Beauty Alert: Side Effects of Chlorine in Water
Having access to clean water goes hand in hand with health and wellness from the inside out! Proper hydration helps us feel more energized and emotionally balanced. Plus, staying hydrated it’s great for supporting healthy skin and hair. But the benefits don’t stop there. We’re able to enjoy even more perks when we shower with soft water that’s chlorine-free.
The catch, though, is that too many of us have been sticking with plain tap water—and probably dealing with a slew of chlorinated water side effects.
The Deep Dive into Chlorinated Water
Chlorine is commonly added to tap water as a disinfectant to kill or neutralize various types of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. It’s a relatively effective and cost-efficient method for our typical municipal water treatment process. But it doesn’t get left at the treatment plant. The chlorine remains in our water as it travels through the pipelines, and it’s still there when we turn on the tap.
The downsides of swimming in chlorinated pool water are pretty much common knowledge. But it’s easy to forget that our tap water has chlorine issues too. Without a whole home water filtration system, the problems of dry, brittle hair and scratchy skin aren’t restricted to our time at the swimming pool. Basically, when beauty meets chlorine, we’ve got a run-in with trouble.
Side Effects of Chlorine in Water on Your Hair and Skin
Chlorinated tap water can mess with your beauty routine in a few different ways. This is because chlorine is an oxidizing agent, and even in low concentrations it can be pretty strong.
One of the most common side effects of chlorine in water is the “drying effect” it has on our skin. Chlorine works to strip away the natural oils from our skin, and constantly bathing in chlorinated water can disrupt just about every aspect of the skin’s moisture balance and protective barrier. Those chemical reactions can then lead to dryness, itching, and irritation. This can be especially problematic for individuals with eczema or psoriasis. But really, anyone can start to develop more sensitive or dry skin from chlorinated tap water.
Another common issue with chlorinated water is hair discoloration. Light-colored hair, especially blond or highlighted hair, is more susceptible. It’s not uncommon for it to turn greenish or get a brassy tint from chlorinated tap water.
Chlorine even has the ability to break down the protein structure of the hair shaft. That means a higher chance of getting split ends. Over time, this can lead to hair that’s chronically dry and dull. And if you’re always battling troublesome frizz, that’s probably chlorine’s fault as well. Without the natural oils that keep our hair moisturized and protected, we can end up with perpetually dry and brittle hair. No matter how many specialty products you’re using, if your water quality is bad, then you’re likely cheating yourself out of having strong and shiny hair, and softer, nourished skin. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix.
Freshen Up with Chlorine-Free Water!
If you’re still on that quest for healthy hair and skin, you don’t necessarily need to stock up on extra conditioner, leave-in products, or gobs of lotion. Check out your tap water first—and get rid of the chlorine!
Whole home water filters, also known as chlorine removal systems or carbon backwashing filters, are designed to remove the chlorine, chloramines, and other impurities that show up in our tap water. These systems are typically installed at your main water line, right where your water enters the house. Once it’s hooked up, you’ll be able to enjoy filtered and chlorine-free water at every faucet, showerhead, and other water outlet in your home. (Seriously, it’s a beautiful thing.)