How Hard Water Buildup Is Hurting Your Blondes
Got Hard Water Buildup? 3 Smart Solutions for Strong Blondes
Hard water is the silent saboteur of blonde hair, causing brassiness, dullness and worst of all—breakage. Although common in most American homes, minerals in hard water create stubborn buildup that can impact the effectiveness of color services and weaken hair over time.
Below, we’ll cover how to identify signs of hard water damage in blonde hair, prevent buildup before it causes breakage and treat it with the right in-salon and at-home care routines.
Why Is Hard Water Bad For The Hair?
“Minerals in our water can cause hair to have a reaction to lightener,” shares BTC Team Member Ashley Smith (@paintedbyashleymarie). “Most water we wash our hair with has metals in it,” she adds. Minerals build up over time, and most clients don’t realize they have hard water buildup until it’s too late. Here are some telltale signs Ashley looks for when assessing hard water exposure.
- Brittle, fragile hair that lacks moisture
- Blonde hair that look dull and brassy from iron and copper
- Chemical reactions when coloring hair (causing breakage!)
- Hair loss
3 Ways To Protect Against Hard Water Exposure:
1. The “3 T’s” of Blonde Haircare:
BTC Team Member Kierra Taylor (@kierrastaylor) swears by the “3 T’s”: Toning, treatments and trims. “Keeping our blondes bright requires products that prevent, repair from and protect against heavy metals,” Kierra shares. See her go-to treatment combo below:
After toning the hair with TRUSS Professional Perfect Blond Semi-Permanent 10.89, Kierra applied TRUSS Professional Stop Damage No Metal Shampoo and TRUSS Professional Intensive Mask to strengthen the hair and increase toner longevity.


2. Avoid A Chemical Cut Through Proper Prep
Since we know the chemical reactions caused by hard water exposure can lead to a client’s worst nightmare, breakage, let’s jump straight into solutions. Ashley’s go-to prep product is TRUSS Professional Stop Damage No Metal Spray: “It’s a huge help behind the chair,” Ashley shares.
“I prep the hair with the spray [before lightening]. The magnetic technology attracts and captures heavy metals and impurities. This system also nourishes and restores the hair—softening, healing and strengthening to help prevent further damage from metals!” she adds.


The result? Strong, bright blondes that radiate softness and shine:


Protect against hard water buildup: Click to try TRUSS’ Stop Damage No Metal Haircare Line!
3. Safely Tip-Out Prelightened Ends With This Technique
BTC Team Member Mallory Galusha (@hair_by_mallory_) created this buttery lived-in blonde with hair health in mind as her client had previously lightened ends. Her solution? “Reach for TRUSS Professional Air Libre Bleaching Powder! It’s perfect for freehand techniques, but it can also be used in foils—so GREAT for teasylights. It’s an incredibly gentle lightener that lifts up to 5 Levels!” Mallory shares.
Pro Tip: For further hair protection, Mallory will prep the hair with Stop Damage No Metal Spray: “This spray detoxes those heavy metals and make your lifting process healthier and easier! It also contains amino acids and keratin that strengthen the fiber, preventing damage caused by a lightening service.”


Avoid a chemical cut! Shop TRUSS’ Stop Damage No Metal Haircare Line here.
Products Used
This content is sponsored.
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