to stay vibrant. UV rays can yellow the color, sulfate-containing shampoos can fade it, and citrus-based products can dull the color's shine.
One of the biggest, but lesser-known causes of color fading is minerals in the water. While tap water may appear clear, it can contain metals and minerals that build up in your hair, changing its color and texture.
Hard water is the worst culprit, but all water contains minerals that can damage hair color and texture.
How do minerals affect hair?
Mineral deposits can cause:
-
Color fading and yellowing
-
Lifelessness, roughness and loss of shine
-
Loose curls
-
Hair feels heavy and dull
Minerals can also affect the final result of a hair salon treatment, for example, copper can speed up dyeing and lead to unexpected results.
Which minerals are the most harmful?
-
Calcium: Dries hair, takes away elasticity from curls, and can cause dandruff.
-
Magnesium and aluminum: Cloud hair color and make hair lifeless.
-
Copper: Makes blonde hair greener and dark hair darker. Speeds up the dyeing process.
-
Iron and manganese: Make blonde hair orange and dark hair reddish. Dry and coarsen hair.
-
Lead: Leaves hair with a gray tint, although it only appears in small traces today.