Once upon a time, I used my spray bottle filled with tap water on a daily basis, in an attempt to keep my hair moisturized between wash days. I recently realized this is a terrible idea! I begin experimenting and testing the ph of hair products, and was shocked at how at the negative impact that something as simple as water can have on your hair.
Wetting your hair daily with water as a means to moisturize it is a terrible idea. Water raises the cuticles of your hair and can actually make it feel rough and dry. Rosewater, aloe vera juice and curl refreshing sprays are better options for a moisture boost between wash days.
The impact of Water on Your Hair Every Day
Hair feels smooth and looks shiny when the cuticle is closed tight. Water has the exact opposite impact on your hair. Have you noticed on a humid day that your hair feels rough and frizzy? This is because the water in the air is making your hair damp and slightly raising your cuticle.
In general, hair is happiest around at ph of 4.5 to 5.5. Water has a neutral PH of 7. However, I discovered my tap water is around 8. Alkaline substances raise your hair’s cuticle, Raising your cuticle on a daily basis with an alkaline substance can weaken your hair and lead to damage.
Does Wetting your Hair Moisturize it?
When you leave the salon with silky smooth bouncy hair, you probably avoid water like the plague! Water will turn the Goddess hair you left the salon with back into the hair of mere mortals. After a visit to a salon with lots of heat styling tools, no one would describe their hair as wet, but most wouldn’t describe it as dry either. Salon Hair is definitely moisturized without being wet…hair can definitely be moisturized without being wet.
How to Wet Your Hair Safely Every Day
I understand the need to soften and smooth the hair. Creamy stylers usually contain just enough softening ingredients to get and water he job done. However, if you are not ready to stop wetting your hair everyday, here are some ways you can wet your hair safely.
Choose High Quality Water
If you must wet your hair with water, use distilled or filtered water. I tested a distilled bottle of water and the PH was somewhere between 5 and 6, much better than the high PH of tap water registering at 8. I also recently purchased a shower filter, I plan to install it and test it out shortly. I am hoping it does good things for the PH of my water and the overall condition of my hair.
Hard water is not only bad for your hair, it can also be bad for your skin.
Natural PH Balanced Alternatives to Daily Wetting
Aloe Vera juice is PH balanced and a good option for wetting your hair between wash days. I normally pick up Aloe Vera Juice from the grocery store. The kind I use needs to be stored in the fridge sometimes this can be a pain. When I’m too busy for Aloe Vera juice, there are commercially available options to wet your hair every day.
Rose Water is another PH balanced alternative for adding a little moisture to your hair between wash days. Rosewater can be used for both hair and skincare and it is easy to find. I’ve seen it at Target, Ulta, and of course amazon. Rose Water does not need to be refrigerated. S
Quick Easy Beauty Supply Alternatives to Wetting your Hair Everyday
Some product lines, especially those marketed toward Kinky/ Curly hair have refresher sprays. These sprays have water as the first ingredient (this water is probably distilled) and a mixture of butter oils, and other softening ingredients. These hair sprays are probably PH balanced so that you are less likely to experience the rough feeling that sometimes accompanies your hair when wetting it with tap water.
Recommended Products for Wetting Hair Daily
The Mane Choice Refresher Spray
Shower Filter