Calgary
Canada · North America
The water
208 mg/LVery hard
Source: City of Calgary · Official figure. Hardness counts dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water; it is the number your hair meets in the shower.
What very hard water does to hair
Expect rapid build-up: hair turns rough and dull, tangles at the ends and fades in colour as the coating thickens. Frequent chelating (detox) washes and deep conditioning are the standing routine here, particularly for bleached or porous hair.
The washing routine for Calgary
Treat detox as the default: a chelating (detox) wash every second wash, a gentle formula on the days between, and never skip conditioner. Add a weekly deep treatment on longer stays to protect porous or bleached hair from the rapid build-up.
Climate, from recent records (Open-Meteo, ERA5 2015-2024): July is the warmest month, averaging 24°C by day, and humidity peaks in January at about 70% on average. Day to night swings reach 14°C, which dries hair out between washes; the plan adds moisture and a sealing leave-in when a stop spans those months.
Local note: Lowest in spring snowmelt and highest December to February.
Plugs and power for your tools
Sockets: Type A and B. Supply: 120 V, 60 Hz.
Full sockets by the sink are standard (the Canadian Electrical Code requires one within a metre of the basin, GFCI protected).
A dryer or styler wound for 230 V only will run weak on this supply, and a plug adapter does not change voltage. Check the label for dual voltage (100-240 V) before you travel.
Plug, voltage and frequency: IEC World Plugs and national standards.
Plan Calgary properly
The trip planner turns this water profile into a wash plan for your hair type, a chosen kit and a packing list, month by month.