Untreated well water can affect your hair’s volume, shine, coloring and more, mainly due to its hardness. Hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, is common in private wells across North America. When these minerals build up, they can cause your hair to feel dry, brittle and stiff over time.
That doesn’t mean well water is inherently bad. Private wells are often a safe, sustainable water source. The challenge is that, without treatment, well water can create problems for both your hair and your home. This guide explores what’s in well water, how it may impact your hair and what steps you can take to protect against damage.
What is well water (and what’s in it?)
Well water is groundwater that’s pumped from underground aquifers. Unlike municipal water supplies, private wells are not federally regulated in the U.S., which means homeowners are responsible for testing and maintaining water quality. In Canada, private well owners also take on this responsibility under provincial guidelines.
The composition of well water varies depending on local geology and land use. Common naturally occurring substances include:
- Calcium and magnesium: The minerals that cause hard water
- Iron and sulfur: Associated with metallic tastes/staining and rotten-egg odors
- Nitrates and arsenic: Found in some regions, often due to natural geology or agricultural and industrial activity
- Bacteria: May be present if wells aren’t properly constructed or maintained
- PFAS and other emerging contaminants: Increasingly being studied in groundwater supplies
Worried about your well water?
How can well water affect hair?
The most common way well water affects hair is through hardness minerals. Calcium and magnesium cling to the hair shaft, leaving behind residue that makes strands feel dry, brittle or difficult to manage. This mineral buildup can also coat the scalp, leading to irritation and reducing the effectiveness of shampoos and conditioners. As a result, hair may appear dull, frizzy or weighed down.
Some households also use chlorine to treat well water, particularly when addressing bacterial issues. While chlorine is effective at disinfection, ongoing exposure can strip hair of natural oils, causing dryness and contributing to breakage. (This issue can be common in homes using city water as well, as chlorine is a typical part of the municipal water treatment process.)
It’s important to note that well water has not been shown to cause hair breakage or loss. However, the combination of dryness, buildup and reduced manageability can make existing breakage or scalp sensitivity more noticeable.
Signs your hair may be affected by well water
If you’ve been struggling with stubborn hair issues despite sticking to your normal routine, your water source may be to blame. As discussed, untreated well water often contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Over time, these can build up on your hair and scalp, causing it to become dry and brittle.
Here are some additional signs your hair may be affected by hard water or other well water issues:
- Heavy or unmanageable hair: Mineral deposits can weigh hair down, making it feel stiff, flat, or difficult to style—even right after washing.
- Hair breakage: Split ends or strands that snap easily may be linked to mineral buildup and reduced moisture absorption.
- Fading or brassy color: Minerals in hard water can cause color-treated hair to fade faster or take on unwanted brassy or discolored tones.
- Product buildup or poor absorption: Shampoos, conditioners, and treatments may feel less effective because mineral residue prevents moisture and nutrients from penetrating the hair shaft.
- Itchy or irritated scalp: Residue on your scalp may lead to discomfort, especially for people with sensitive skin.
- Frizz or lack of shine: Hard water buildup can leave a film on your hair, blocking natural oils that normally keep strands smooth and glossy.
These effects aren’t often immediate; instead, they build over time with repeated washing. If you notice ongoing dryness, frizz or dullness even after using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, your water quality may be a contributing factor.
How to protect hair from common well water issues
While haircare products can help manage symptoms in the short term, addressing water quality is the most reliable long-term solution. That being said, here are a few practical steps you can take to protect your hair:
1. Use the right shampoo for buildup
Mineral deposits from hard water can cling to the hair shaft, making shampoos and conditioners less effective. A chelating shampoo contains ingredients that help strip away buildup from calcium and magnesium. Using these products sparingly helps maintain balance without stripping away too much moisture.
2. Add extra moisture and protection
Because hard water residue makes it difficult for hair to retain hydration, restoring moisture is key. Weekly deep-conditioning treatments or nourishing hair masks can help offset dryness and reduce breakage. By replenishing natural oils, these treatments keep hair looking healthy and reduce the risk of ongoing hair damage.
3. Consider a shower filter for chlorine or sediment
If your well has an ongoing chlorination system for disinfection, chlorine exposure may also dry out your hair and skin. A shower filter can help reduce chlorine at the point of use. Results vary depending on the filter and your water source, but this option can offer some short-term relief, especially if you have sensitive skin. That said, if you also have hard water (very common in wells), these will not be fully effective.
4. Understand the root cause: water quality
While shampoos, conditioners and filters can help, they don’t solve the underlying issue. Hard water is the leading cause of buildup, dryness and hair breakage, and it’s not exclusive to well water. Many municipal supplies are also affected.
The most reliable solution for reducing hardness minerals is a water softener, which removes hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium and helps prevent scale and residue buildup. Soft water helps shampoos lather better and leaves both hair and skin looking and feeling healthier. It also can extend the life of your plumbing, appliances and water-using fixtures, which also can be damaged by hard water buildup.
Explore water softening solutions.
Why this matters long term
The effects of poor water quality on hair may seem cosmetic, but they add up over time. Hard water can leave you dealing with damaged hair that requires constant extra care. By treating your water at the source, you can spend less time worrying about the condition of your hair and more time enjoying healthier-feeling hair, skin and home water quality.
How to treat well water
The most reliable way to protect your hair (and your home) is to treat well water at the source. Typically, this is accomplished with:
- Water softeners: By reducing calcium and magnesium, a softener helps prevent the hard water buildup that strips natural oils from your hair and leaves skin feeling dry.
- Whole-home filtration systems: If your water contaminants like iron, sulfur, sediment, arsenic, and nitrate, it’s best to address these with specialized filtration before they reach your shower (or any tap).
- Drinking water filtration systems: These systems provide the most comprehensive protection against a broad range of potential contaminants in your drinking water.
Culligan offers proven options for all manner of water quality concerns:
- Aquasential® Smart High Efficiency Water Softener: This advanced softener addresses hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are the leading causes of dryness and buildup.
- Aquasential® Smart High Efficiency Whole House Water Filters: Designed with proprietary filtration media like Filtr-Cleer® or Cullar® carbon, these systems can target a variety of issues common in well water.
- Aquasential® Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System: Certified to reduce more than 90 contaminants, this undersink filter provides peace of mind in every sip.
- Professional water testing: Every well is different, which is why a water test is the most important first step. Your Culligan expert can pinpoint the exact minerals and contaminants in your water source and recommend the right combination of softening and filtration to fit your needs.
Test your well water and find the right solution for your water quality
Well water can have visible effects on your hair, skin and home. From dryness and dullness to skin irritation, the impact of poor water quality adds up over time.
A professional water test is the best way to see what’s in your supply and determine which treatment will make the biggest difference. With Culligan, you’ll get customized recommendations backed by decades of expertise — and solutions designed to protect your whole home.
Schedule your free water test and consultation today.
