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San Diego

United States · North America

The water

225 mg/LVery hard

Source: City of San Diego (via TapWaterData) · Published 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 San Diego

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): August is the warmest month, averaging 26°C by day, and humidity peaks in July at about 78% on average. In the humid months, frizz is the main event; anti-humidity styling matters more than wash frequency.

Plugs and power for your tools

Sockets: Type A and B. Supply: 120 V, 60 Hz.

Type A plug
Type A
Type B plug
Type B

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 San Diego 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.

Open San Diego in the trip planner →