I recently moved from a soft to a hard water place and, for the first time in my life, my hair is an absolute mess. It tangles easily, looks brassy, and it is dry dry dry! I can't figure out how to manage my hair and need advice.
My current routine -
Washing: I wash my hair 2 times per week with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner (Sunday and Wednesday night). Once I run out of my current shampoo, I will be experimenting with local options.
Drying: When it is cold, I blow dry my hair on low heat. If it is not cold outside, I air dry my hair.
Styling: This depends on how dirty my hair is, but this is minimal. Day one after washing, I typically don't do anything. Day 2, french braid, side braid, or ponytail. Day 3, I will use hot-rollers and wear it down. If there is a Day 4, I usually do a bun or something else that keeps it out of my face.
Hair type -
I have long (2 inches past my bra strap), untreated, brownish hair with long layers. I typically cut my hair all one length, but I'm trying to grow out an experiment with layers. I've been told my hair is on the fine side, but that I have a lot of it. It is pretty straight and doesn't normally hold a curl or anything for that matter.
Since moving, I tried washing with vinegar, lemon, and just water -- all feel fantastic until I rinse. Rinsing makes my hair feel tangled and dry again. Interestingly, one positive of hard water has been that my hair keeps curls a lot better.
I should note that my skin is also struggling with the change, but it has been manageable for the time being. I added a toner to my routine and that seemed to do the trick.
I welcome any and all advice at this point!