Don't miss: Survival Guide

How to Wash Hair in Hard Water

Mar 15, 2011 / By Kathryn Hatter

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Photo: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images

If you suffer with dull and drab hair that doesn't want to do anything but hang limply off your head, hard water may be to blame for your hair issues. You've seen what hard water does to shower fixtures; now imagine what it might be doing to your hair. The minerals in hard water can coat your hair and take away the shine, but with one simple trick, you can ditch the drab and bring on the dazzling.

Mix 1/2 tbsp. of white or cider vinegar with 1 cup of cool or warm water. If you can stand it, use cool water -- it brings on even more shine!

Wash and condition your hair using your regular shampoo and conditioner, and rinse it well.

Pour the vinegar water over your hair and massage it in well with your fingertips. Really concentrate on working the vinegar into your hair shafts but don't abuse your hair in the process. Gentle rubbing is the key.

Rinse out the vinegar or leave it in -- whichever you want. If you leave it in, it can help detangle. Don't worry -- although you'll smell like a pickle while your hair is wet, the smell will disappear when your hair dries.

1.White or cider vinegar

3.Conditioner

2.Shampoo

Use bottled purified water for your final rinse to keep the hard water minerals off your hair at the end of the hair-washing process.

Use the vinegar rinse one to three times a week, depending on how dull your hair looks. If your hair looks absolutely dead, use vinegar more often. If your hair just needs a little extra shine, use the vinegar once a week.