Is the water you're shampooing with damaging your hair?

My new apartment resides in a brownstone that was built in the late 1800s. The pipes are older than dirt, which could explain why my dripping sink faucet leaves a brown spot. Needless to say, since moving in

my hair has looked and felt like a bad wig. Dry, coarse, dull and shaped like a nuclear explosion.

I’ve tried everything: washing my hair less often, sulfate-free shampoos, I’ve even resorted to putting castor oil in my hair. (It's the consistency of engine lube.)

I always seem to add too much, and end up spending 30 minutes blow drying my hair, only to have it look like I haven’t washed it in a week. 

Then I heard that on one episode of “Blow Out”, the reality show with Jonathan, the celebrity hairstylist, Jonathan’s water got cut off, so he had to shower with bottled water. He said his hair felt amazing after and he realized what a huge difference using water that's free of heavy metals and damaging chemicals, made on dry, brittle, damaged hair.

I, of course, immediately ran into my kitchen and filled 5 vases with Brita-purified water and proceeded to wash my hair with it. I used the same shampoo and conditioner I always use and only one styling product (as opposed to the usual 3 or 4). 

I don't think "miracle" is too strong a word to use here. After just one washing, my hair is completely fixed. I can’t stop petting it. It’s so soft and smooth and shiny and less coarse and there are fewer split ends and it has nice body. 

The minute I get some income, I’m buying the Jonathan Beauty Water Shower Purification System. It’s the shower-head filter he invented after his epiphany. It got 5 out of 5 stars on Sephora.com (and that’s by 78 people). 

It’s not cheap $95 for the system and $55 for replacement filters (which need to be changed every 3-6 months). But with the money I’ll save on frequent desperate hair cuts, hair products, and dye jobs (it helps preserve hair color longer), I'm sure it'll pay for itself. 

Will someone else please try washing their hair with purified water, and tell us what you think?

If there are lots of typos in this post, it’s because I was typing with only one hand, because the other was preoccupied with petting my hair.

Comments

[Maggie]

Don't spend the cash on the Jonathan one! You can get the same damn thing cheaper at any hardware store--google "shower filtration system" and see if you can find where they've rated different brands. Plus Jonathan has bad plastic surgery and you don't want to encourage more of that by making him richer.

I love your site, Babyassface!

[jenny]

Good advice Maggie. Thanks. I did seem a bit expensive. And I wouldn't my money to contribute to another Michael Jackson or Joan Rivers plastic surgery monstrosity. I love your site www.apocalypsticknnow.com too. It/you're hysterical!
Thanks,
Jenny

[Robin]

Ditto what Maggie said. I a filtration system for the shower my old apt. and it was quite a bit cheaper. I got it from Paragon http://paragonwater.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=34
It was pretty good, although sometimes the filter was difficult to change. Also, if your apt. has low water pressure (which mine did), this won't do you any favors :-\ They sell through Amazon, too, I think.

[Dina]

Shower filtration systems aside, I've been using Moroccan Hair Oil for the past month or so, and find that I no longer need any products other than shampoo and/or conditioner. My hair is shiny, smooth, and doesn't get tangly by midafternoon anymore. Plus it only takes about 2 minutes to blowdry it, rather than the 15 it used to.

[jenny]

Hey Robin,
Thanks for the link. I just looked at that one on Amazon and found another that looks like I can use with the aerating showerhead I just bought to boost water pressure. So hopefully, between the two I won't have trickling water. Thanks!
jenny

[jenny]

Thanks Dina. I'll look for it.
jenny

[Amber]

This is your funniest post YET. You know I'm running home tonight and washing my hair with water from my Poland Spring water cooler.

[jenny]

Hey Amber,
Please let me know how it works for you. I just bought a shower filter system from Amazon. I can't wait to get it so I can stop looking like there's a large guinea pig perched on my head.
Thanks,
jenny

[Sonja]

Jenny, which filter system did you buy? Did it help?