Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of Hair Shaft Changes Related to Hardness of Water
January 2017
in “
Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology
”
TLDR Hard water increases magnesium deposits on hair without changing its structure.
The study investigated the effects of hard and soft water on hair shaft changes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in 20 healthy volunteers. Over 3 weeks, one group used hard water and the other soft water. The SEM analysis showed no significant structural surface changes between the two groups. However, there was a significant increase in magnesium deposition on hair treated with hard water (P = 0.001), while calcium deposition showed no significant difference (P = 0.28). The findings suggested that hard water might lead to increased mineral deposits on hair, but this did not result in noticeable structural changes.