Dealing with Glasgow’s Water: How to Protect Your Salon Colour from Hard Water Fade

Glasgow is famous for many things, but did you know that the local water can have a dramatic effect on your hair colour? While Glasgow’s water (primarily sourced from Loch Katrine) is soft compared to the hard water found in the south of England, it travels through an extensive city piping network and is treated with chlorine. Over time, trace minerals like copper, iron, and chemical residues bind to the hair shaft.

For lightened blondes, vivid colours, or porous hair, these minerals build up and oxidise. This mineral build-up causes blonde hair to turn brassy or take on a dull, greenish tint, while making rich copper or brunette tones fade much faster than they should.

The Chemistry of Mineral Build-Up

When you wash your hair, open cuticles absorb trace minerals from the water. These minerals acts as oxidising catalysts, accelerating colour degradation. Additionally, chlorine strips the natural oils from your hair, leaving the cuticle rough and porous, which makes it even easier for pigment to escape.

To maintain that fresh-from-the-salon gloss, you need a routine that actively neutralises and removes these mineral deposits.

How to Protect Your Colour at Home

We recommend a targeted, salon-approved care routine to safeguard your investment:

• Chelating & Clarifying Care: Use shampoos designed to remove mineral build-up without stripping your colour. The KEUNE Absolute Volume Shampoo works beautifully to gently wash away daily impurities and environmental build-up while keeping the hair structure light and nourished.

• Locking the Cuticle: Always follow with a high-performance conditioner like KEUNE Absolute Volume Conditioner to seal the hair cuticle, creating a protective shield that locks out mineral deposits and locks in hydration.

• Cool Water Rinsing: Try to wash your hair with lukewarm water and finish with a cool rinse. Hot water swells the cuticle, allowing colour pigments to wash out, whereas cool water seals it flat.

In-Salon Chelating Treatments

If you are experiencing severe discolouration or brassiness, a home wash might not be enough. Visit our expert hairdressers in Glasgow for a professional, deep-cleansing chelating treatment. Before applying a new colour or toner, we can perform a targeted wash using Keune’s professional range to draw out mineral impurities, ensuring a perfectly clean canvas.

Discover our full range of in-salon treatments on our Keune Hair Treatments page, or book online today.