Does Your Hair Change When You Travel? Water Quality Might Be the Reason!
Ever noticed your curls acting completely different when you’re on holiday? Maybe they feel drier than usual, or too soft and limp with zero hold. Believe it or not, the culprit might not be your products or technique — it could be the water quality!
At Curly Life, we love helping you get to the bottom of your curl concerns. In this post, we’re unpacking the difference between hard water vs soft water and how each affects your curls. Plus, we’ll share exactly how to adjust your routine with the right products from our Australian-curated curl store.
Quick fix: Filtered Beauty Water Filter is the quick fix to filter your water!
💧 Hard Water vs Soft Water: What’s the Difference?
Water quality changes depending on where you live or travel. The key difference comes down to mineral content — mainly calcium and magnesium.
What is Soft Water?
Soft water has low levels of minerals, so it feels smoother and allows shampoo to lather more easily. While it’s less harsh on your hair, soft water can be tricky for some curl types — especially fine, low-density curls. Curls may feel too soft, flat or limp after a wash, making it hard to maintain definition or volume.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is rich in minerals, which can build up on your strands over time. This leads to dullness, frizz, dryness and a coated feeling that resists moisture. Hard water can also make it harder for shampoo to cleanse your scalp and may leave it itchy or flaky — especially if you’re prone to sensitivity.
💡 How to Help Your Curls Thrive in Any Water Type
No matter where you are, there are simple tweaks to keep your curls feeling and looking amazing.
✅ If You’re Dealing with Soft Water
Soft water doesn’t leave residue, but it can leave curls feeling too soft to hold shape. The fix? Add protein to your routine! Protein helps strengthen strands, boost elasticity and give your curls some much-needed bounce.
Pro tip: Apply protein products before or with your styling routine.
✅ If You’re Battling Hard Water Buildup
Hard water calls for regular clarifying and extra hydration. We recommend to start clarifying once a month to remove mineral buildup and see how your hair responds. You can do this with:
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🧼 Pretty Curly Girl Reset Shampoo – Strong & effective, it detoxes your scalp and strands without stripping.
Follow up with rich hydration using:
- 🧼 Pretty Curly Girl Intense Protein Deep Conditioner – Strong & effective, it detoxes your scalp and strands without stripping.
🌊 How to Know What Water You Have
Not sure if you have hard or soft water? Signs of hard water include hair that feels coated, dry or frizzy no matter how much conditioner you use. If your shampoo never lathers and your scalp feels itchy or flaky, chances are you have hard water. If your curls feel overly soft, shapeless or won’t hold, you might have soft water.
🌟 Curly Life Is Here to Help!
Whether you’re at home or travelling, we’ve got everything you need to keep your curls at their best. Curly Life is Australia’s trusted destination for all things curly — with:
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💰 The best prices in Australia
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🚚 Free shipping over $95
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🧴 Exclusive curl brands like Pretty Curly Girl, Inahsi, Miribel Naturals & more
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🎁 Lots of coupon codes and deals
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💬 Free curl consults to help you pick the right products
🌀 Final Thoughts
Your curls are sensitive to more than just humidity and styling — water quality matters too! With the right tweaks and products, you can bring the bounce back, no matter the mineral content. Try these tips next time you notice your curls feeling off, and watch your wash day work again like magic.
Explore our full range of curl-friendly solutions now at Curly Life 💖
