Our Aroma has been asking the same question for years, " Why even when you use the same products, in the same exact way, can you get different results?" For years Our Aroma has been assisting our customers to solve that conundrum for themselves!
Water Quality
The quality of the water that flows out of the faucet varies from town to town, city to city. Each water utility company does things slightly differently, while they also all draw water from varying sources.
The “hardness” or “softness” of water is determined based on the concentration of minerals it contains, namely calcium and magnesium. But that’s not all. Did you know the pH of your water is important to the health of your hair as well?
What’s the difference between hard water and soft water?
The hardness of water is determined primarily by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Higher levels of these and other minerals make water harder.
Water softening systems work by reducing the concentrations of minerals from the water.
Instead of having higher levels of calcium and magnesium, soft water tends to have higher concentrations of sodium or salt.
How can you tell if water is hard or soft?
The feel of water and what it does to items in your dishwasher or washing machine can be a tip-off.
Signs of hard water include:
Do your hands and body feel as though they have a film over them after washing. The soap reacts with the calcium in the water to form soap scum.
Spots are usually caused by deposits of calcium carbonate and appear on glasses and silverware coming out of the dishwasher.
Mineral stains show up on clothes when they come out of the washing machine. You may have thought that the marks were soap residue, which is not 100% wrong, but like the film on our bodies, the higher minerals cause the soap to clump and leave the residue on the clothes.
The minerals can cause deposits that will form in the pipes. The more deposits on the inside of your water pipes, the less space for water to flow through, reducing water flow.
Hard Water and our bodies
While your health won’t be adversely affected, hard water can severely dry out your skin and hair over time, and even change the pH balance of your skin. This can become especially difficult for those with eczema. The harsh buildup of minerals can also cause your scalp to feel itchy, even after washing.
Over time, hard water can dry, damage, and reduce the thickness of your hair. Additional symptoms include breakage and thinning, frizz, a greasy scalp, and dullness. Those who suffer from eczema and psoriasis are also more likely to experience hair loss due to hard water. However, others may suffer hair loss due to a mineral buildup on their scalp leading to clogged pores and roots.
Skin pH is unique
If you’ve never pondered the effects of the quality of your water on your hair, you most likely haven’t even considered your water’s pH. Our skin is a living organism, and while you may not want to consider all the bacteria living on you, it is. For this reason, our skin pH should be slightly acidic (5.7pH) to keep the bad bacteria in check.
Pure water has a natural pH level of 7, but adding chemicals and other factors to the water can unbalance it. The soil, bedrock, and recent rainfall can also change the pH balance of your water. Did you know that rainwater is actually mildly acidic due to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Or that the limestone in rocky areas can actually increase the alkalinity of your water?
The skin pH is also a major factor in our body odor. The Our Aroma All Natural Deodorant uses Himalayan salt to neutralize the bacteria that thrive on the sweat and higher pH levels.
So how do you know if your water is alkaline? Eczema and an itchy, flaky, and dry scalp are all common signs that your water has too high of a pH level. Like the other factors mentioned above, you won’t really know the pH balance of your shower water unless you test it. This is also why a personalized and custom body wash is a superior product to one that you buy off the supermarket shelf.
Shower Head Water Filter
One of our suggestions is to buy a filter that is placed before your shower head. This allows for the water to be filtered and softened if necessary before you get the hard water on your body. Amazon offers various in-line water filters for your shower head.
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