I have to admit, ever since I’ve been using this product, I have had fewer visits to the hair salon for color touch-ups, and my hair doesn’t feel dry and weighed down by hard water. The Malibu crystal gel treatment draws out hard water mineral deposits, chlorine, buildup, toxins, irons, and impurities from the hair and scalp, leaving them clean, detoxed, and refreshed. They are effective at clarifying and demineralizing the hair, saving time and preventing the need for re-dos, and accelerating hair color processing times to deliver better results and reduce salon visits. Our range of Malibu C Shampoos are superior clarifying shampoos created for the removal of styling product resins to instantly restore your hair’s maximum manageability. The treatment contains ingredients of Sodium Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, and Xanthan Gum. They are all derived from plant-based sources without synthetic additives, preservatives, parabens, gluten, fragrance, or sodium chloride (salt). Does It Damage Hair?

Mark DeBolt, celebrity colorist and co-founder of Mark Ryan Salon, counts this shampoo as the best product in the world for hair affected by hard water—and we’d have to agree. By simultaneously removing the waterborne minerals that damage and discolor your hair and depositing strengthening proteins and essential moisture, this formula takes a two-pronged approach to getting your hair into tip-top shape, making it the true standout of this list.Clarifying shampoos, on the other hand, will help strip away some of the mineral build-up—along with basic product build-up—but they aren’t as effective at harder-to-remove minerals, and they may not even remove tough product build-up, like waxes and silicones.

The pH of hard water is higher than 8 (alkaline). Hair and scalp pH must be in the range of 4.5 – 5.5 (acidic) for optimal and healthy function. Naturally, if you are washing your hair with hard water every day, it is elevating the pH from acidic to alkaline. And this can cause a host of problems like:

Malibu Crystal Gel Ingredients

As you peruse through hard water shampoos, the first thing DeBolt suggests is distinguishing whether a chelating shampoo (like the Living Proof Triple Detox Shampoo) or a clarifying shampoo (like Oribe's The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo) would be best for your specific hair needs. As we mentioned above, both are effective in treating the effects of hard water, but they work in different ways. But that’s not all. In some places where the water hardness ppm (parts per million) is higher than 170, there may be high concentrations of other minerals that can do even more damage.

Mark DeBolt is a celebrity colorist and co-founder of Mark Ryan Salon. A protégé of celebrity colorist Marie Robinson, his areas of expertise include his signature blend of foil highlighting, balayage, and specialty color placement techniques. Currently, he’s an ambassador, educator, and hair color expert for Wella Professionals. That’s why people living in hard water areas often find that their hair is dry and difficult to style. The Malibu C gel breaks down this layer to create a clean canvas that readies the hair for superior color absorption to ensure successful chemical services. The activated gel has a smooth and creamy texture that is easy to work with. When applied to the hair or scalp, the gel feels slightly gritty and textured.Shampoos contain negative charges in the form of anionic surfactants (detergents) that generate surface tension and reduction to cleanse the hair and scalp. The negative charge of surfactants also allows them to suspend and dissolve in water. The crystals have a fine, powdery texture that can mix with water to form a smooth paste-like gel for easy application onto the hair and scalp. The “Swimmers Wellness” products remove the build-up of minerals and chlorine to nourish, strengthen and protect your hair whilst preventing damage and discolouration caused by exposure to the pool, spa or ocean water.

In the context of hair care, ascorbic acid is often used to break down minerals from the hair and scalp. Its low pH and acidic properties effectively dissolve and remove these substances, leaving the hair clean and refreshed. Chelating Agents The treatment also uses chelating agents like Sodium Gluconate and Disodium EDTA.

If you're dealing with major mineral build-up—like you just spent two weeks swimming in a chlorinated pool and showering in hard water—go for a tried-and-true chelating shampoo, like the Malibu C Hard Water Shampoo. But if you're not quite sure what your hair needs, try the Color Wow Dream Filter Mineral Remover (which will gently break down minerals) or the Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo (which uses sulfates to strip away all product build-up). Take a look at the ingredients