15 Best Shampoos for Hard Water in 2023, According to Hair Experts

Dec 27, 2023

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Rinse your way to healthier hair with these expert-recommended formulas.

If your strands have been looking a bit lackluster lately despite using the best hair styling products, you may want to consider adding the best shampoo for hard water into your hair care routine. Even the most hydrating leave-in conditioners, luxurious hair masks, and treatments are no match for hard water buildup; special shampoos are key for maintaining healthy hair.

“Hard water refers to water that has a high mineral content, specifically referring to magnesium and calcium,” explains Marisa Garshick, M.D., a leading board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in NYC. These minerals leave a residue on the hair that can make strands susceptible to dryness, dullness, breakage, and color fading.

Meet the experts: Marisa Garshick, M.D., leading board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in NYC; Mahogany Grace, hairstylist and owner of Mahogany Grace Salon; Laura Beth Cabott hairstylist and owner of Artistry by LB

Shampoos for hard water are similar to clarifying shampoos in that they remove stubborn build-up from the hair, but they often contain chelating ingredients. These are ingredients that help to remove the minerals found in hard water from your strands, explains Mahogany Grace, hairstylist and owner of Mahogany Grace Salon.

Ready to combat frizz, dryness, and build-up? Below, experts share their favorite shampoos for hard water for every hair type and texture, including the best-clarifying options that pack a punch.

This hard water shampoo comes highly recommended by all of our experts, and even boasts a 4.5 out of five stars on Amazon for its well-rounded formula. It “removes mineral build up and discoloration, restores moisture, and protects against future mineral deposits and impurities,” Grace says. “It is gentle on the hair, while also containing antioxidants that help to protect the skin against environmental stressors,” Dr. Garshick adds.

Not only does this affordable, apple cider vinegar-based pick add bounce and shine to strands, but Grace recommends this shampoo because it “gently cleanses and relieves an itchy scalp,” while helping to remove buildup from the hair. “I have hard water and it’s been ruining my hair. It was dull and knotty,” one reviewer on Amazon writes. “With the first wash my hair is finally back to normal. This has totally brought my hair back to normal and soft instantly.”

Grace recommends this hydrating yet clarifying shampoo for all hair types, including those with curly hair. It “deeply cleanses” the hair while maintaining natural moisture levels, she explains. According to the brand, it uses fruit acids and extracts to remove residue, chlorine, and hard water deposits without stripping the hair of hydration or natural oils.

“This gentle detox removes up to 99% of product buildup while being a color-safe, non-stripping clarifier that leaves the hair feeling fresh,” explains Laura Beth Cabott hairstylist and owner of Artistry by LB. The formula contains activated charcoal, salicylic acid, and a patented peptide ingredient to buff away product buildup, excess sebum (a.k.a. oil), and minerals while keeping the hair strong and healthy.

Those with curly and coily hair may want to consider this clarifying product to remove buildup while maintaining bounce and texture. “This unique deep cleanser removes build-up, refreshes the scalp, helps to protect against breakage, and revives the hair’s natural pH balance,” Grace explains.

“Used to help detoxify the hair, while also helping to hydrate, this shampoo can protect the hair while also leaving the hair feeling soft and nourished,” explains Dr. Garshick. This product also helps prevent breakage while prolonging hair color and adding shine, thanks to its ability to neutralize the minerals and metals in hard water.

This shampoo may offer a way to remove minerals from the hair, keeping it looking and feeling clean, but it also works very well, “ especially for the blondes,” explains Cabott, who suggests pairing it with a blonde toning mask to maintain color and tone.

This formula “removes hard water deposits and gently removes build up while softening the hair,” Grace says. The apple cider vinegar acts as a clarifying agent, but the well-rounded formula also contains keratin to keep hair strong and healthy.

“This sulfate-free cleansing process helps to remove excess buildup as can be caused from minerals in hard water, while also containing plant-based oils to help nourish the scalp and hair,” Dr. Garshick explains. This gentle, moisturizing formula is a great pick for those struggling with dry, damaged hair.

This unique mousse formula features three superstar ingredients to clarify the scalp and hair: volcanic ash, sea kelp extract, and green tea extract. “This shampoo works to increase shine while helping to purify and deeply cleanse the scalp without stripping away natural oils or leaving the scalp feeling dry or irritated,” Dr. Garshick explains. “It can be used for all hair types or textures.”

While not technically a shampoo, this pre-shampoo scalp treatment comes highly recommended by Dr. Garshick for decreasing buildup. “This uses a silk protein that helps to eliminate scalp buildup and helps to soothe scalp damage,” she explains. “It also contains zinc PCA to absorb excess oils and reduces scalp irritation. It can be used weekly.”

It may help remove product, chlorine, and hard-water buildup, but this argan-oil-infused formula also contains a blend of oils that “mildly purifies and restores moisture,” Grace says. If you’re looking for a gentle formula and healthy, frizz-free strands—this is the product for you.

“This detox shampoo gently and efficiently removes unwanted buildup from the hair,” Cabott says. “Their essential oil blend with tea tree, thyme, and rosemary smells super fresh, leaving your hair looking super bright while feeling very clean.”

It’s called a “reset” for a reason. This clarifying shampoo is a personal favorite of mine that I’ve been using for years. Not only does it smell amazing, but I love how clean my hair feels after using it. The gel-to-foam formula is formulated with ingredients like antioxidants, pink clay, and charcoal for clean, healthy hair. “Every healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and this shampoo does just that, removes all the dirt from my scalp and promotes a healthier scalp,” one Sephora reviewer wrote. “My hair feels super healthy, hydrated, and smooth. It also smells so good and I like the ingredients used.”

Made with fruit acids, this pH-balanced formula gently removes product build up, hard water minerals, excess oil, and pollution residue “in just one use,” according to the brand. Best of all, the cream formula leaves hair soft and shiny. “This clarifying cream is wonderful. I used it this morning and my hair is so soft and manageable,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “I do have hard water at my home and this removed all bad things from my hair.”

✔️Look for clarifying and chelating ingredients. Dr. Garshick says that clarifying formulas are “especially good for hard water” and can make a big difference in removing mineral buildup. Grace recommends looking for clarifying ingredients like vitamin C and apple cider vinegar, as well as chelating agents (which help remove minerals found in hard water) like ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

✔️Consider hydrating formulas. Shampoos for hard water are necessary for removing buildup, but Dr. Garshick recommends using hydrating products and deep conditioners to help replenish moisture loss in addition to purifying and clarifying shampoos.

✔️Consider a hard water filter. In addition to the products you use, “adding a shower filter can help remove harmful contaminants and improve the water’s pH balance,” Grace explains. She recommends the PureAction Water Softener Shower Head and the AquaHome Group Luxury Filtered Shower Head Set.

While shampoos for hard water are effective at eliminating build-up in the hair and allowing your other products to penetrate deeper into the hair cuticle, these products can be drying if overused. Our experts agree that a good rule of thumb is to use a shampoo for hard water once per week and follow up with a hydrating conditioner for clean, healthy hair.

We consulted Marisa Garshick, M.D., a leading board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in NYC, Mahogany Grace, a hairstylist and owner of Mahogany Grace Salon, and Laura Beth Cabott, a hairstylist and owner of Artistry by LB. We also conducted our own research and poured through hundreds of customer reviews in order to select the best shampoos for hard water.

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

Shannen Zitz is an Assistant Editor at Prevention, where she covers all things lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and relationships. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Prevention, she graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.

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