Australian Water Hardness Map: The Hidden Impact on Your Skin & Hair (And the One Chemical No One Talks About)

If your skin feels tight after a shower…
If your hair is always dry, frizzy, flat, or dull…
If your scalp gets itchy for “no reason”…

There is a reason — and it usually isn’t your shampoo.

Across Australia, water quality changes massively from city to city. Melbourne’s water feels completely different to Brisbane’s. Perth and Adelaide have some of the hardest water in the country. And every major city treats its water with chlorine.

Most people have heard of hard water.
Almost no one talks about chlorine — even though it affects more Australians and causes faster skin and hair damage.

Let’s break down what’s really going on in your shower.

---

Hard Water vs Chlorine: Which Is Actually Worse?

Here’s the truth:

Hard water is tough to remove

It’s caused by dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium.
It varies from suburb to suburb.
And unless you install a whole-home water softener, it’s extremely hard to eliminate.

BUT…

Chlorine is the real daily irritant — and it’s in every major Australian city.

Chlorine:

• dries out skin

• breaks down hair cuticles

• causes colour fade

• strips natural oils

• worsens eczema and irritation

• disrupts the skin barrier

And unlike hard water, chlorine isn’t a “maybe.”
It’s added on purpose — in levels high enough to disinfect water pipes.

Chlorine’s job is to kill bacteria.
And it does that well.
The problem? It breaks things down… including your skin and hair.

---

Australian Water Hardness Map (City-by-City)

A quick overview of how each major city compares:

City	Hardness	Chlorine	Likely Effect
Melbourne	Soft–moderate	High	Flatter hair, dryness, colour fade
Sydney	Moderate	High	Tight skin, irritation, dull hair
Brisbane	Moderate–hard	Moderate	Frizz, dryness, mineral buildup
Adelaide	Hard	High	Very dry skin, breakage, rough hair
Perth	Hard	High	Heavy buildup, itchy skin
Regional	Highly variable	Often high	Unpredictable results

Hardness changes depending on your postcode.
Chlorine affects everyone.

---

City Breakdowns (Internal Links Included)

Melbourne

Soft water, high chlorine.
This is why so many Melburnians talk about colour fading, dullness or dryness.

→ Read the full Melbourne breakdown

Sydney

Moderate hardness + high chlorine = the perfect recipe for dryness and irritation.

→ Read Sydney water & skin/hair effects

Brisbane

A mix of moderate to genuinely hard water. Minerals + chlorine = frizz, dryness, and scalp irritation.

→ Read Brisbane’s water issues

Adelaide

Some of the hardest water in Australia AND high chlorine usage.
It’s no wonder skin feels dry almost instantly.

Perth

Mineral-heavy water + treatment chemicals = rough-feeling skin and brittle hair.

Regional Australia

Highly variable. Borewater, rural treatment plants, and over-chlorination can make symptoms unpredictable.

---

What Hard Water Actually Does to You

On Skin

• tightness

• dryness

• flakes

• irritation

• moisturiser that stops absorbing properly

On Hair

• rough texture

• breakage

• frizz

• dullness

• hard-to-lather shampoo

• product buildup

People blame their shampoo or skincare routine.
It’s often the water.

---

Why Chlorine Is the Real “Invisible” Problem Australia Never Talks About

This is the big one.

Chlorine is more aggressive on the skin and hair barrier than minerals — and it affects every shower in every major city.

Research shows chlorine:

• damages the skin microbiome

• worsens conditions like eczema

• weakens hair proteins

• fades hair dye faster

• increases dryness after hot showers

• makes sensitive skin feel inflamed

Yet hardly anyone talks about it.
Why?

Because hard water is a plumbing problem.
Chlorine is a beauty and comfort problem — and most people don’t realise it’s the cause.

Flowy does.

---

Why Water Problems Aren’t Fixed at the Source

Your local water authority treats water for safety, not beauty.

Chlorine is the cheapest way to make water safe to drink.
How it affects your:

• skin

• hair

• comfort

• shower feel

…isn’t part of the equation.

This is why so many Australians experience:

• itchy skin

• tightness

• irritation

• brittle hair

• flaky scalp

• poor lather

• frizz that “never goes away”

It’s the water — not you.

---

How Flowy Helps (And Why You Feel a Difference Fast)

Flowy’s Filter+ blend targets:

• chlorine

• sediment

• metals

• volatile compounds

• moderate hardness

People feel the change almost immediately:

• softer-feeling water

• better shampoo lather

• calmer skin

• less flaking

• reduced irritation

• smoother, shinier hair

• less frizz

• more comfortable showers

And unlike whole-home systems that cost $1,000+, Flowy installs in two minutes and filters the water right where you use it most — the shower.

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Try Flowy Risk-Free →

---

Final Thoughts

Hard water gets all the attention because it’s difficult to remove.
Chlorine gets none of the attention, even though it affects nearly every city in Australia.

If you’ve been struggling with dry skin, dull hair, irritation, or scalp issues — your water might be the missing piece.

---

Want to see your city’s water issues?

Take the Flowy Quiz and get a personalised breakdown in 30 seconds →