Hard Water Hurting Your Hair? These Are the Shampoos to Try (2025)

This tried-and-true shampoo was recommended by every expert I spoke with, as well as over 5,000 Amazon reviewers. Kopelman went as far as to say that it works “exceptionally well for removing mineral buildup without stripping hair,” and I agree. With a mix of chelating and clarifying ingredients, it leaves hair feeling refreshed, clean, and nearly squeaky. However, some of the ingredients are very drying, so I definitely recommend pairing this with a hair mask or deep conditioner and only using it once a week.

What a review says: “A little goes a long way and the small bottle lasted me several months with 1-2x a week application. The smell isn’t fantastic but it’s better than apple cider vinegar so I don’t mind it. The difference in my hair is night and day after I use this. It feels clean, looks shiny and is way less temperamental. It even tolerates the humidity here a lot better. It’s a little harsh on my sensitive scalp so I don’t use it for every wash but that’s fine. Overall, I’m 100% thrilled with this purchase.”

With two strong chelating ingredients, this hard water shampoo is a workhorse in removing excess minerals from your hair. McTighe recommends this shampoo “to help reduce dryness, damage, dullness, and discoloration.” At this strength, you’ll barely need more than a dab to fully cleanse your hair, and at $11 a bottle, it’s a steal that will last all year.

What a reviewer says: “I have very dry itchy scalp because my city has very bad hard water, but I bought this shampoo to see if it would help and I’ve only used it twice and it’s already made a big difference on my scalp health. The only thing I would recommend is to get a very hydrating conditioner to use after or else your hair will feel pretty dry.”

I love Ouidad products because they smell and feel so luxurious, so it’s not surprise their hard water shampoo is no exception. Using citric acids, this shampoo clarifies while infusing a bounty of moisture via plant extracts and oils that leave even the driest strands shiny and bouncy. In fact, I found this shampoo too moisturizing for my fine, wavy hair.

What a reviewer says: “I use this shampoo once a month to clarify. It lathers nicely and leaves my hair ‘squeaky clean’ so that my deep conditioner can really absorb. The scent of this shampoo is my absolute favorite of all Ouidad products. The light citrus aroma is so lovely!”

If you’re on the hunt for an affordable shampoo and conditioner set that will cleanse and moisturize, look no further than this drugstore pick from Aveeno. With natural apple cider vinegar and colloidal oatmeal, it cleanses and soothes to leave your hair feeling squeaky clean. Even better, ACV has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, making this duo a great choice for those who suffer from flakey scalps and dandruff build up.

What a reviewer says: “I have super thick hair that I wash once a week because it’s just a really difficult and annoying process. By the end of that week, my hair would flatten a bunch and be super greasy. I noticed that, once I changed to this Aveeno pair, it wasn’t as obvious that I was due for a wash. It was still soft and voluminous and I actually love how it looks now. It maintains the wave in my hair as opposed to weighing it down to be flat. I’m so glad that I made the transition and would definitely recommend these if you are looking for something better and affordable, as well.”

I am thoroughly part of K18’s cult-like following for its ability to revive strands from breakage, bleach, and other unfortunate damage. So, unsurprisingly, its detox shampoo thoroughly impressed my sad strands as well. Using cleansing activated charcoal and salycilic acid along with its patented K18Peptide, it gently cleans while making sure damaged strands can rebuild and stay protected. Honestly, this hard water shampoo is such a powerhouse, I only need to use it monthly. Just make sure to shake it before each use because the charcoal can sink to the bottom of the bottle.

What a reviewer says: “AMAZING Clarifying shampoo! Does not strip my scalp at all; I was previously using the Olaplex Clarifying Shampoo and it always left my scalp dry and itchy, and this one does not (even when double shampooing)! It’s worth the price and a little goes a long way!”

This is Kopelman’s pick for oily scalps because of its ability to remove excess sebum without stripping the strands of necessary oils. That’s mostly due to its superstar ingredients: a combination of scalp-soothing apple cider vinegar and strand-fortifying keratin keeps strands strong and healthy.

What a reviewer says: “I started using this shampoo after my scalp became increasingly itchy. I had tried everything from switching drugstore shampoos to salon shampoo, using less hair product, washing my hair more etc. Nothing worked and I could feel the build up on my scalp. So I bought this shampoo and it really helps. I use it twice a month or more as needed. It smells faintly of apples and is a thicker gel formula vs what regular shampoos feel like. My head doesn’t get build up like it used to and my scalp isn’t itchy. I also noticed I don’t get as many random pimples along my hairline anymore.”

Those looking for a natural shampoo that works well on curly and textured hair are in luck: using phytic acid, a naturally chelating derivative of corn, as well as moisture infusing sea kelp, Come Clean leaves hair feeling lightweight and perfectly balanced. McTighe calls it “a great choice for those with curly hair that feels dry.”

What a reviewer says: “It is a fantastic chelating shampoo that removes hard water build up, minerals, chlorine, salt, product build up and all kind of other gunk. It’s more than a clarifying shampoo! I love the citrusy scent. It’s the phytic acid that does the heavy lifting. Of the chelating agents, it is a natural one that is gentler. I go to aqua classes at the gym, and this works great. The conditioner is also fantastic.”

Many chelating ingredients can be too harsh for color-treated hair, but the nourishing protective acid trio from Kérastase’s Chroma Shampoo is not among them. These acids help clarify your scalp and strands without risk of stripping color away. In fact, the blend can help heal and repair your hair, helping to preserve its health with each luxurious-feeling wash. Kopelman calls this pick, “perfect for color-treated hair.”

What a reviewer says: “This shampoo is to DIE for! This is when things like ‘luxury’ matter. My hair has never felt better. You don’t have to use much even if you have A LOT of hair like I do, a little goes a long way. It smells amazing and doesn’t strip the color out of my hair which is super important. I couldn’t recommend this product enough!”

McTighe’s pick for color-safe shampoo is the PhD Triple Detox shampoo from Living Proof. “It’s especially suited for color-treated hair,” she says of its sulfate-free, oil-free formula. However, we thought it had another intended effect. After just one shampoo, our strands weren’t just cleansed but also thicker, plumper, and all around more voluminous-looking.

What a reviewer says: “This is a great example of when travel sizes/luxury sample sizes really sell a product. I was going away for a week and had a 60mL bottle of this shampoo tucked away, which was the perfect size for a week. Having used it exclusively on holiday, I will definitely be purchasing the full size. My hair seems to have more bounce and lift from the root—I assume from it being so beautifully clean and not left with any product residue.”

For deeper cleansing, Kopelman suggests this Redken shampoo, which features 2% AHAs to help remove excess oils and residue in addition to mineral deposits. You likely know (and love AHAs) for their gentle exfoliating properties in your skincare, and they work similarly on your hair to remove buildup and impurities. However Kopelman warns that due to its intense cleansing capabilities, this shampoo is best paired with a hydrating conditioner.

What a reviewer says: “It does such a great job at really cleansing your hair. Obviously, don’t use it every time. This is only meant to be used like every two to three weeks because of its strength at cleansing—and always follow up with some type of deep conditioning treatment because the point of this is to strip out all of the oil, dirt, grime, pollution, etc. buildup in your hair.”

Mineral buildup usually occurs via hard water, but it can also come into your strands via pools. This shampoo from Paul Mitchell specifically counteracts the effects of chlorine (which can also be deposited via hard water!), which can cause discoloration—especially in blondes. With zesty notes of grapefruit and orange blossom, it helps counteract the smell, too.

What a reviewer says: “I brought this on a trip to Phoenix, AZ to use after swimming to remove chlorine. I have bleached hair (Asian dark brunette to blonde/grey) and did not want to risk my bleached hair turning green. This product worked fantastically and was not overly drying. I did use a conditioner after shampooing though.”

Chelating agents vs clarifying ingredients.

• Chelating agents like “EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) and citric acid, bind to minerals and rinse them away” says Kopelman. They specifically target minerals and are generally stronger than just a clarifying shampoo, which means they are often more drying. If you know you have been using hard water for weeks or are in need of an emergency cleanse after a week in a highly chlorinated pool, this is your best bet.
• Clarifying ingredients “remove product buildup from styling products, dry shampoos, and excess scalp oils,” according to Vaughn. Ingredients like apple cider vinegar and Vitamin C fall under that category, she adds, and they tend to be gentler on your hair.

Moisture is key. Chelating agents are made to strip your hair down, so many of them can be drying. Our experts recommend avoiding formulas with sulfates, which can be additionally drying. Moisture-infusing ingredients like botanic and fruit extracts and oils, aloe, and hyaluronic acids can also be helpful. “To prevent dryness, I also suggest formulas with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, or glycerin to restore moisture,” says Kopelman. If nothing else, “I always remind my patients that pairing these with a hydrating conditioner helps counteract any dryness from mineral removal,” he adds.

Consider adding preventative measures. When it comes to protecting your hair from future hard water damage, there are other things you can do to help along with a hard water shampoo. Vaughn’s top recommendations are:

• Install a shower filter, which can reduce mineral content before it even hits your hair.
• Use leave-in conditioners and hair oils to help form a barrier against hard water damage.
• If hard water is a persistent issue, consider installing a soft water filtration system for a more long-term solution. is a long-term solution.
• All hair types benefit from deep conditioning treatments applied weekly. For best results, work treatments through the hair from ends to scalp with a comb or brush, and leave them on for up to an hour.