After your next shower, pay attention to how your skin feels. If it feels strangely slick or squeaky—like you’re rubbing a clean plate—that’s the soap reacting with the minerals to form a sticky film. Soft water leaves your skin feeling silky and hydrated; hard water leaves it squeaky and often drier.
Hair is another dead giveaway. If your shampoo doesn’t lather into a rich cloud, or if your strands feel straw-like even after conditioning, chalk it up to mineral buildup. Think of it as the difference between washing a silk scarf and a canvas tote bag.
