Why Has My Hair Been So Dry Since I Moved Into This House?

Same shampoo, same routine, but hair has been dull and brittle since moving into the new house. Skin feels tight after a shower. This isn't a coincidence tied to moving stress — it's almost always the water itself that's different.

The real culprit: hard water

So-called "hard" water contains a high concentration of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. These minerals keep soap and shampoo from lathering and rinsing off fully, leaving a mineral residue on skin and hair that makes them look dull, feel rough, and sometimes even get irritated.

How to tell if it's really the water

Why some parts of Quebec are more affected

Water hardness varies considerably by source — groundwater (wells) generally passes through more rock and soil, picking up more minerals than surface water treated by a municipal system. A move from an area served by a municipal network to a property on a well, or even between two municipalities with different sources, can explain a sudden change.

Fixes by scope of the problem

A water softener installed at the home's main water line removes the responsible minerals before they reach any faucet, fixing the problem for the whole house — shower, laundry, appliances. On a tighter budget, a showerhead with a softening filter offers targeted relief for the shower alone, without fixing the rest of the house.

How to confirm the diagnosis

A simple, inexpensive water hardness test precisely confirms the mineral level present and guides the choice of the best-suited fix rather than guessing from symptoms alone.