DEAR SUN SPOTS: What are the differences between Rumford’s and Mexico’s water as regards to mineral content, etc.? I live in Rumford and my hair looks and feels like straw, and I can barely get a comb through it, regardless of what shampoo/conditioner I use. It’s also continuously falling out.

By contrast, just one shower with Mexico water and I could be doing commercials for luxurious hair products!

I have ruled out the actual residence as the culprit, because I’ve lived at two different places in Rumford and have had the same problem.

Besides moving to Mexico, is there some way I could treat this problem? I can’t afford a water softener/filter system for the house.

I’ve tried ionizing and clarifying shampoos, deep conditioners, baking soda and even apple-cider vinegar. (I will not be doing that one again.)

I also have a mineral-removing filter made by Crystal Quest that attaches to the shower head, but that barely makes a difference. Thanks for any help! — The Straw Woman

ANSWER: According to what Sun Spots found, there seems to be very little difference in the water from these two towns.

According to Pete at the Rumford Water District, the town’s water comes from wells off Route 5 going toward Andover and the pH is about 7.5.

Mexico also gets its water from wells, very nearby Rumford’s wells, and the pH is 7.75, according to Jim at the Water District.

The lower the number the more acidic the substance is. Pete said that usually anything between 6 and 8 is considered neutral (pure water is 7).

The natural pH of your hair is around 4.5 to 5. These numbers would seem to indicate that Rumford’s water might actually be better for your hair than Mexico’s, as its pH is slightly lower.

Of course, there could be some additional factor affecting Rumford’s water, but Sun Spots does not have a water-testing budget to determine what it might be, and the towns’ primary testing concern is safety.

At naturallycurly.com, it says that most modern shampoos and conditioners are formulated to be slightly acidic. For this reason, you may see chemicals such as citric acid or sodium hydroxide or triethanolamine in the ingredient list of products.

Also according to naturallycurly.com, “alkaline products cause the hair to swell, the cuticle to lift and remove oils from the air. This results in frizzy, dull, brittle hair that is prone to breakage and tangling. Extremely alkaline solutions cause the disulfide bonds between keratin protein molecules to break down and can eventually dissolve the protein completely. These types of solutions are the ones used to perm or relax the hair and can be extremely damaging, especially to hair that is already fragile.”

As for fixing your problem, some tips Sun Spots found at wikihow.com (www.wikihow.com/Balance-pH-in-Hair-Naturally) include using a leave-in conditioner to return your hair to the proper pH. The site offers some homemade formulas you can try.

Perhaps pouring distilled water over your hair as a final rinse might be helpful. (Walmart has a good price on distilled water.)

Sun Spots suggests you consult a local hair stylist as well. They have undoubtedly come across this problem. Perhaps they will write to sunspots@sunjournal.com with suggestions, too.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A friend of mind passed along one of your columns in which someone was looking for a Photoshop instructor (Dec. 13).

I am a Photoshop instructor at Lewiston High School Adult Ed. I also teach privately at my home in Lisbon Falls. Thank you! — May Diane Cote, 207-740-8388, artistseye@live.com

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