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I Tested 17 Shampoos to Help Remove All My Hard Water Buildup—These 9 Made the Cut
It's been fading my hair color, making my ends look dry, and causing breakage.
If your hair's been looking dry and breaking off and basically every hairstyle looks lifeless, the reason is likely hard water buildup. Did you know hard water is filled with minerals that bind to your hair, leaving it damaged and struggling for moisture? Oh, and it also fades your hair color. Basically, it's evil as far as your hair's concerned. I've had a loooong history with hard water destroying my hair. And at one point, a shower filter was the answer. But when I moved into my current apartment and couldn't get a filter, the next-best thing became investing in a hard water shampoo.
Shampoos for hard water are formulated with a mix of chelating agents (i.e., ingredients that bind to metals and minerals and break them down) to strip your hair of hard-water build-up. And, lucky for you, I've personally tested and reviewed a ton of these shampoos to separate the meh from the whoa-yes. And before you question if you really need a special shampoo, know that hard-water minerals can quickly build up and “leave your hair feeling filmy, straw-like, and limp,” celebrity hairstylist Irinel de Leon has told Cosmo. So if you want to keep your hair healthy long-term, you need to regularly "reset" it with a good hard-water shampoo, like one of my favorites:
Our top hard-water shampoo picks of 2025:
Of course, not all hard-water shampoos are the same: Some clarify your hair, while others chelate your hair; some are incredibly drying, while others are surprisingly moisturizing. So, to help you choose the best shampoo for hard water, I broke down the top-performing formulas below, along with their key ingredients and whether or not they're free of sulfates.
Pros
- Breaks down buildup with chelating ingredients
- Light scent that we love
- Decreases frizz
Cons
- Contains apple cider vinegar, which can be great for cleansing, but occasionally is irritating for very sensitive scalps
Why we love it: Often, hard water removal equates to stripping your scalp. But with my top pick from OUAI, you don't get all that dryness. This clarifying shampoo is free of sulfates, but still has two strong chelators that bind to and deactivate certain minerals that can fade and change hair color, dry out hair, and cause damage over time. There's also apple cider vinegar to help dissolve buildup and grease. You'll get a thorough cleanse on your scalp, without soaking up all your hair's moisture.
Cosmo editor's review: "I've used this clarifying shampoo for years because it's cleansing but noy stripping. But I just recently shared this with my mom, who has extremely hard well water at home. She texted me just a week later that she's obsessed. She shampoos with it once a week and rinses with distilled water and noticed basically immediately that her hair is softer, smoother, and shinier."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Disodium EDTA, apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin |
| Hair type | All |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Creates a strong lather that's easy to massage into scalp
- Light, fresh scent
- Removes *all* the buildup using really strong sulfates and chelators
Cons
- Quite drying, so use sparingly unless you have very-oily hair
Why we love it: When you need to remove dirt, minerals, scalp oils, and hard water, opt for a cleanser with a strong surfactant. Kristin Ess's Clarifying Shampoo relies on sulfates and chelating disodium EDTA to strip it all from your roots, making your hair look fuller and feel less weighed-down. Although you've likely heard that sulfates are the devil, they're not always bad, depending on your hair texture. Sulfates create that strong, foamy suds to practically destroy all the buildup, effectively "resetting" your hair.
Cosmo editor's review: "I freakin' love using this a couple of times a month when I just wanna get everything out of my hair. It's definitely quite drying, so I always follow with a deep conditioner to help counteract it."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | EDTA, sulfates, avocado oil, hydrolyzed pea protein |
| Hair type | Very oily, oily |
| Sulfate free? | No |
Pros
- Creamy cleanser adds a little bit of moisture to hair
- Not filled with heavy oils, so still great for fine hair types
- Sulfate free, making it a solid pick for color-treated hair
Cons
- Has a somewhat strong scent
Why we love it: All the metals in hard water cling to your hair and can make it brittle and prone to breakage (as well as fade your hair color). This formula is uniquely formulated to specifically strip those metals from your hair, making it feel softer and look smoother. But it's a cleansing cream, so unlike many others on this list, it's pretty moisturizing and won't make your already-dry hair feel like straw.
Cosmo editor's review: "This has become a mainstay at my parents' house. They have well water that basically destroys all of our hair (lovely!). And this shampoo helps retain moisture as it removes all of that mineral buildup. The result? Silky, smooth strands."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Glicoamine, glycerin, salicylic acid |
| Hair type | Dry, very dry, damaged, coarse, thick, fine |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Doesn't use sulfates, making it a bit less drying than traditional hard-water shampoos
- Contains a dose of strengthening proteins to help offset damage
Cons
- Some testers said their bottles leaked during shipping from Amazon
Why we love it: This sulfate-free shampoo is basically the MVP of hard-water shampoos, with more than 4,500 rave reviews on Amazon alone. It uses a mix of chelating and clarifying ingredients to break down mineral build-up and leave your hair lighter and cleaner, which is why I actually like to use it as a "reset" wash on my own curly hair every few months. Just know that even though it's sulfate-free, it's still pretty drying (especially on already-dry or curly hair), so I always load up on a hair mask afterward to help restore some moisture.
Cosmo editor's review: "In high school, when I had a hard-water misshap that turned my hair orange, my hairstylist gave me a bottle of this to help strip my hair in between salon appointments. It's a strong formula but essentially the gold-standard to remove hard water buildup. It works like a charm every time, making my scalp less prone to excess oils."—BG
| Key ingredients | Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), disodium EDTA (chelator) |
| Hair type | All |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Helps remove hard water and also scalp oils
- Makes my shower smell fruity and fresh every time I use it
Cons
- Packed with plant extracts that smell good, but can be irritating if you have a sensitive scalp
Why we love it: Shampoos for oily hair also tend to be fairly great at getting out hard water residue (strong surfactants and all). This shampoo is a perfect example, using citric acid and sodium olefin sulfonate to deeply clean your scalp of mineral and product buildup. It's not too stripping either, thanks to lightweight moringa oil and a handful of hydrating plant extracts.
Cosmo editor's review: "Although this is considered a clarifying shampoo, I use it fairly often on my oily scalp with no problems. I lather up with the shimmery shampoo (yup, it's shimmery and so cute) two to three times a week, and it cleans my scalp and makes my hair softer and even look a bit fuller."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, prickly pear extract, citric acid, moringa seed oil |
| Hair type | All |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Specially formulated to be safe for color-treated hair
- All hair types love this shampoo formula
Cons
- Some testers say the formula is a bit "runny"
The brand testers love for damaged hair—s/o to the cult-favorite K18 molecular hair mask—also has a clarifying shampoo that's key for dealing with brittleness, dryness, and color loss due to hard water. It's jam-packed with ingredients like activated charcoal that absorbs excess scalp oils, salicylic acid that acts as a chemical exfoliant, and the brand's signature K18Peptide that helps prevent protein loss—i.e., the key component that seals your hair cuticle to prevent breakage. This powerhouse combo results in clean, mineral-free hair that's both smooth and healthy-looking.
Cosmo editor's review: "I started incorporating it into my routine once a week for the last six months, and I’ve experienced the fastest hair growth of my entire life. What was once a chin-length bob is now a grown-out lob—and while I’m annoyed about needing to make another haircut appointment, I’m thrilled with how healthy my hair feels." —BG
| Key ingredients | Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), citric acid (chelating agent), salicylic acid, charcoal |
| Hair type | All |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Legit one of the internet's most beloved hard-water shampoos with thousands of rave reviews
Cons
- Some testers weren't in love with the scent (though it's thankfully very subtle and doesn't last)
Whether you're dealing with build-up from hard water or well water, this cult-favorite (seriously) shampoo from Ion will get your hair clean with two chelating ingredients: EDTA and sodium gluconate. It's also ~technically~ sulfate free (though still uses some strong clarifying cleansers), making a slightly milder choice on the spectrum of hard-water shampoos.
One shopper says: "I'm shocked—my hair feels amazing," writes one tester. "I have straight hair and after the beach, no matter how much I washed it, it felt like I had conditioner or residue stuck in my hair. My hair [now] feels amazing. It has volume to it, and is extremely soft. I can't explain how soft it is. I feel like a whole new person. I'm so in love. I can't believe this. Pls give it a try. The price is amazing and results are fantastic I want cry lol. My hair has never felt this way."
| Key ingredients | Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier); sodium gluconate and disodium EDTA (chelating agents) |
| Hair type | All (but potentially drying for some dry hair types) |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Filled with a mix of moisturizing oils to help mitigate dryness on curls
Cons
- Some testers wish the clarifying powers were a bit stronger
This clarifying shampoo breaks down product build-up and hard-water residue with EDTA (the gold-standard chelator, reminder) and sulfate-free cleansers, while simultaneously hydrating curly hair types with aloe, panthenol, and green tea extract, making it the ultimate reset cleanser for tighter hair textures that need the occasional clarifying rinse.
One shopper says: "This shampoo is easy to use and has helped so much with many issues that I deal with, [like] frizzy hair, dry scalp, rough hair texture," reads a tester's review. "Additionally, it has a long lasting longevity in protecting and setting my hair, and doesn't have any strong fragrance."
| Key ingredients | Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), disodium EDTA, and oils (sunflower, coconut, shea butter) |
| Hair type | Curly, coily, coarse, thick, dry |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
Pros
- Twist-nozzle tip makes it easy to target your roots, whether you've got dense curls or a protective style
- Reviewers with blonde hair said the formula fixed their brassiness
Cons
- Some testers wished the bottle were larger for the price
The pointed nozzle on this clarifying rinse is key for anyone who's working with super-dense or thick hair (hi, 4c folks), so you can get more on your scalp, and less on your already-dry ends. This rinse is on the gentler side of chelating formulas, with zero sulfates and just a bit of citric acid to help break down mineral build-up, so if you're tiptoeing into the clarifying world and want to try the ~lowest potency~ first, start here.
One shopper says: "It's like a little miracle in a bottle," one tester writes. "Somehow it cleanses the scalp but also detangles and nourishes my hair. I dye my hair every 3 weeks and this is a staple for maintaining my color while conditioning."
| Key ingredients | Sodium citrate and citric acid (chelating agents) |
| Hair type | Curly, coily, coarse |
| Sulfate free? | Yes |
How we tested:
We've been testing hard water shampoos for three years, bringing you the best ones with all of our firsthand experience and updating whenever we try new launches or underrated gems. To compile this full list, we:
- Researched 20+ formulas to see if they offered ingredients that would actually break down minerals and hard water buildup, like EDTA, citric acid, and apple cider vinegar. We then prioritized testing a handful that were sulfate free as well as sulfate filled.
- Tested on Cosmo's beauty editor who has fine, thin hair and varying levels of hard water between her apartment in NYC and parents' house in the Midwest
- Narrowed down the top nine shampoos and dug into the pros/cons and product reviews of each for varying hair types and textures
How often should you use a hard-water shampoo?
The purpose of a hard-water shampoo is to strip your hair of build-up, minerals, and gunk that is causing your hair to be damaged, dry, brittle, flat—the list goes on and on. But because hard-water shampoos are so effective at stripping tough-to-budge-build-up, they can also sometimes strip your hair too much, resulting in moisture loss. The fix? Shampoo once a week, per the instructions on the bottle, and see how your hair reacts. If you're using a particularly strong hard-water shampoo, make sure you're following up with a good post-wash conditioning routine.
How to choose the best hard-water shampoo
Figure out which type of formula your hair needs.
You’ve got two shampoo options to help you remove hard-water build-up: chelating and clarifying shampoos. Chelating shampoos (sometimes called demineralizing shampoos) tend to be harsher and more drying than clarifying shampoos, and they work by binding to the minerals stuck to your hair and then breaking them down while you suds up.
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.
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.
Take a look at the ingredients.
Typically, most shampoos—even the bottle you've got sitting in your shower right now—will contain one or two ingredients (known as chelators) to help break down minerals. But the difference between your regular shampoo and a hard-water or clarifying shampoo is the amount and strength of each chelator in the formula.
The best hard-water shampoo will be filled with a mix of chelating agents, like EDTA (the most popular and effective, which is why you'll see it in almost every product on this list), along with vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid), apple cider vinegar, sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, and/or citric acid. As long as your shampoo has a few of these chelators and also promises to break down build-up, you'll be golden.
Manage your dryness expectations.
Regardless of which type of hard-water shampoo you grab, know that it's going to leave your hair feeling at least a little dry and stripped (sorry—that's the name of the hard-water game). So if you're super worried about dryness, look for a shampoo formulated with moisturizers.
Or, just grab the first hard-water shampoo you find, strip away the minerals, accept the dryness, and then saturate your hair with a thick and buttery hair mask (like my favorite SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Masque) or a protein-based deep conditioner (like the It's a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner).
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Siena Gagliano was an associate editor at Cosmopolitan and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best shampoos for dry hair and the best heat protection sprays. She picked these shampoos based on personal testing, first-person reviews, and effective ingredient lists.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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