While most of us can agree that hard water is our hair’s number one enemy, there are people who are actually affected by soft water. A number of people have problems with soft water because it leaves their hair with a greasy texture. This is the point where you begin your search for the best shampoo for soft water areas.
Apparently, for some people with flat or fine hair, soft water can cause your hair to look thinner, limp, and lifeless.
Most people know the signs of hard water on hair, but not many people know much about the effects of soft water.
The following are some of the signs of soft water on hair:
- Extremely soft and slimy hair even after washing
- A greasy scalp with some flakes forming
- Lifeless hair that is not easily manageable
- An unexplained decrease in hair volume
Here are our top three picks for the best shampoo for soft water areas, based on user experience:
- Biolage Cleanreset Normalizing Shampoo
- Voluminous Sea Salt Shampoo
- Tru Moroccan Oil Clarifying Shampoo
Table of Contents
Best shampoo for soft water comparison table
| Brand | Image | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Biolage Cleanreset Normalizing Shampoo |   | .Deeply cleans hair and scalp .Great option for oily scalp/hair .Fights dandruff |
| Voluminous Sea Salt Shampoo |   | .Gives volume to hair .Removes build-up .Strengthens hair |
| Tru Moroccan Oil Clarifying Shampoo |   | .All natural .Promotes hair growth .Perfect for oily and colored hair |
| Tree To Tub Clarifying Shampoo |   | .Invigorates dry and damaged hair .Perfect for people with sensitive skin .A little goes a long way |
| Lemon Sage Oily Hair Shampoo |   | .Reduces excess sebum secretion .Helps deal with skin irritation and scalp itching .Stimulates hair growth |
| Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo |   | . Soothes the scalp . Gets rid of grease . Leaves hair looking shiny |
| Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo |   | .Deeply cleans hair .Leaves hair soft and smooth .Effectively deals with itchy scalps |
| Hair Superfood Balancing Shampoo |   | .Increases hair volume .Improves hair growth .Enhances shine |
Best shampoo for soft water areas
In this post, we review some of the best shampoos for soft water areas in the market.
They’re all very effective at dealing with greasy hair that also looks thin and lifeless.
Biolage Cleanreset Normalizing Shampoo
Looking for a hair shampoo that will give you a better deep-clean hair treatment?
Well, search no further.
The Biolage Normalizing Cleanreset Shampoo is your best bet.
Formulated from the stimulating lemongrass plant, this washing shampoo is a powerful cleansing treatment ideal for all hair types.
It is a potent hair care product manufactured with dozens of natural ingredients and minerals to thoroughly remove dirt.
As a result, it leaves your hair and scalp looking clean and fresh.
This paraben-free product will also cleanse your hair without washing away its natural oils.
The shampoo is formulated with mild sulfate compounds for a gentle wash, free from irritation.
It also offers a satisfying foaming texture which ensures a deeper cleansing effect.
For best results, apply the shampoo to wet hair and massage it into the locks and scalp.
Rinse thoroughly and follow it with a moisturizing conditioner.
Pros
- Deeply cleans your hair and scalp
- It’s perfect for natural hair
- A great option for oily scalp/hair
- It’s color-safe
- Leaves hair feeling smooth and soft
- It fights dandruff and is good for dry scalps
- Can be used on all hair types
- Doesn’t weigh hair down
Cons
- Contains some sulfates, and may not be the best option for people with sensitive skin
Voluminous Sea Salt Shampoo
The Voluminous Sea Salt Shampoo is one of the best soft water shampoos you will find in the market.
It contains a blend of rich minerals from the sea helps that help to remove dirt and product build-up for better hair texture and volume.
Another ingredient, ProVitamin B5, increases moisturization of the hair strands and adds thickness to the mane.
Jojoba oil, also contained in this shampoo, also helps to moisturize the hair without leaving any film on your hair.
This product also has bamboo water that is effective in strengthening the hair.
The shampoo is formulated with a natural plant-based surfactant that is mild but very effective for cleansing.
For best results, rinse hair thoroughly, and then apply a small amount of the shampoo to your palms.
Rub together.
Massage the shampoo into your hair and scalp for 1-3 minutes.
Finally, rinse the hair thoroughly.
Pros
- It makes the hair fuller and boosts volume
- Leaves hair looking healthy and stronger
- It helps to tame frizz
- Leaves hair soft and smooth
- It moisturizes the hair
- It gives your hair a radiant look
- A little goes a long way
- It doesn’t dry out your hair
Cons
- It’s not color-safe
Tru Moroccan Oil Clarifying Shampoo
You’ve most probably heard about the numerous hair benefits of Moroccan oil, which include combating frizz and making your hair shiny.
Moroccan oil is a synonym for Argan oil which I wrote about earlier.
It is apparent that the Tru Moroccan Oil Clarifying Shampoo is a great hair care product for just anyone living in soft water areas.
This cleanser is a gentle and natural shampoo perfect for combating oily, greasy hair, itchy scalps, and dandruff.
It’s a shampoo great for removing product build-up and excess sebum.
It also removes dirt, hard water, and chlorine, all of which can make your hair look limp or dull.
This product brings balance to sebaceous glands and controls flaky, oily scalp.
It also cleanses your locks while maintaining moisture control.
Moreover, it contains natural oils and herbs to pamper your hair during the washing process.
It does not contain parabens or any harmful chemicals. I
t also hasn’t been tested on animals.
Pros
- It’s color-safe
- Gentle enough for everyday use
- Formulated from pure natural ingredients
- Takes care of both the scalp and hair
- Great for hair damaged by chemical processing or heat styling
- Doesn’t weigh the hair down
- Leaves your hair feeling soft and shiny
Cons
- Although significantly potent, the shampoo may not be strong enough to deal with serious scalp conditions like eczema
Clarifying Shampoo for Sensitive Skin by Tree To Tub
This clarifying shampoo from a reliable and reputable brand – Tree to Tub – is a picture-perfect hair care product that contains organic ingredients for reduced irritation when washing.
The shampoo heals damaged strands and eliminates dandruff with natural ingredients which include olive leaf, gotu kola, and chamomile.
It has a balanced pH level which not only deals with dry and irritable scalps, but also greatly enhances your hair follicles.
This product balances hair and scalp pH (5.5) with soothing soapberry.
It also protects your vital natural hair oils and strengthens your hair strands.
For people with sensitive skin, it’ll be great to know that this is a dermatologist-recommended psoriasis shampoo, as well as dandruff shampoo.
It’s also perfect for eczema, dermatitis, and allergies.
This shampoo is free from silicones, sulfates, parabens, and gluten.
It’s also vegan and hasn’t been tested on animals.
Pros
- Leaves hair smooth, soft, silky and shiny
- It’s the perfect shampoo for people with sensitive skin
- Thoroughly cleanses your hair
- It’s color-safe
- Invigorates dry and damaged hair
- This product is 100% natural
- Suitable for men, women, and kids
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Can dry out some people’s hair
Lemon Sage Oily Hair Shampoo (with tea tree & rosemary)
Does your hair feel slimy and your scalp feels greasy even after a thorough wash?
If your answer is yes, then an oily hair shampoo would be a great pick.
The Lemon Sage Oily Hair Shampoo is one of the most effective options currently in the market.
This product is formulated with a comprehensive list of organic ingredients.
It comes with an anti-grease formula that helps deal with an itching scalp, fight dandruff and reduce the rate of hair loss.
This soft water shampoo boasts of ultra-nourishing essential oils, vitamins, rosemary extracts, and lemon oil sage that are all intended to moisturize and fortify your hair strands.
It’s a sulfate-free hair care product ideal for anyone with oily hair or scalp.
The shampoo is a unisex hair shampoo loaded with a lovely herbal aroma for a refreshing cleansing experience.
Additionally, it has anti-residue properties and thoroughly clarifies product build-up, leaving you with improved hair texture.
Pros
- Fixes oily hair problems
- Absorbs excess sebum on your scalp, thus stimulating hair growth
- Deeply cleans your hair and scalp
- Helps deal with skin irritation and scalp itching
- Ideal for both men and women
- Leaves hair soft and manageable
- Lathers very well
Cons
- Ideal only for oily hair
Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo
This cleanser from Maple Holistics is a clarifying shampoo that’s great for oily scalps.
Its natural botanical ingredients are excellent for cleansing and soothing the scalp and adding moisture and shine to the hair.
It works by eliminating excess oil and grease from the hair.
This is good because an excessively oily scalp can lead to dandruff troubles once the skin cells amalgamate and shed.
It has jojoba and peach oils that add moisture, shine, and bounce to your hair.
Your hair also ends up looking more radiant.
Some of the other ingredients include lemon, rosemary, and basil essential oils to soothe and purify the scalp, helping it relax when it’s too itchy and distracting.
Pros
- Jojoba and peach oils add light moisture and shine to the hair
- A combo of essential oils cleanse, soothe, and stimulate the scalp
- Gets rid of oil and grease that can end up giving you dandruff
- Doesn’t contain parabens and sulfates that can strip color off your strands
Cons
- The smell can be overbearing if you don’t like fresh, herbal scents
Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo
This silicone-free clarifying shampoo is enriched with apple cider vinegar to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp.
It contains extracts of apple, sage, rosemary, verbena, and kukui that are instrumental in lightly moisturizing your hair.
It’s also formulated with a rich blend of silk, oat and wheat proteins to hydrate and nourish.
This purifying cleanser contains antioxidant vitamins A and E that protect against environmental impurities.
The Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo is recommended for weekly use and is suitable for all hair types – including oily/greasy hair.
Pros
- Leaves hair smooth, soft, and silky
- Deeply cleans the hair
- Suitable for all hair types
- It effectively deals with itchy scalps
- Helps in detangling hair
- It smells great
Cons
- It’s not color-safe
Hair Superfood Balancing Shampoo (For Oily Hair & Scalp)
This is a clarifying shampoo that is formulated with natural ingredients to combat greasy hair that is brought about by the use of soft water.
It’s also a perfect choice for people looking for a cleanser to deal with dandruff and thinning hair.
This shampoo is great in removing toxins, dirt, and product build-up from the scalp, enabling hair can grow faster.
The essential oils contained in this product – peach kernel oil and jojoba oil – help to moisturize the hair strands to eliminate the dull and lifeless look.
Another ingredient, rosemary, is instrumental in regulating excess sebum production that results in greasy and weighed-down hair.
The shampoo is also formulated with lemon basil and cypress that help to make the scalp less oily.
This product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free.
Pros
- It’s color-safe
- Great for all hair types
- Deeply cleanses the hair and scalp
- Leaves hair shiny, smooth, and soft
- It increases hair volume
- It stimulates hair growth
- Helps to balance the scalp
- Does not contain chemicals
Cons
- Can dry out some people’s hair
Factors to consider when buying shampoo
There are several shampoos you can choose from to tame the effects of soft water on your hair.
You’ll need to ask yourself a few questions: How often do you wash your hair?
Is your hair color-treated?
What is your hair type?
Is your skin sensitive to certain beauty products?
The following are some of the factors to consider when buying shampoo:
Sensitivity
Depending on your level of sensitivity, your skin will respond differently to certain beauty products.
Sensitivity can range from mild irritation to severe full-body allergies.
When buying shampoo, it is advisable to steer clear of products containing allergic ingredients such as methylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, and methylchloroisothiazolinone.
If you are irritated by scents, a gentle fragrance-free shampoo would be the best option for you.
Hair type
We have different hair types that have different textures and curl patterns.
If your hair is naturally slimy and looks thin and soft, consider an option formulated with all the elements that aid in removing excess oil from the scalp.
On the other hand, for people with dry curly hair, a shampoo that doesn’t remove natural oils would be ideal.
Shampooing frequency
There is no specific time when to shampoo your hair.
This is a personal decision.
At least for regular shampoos.
However, chelating and clarifying shampoos should not be used on a daily basis (frequently) unless the manufacturer says otherwise.
This is because they can dry out your hair if they’re used regularly.
It’s always advisable to follow up the shampoo with a good moisturizing conditioner.
Color treatment
Is your hair dyed?
If the answer is yes, then it’s vital to carefully select the shampoo you are using if you want to keep the dye intact.
Parabens and sulfate compounds present in most hair shampoos will wash away the dye.
If your hair is color-treated, please go for hair shampoos specifically formulated for colored hair.
If you cannot easily get a shampoo that is color-safe, a good alternative would be a sulfate-free shampoo.
Conclusion
The best way to counter the effects of soft water on your hair is to use shampoos that are specially formulated to deal with greasy hair.
Apart from naturally occurring soft water, water softeners can also leave your hair flat and limp.
Some of the shampoos reviewed above are clarifying shampoos that help to get rid of build-up in your hair.
They work by exfoliating the cuticle and breaking down residual products.
However, clarifying shampoos should not be used daily (or frequently) because most of these shampoos really dry out your hair.