Chicago
United States · North America
The water
130 mg/LHard
Source: City of Chicago Water Quality Report via MedicineContact · Published figure. Hardness counts dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water; it is the number your hair meets in the shower.
What hard water does to hair
Minerals start to coat the strand: dullness, tangling, colour fade. Chelating (detox) washes enter the routine.
The washing routine for Chicago
Build a chelating (detox) wash into the rhythm, about every fourth wash, with a gentle everyday shampoo between detox days. Condition well after each wash; minerals roughen the cuticle, and colour-treated hair fades faster here.
Climate, from recent records (Open-Meteo, ERA5 2015-2024): July is the warmest month, averaging 27°C by day, and humidity peaks in July at about 77% on average.
Plugs and power for your tools
Sockets: Type A and B. Supply: 120 V, 60 Hz.
Full sockets by the sink are standard (the National Electrical Code requires one within 3 feet of each 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 Chicago 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.