Having a bad hair day? Blame the water at home as scientists link copper deposits in pipes to damaged locks 
 
 Researchers claim they discovered the metal gradually builds up in hair 
 
 Split ends, fly-away strands and less shine are all thought to be a result 
 
 
 
 By Inderdeep Bains 
 
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 Could they be over? Scientists may have got the root cause of bad hair days... copper deposits in water pipes 
 
 Having a bad hair day? There may be no amount of styling and spraying that can save you – because the root of the problem lies in our water, experts claim. 
 
 No matter how much we invest in conditioner and curling tongs, copper lurking in our water supply can leave our hair dull and lifeless, a study has found. 
 
 Low levels of the metal occur naturally in tap water, but most deposits come from pipes and hot water tanks in our homes. 
 
 The residue gradually builds up, accelerating any damage that has already been caused. 
 
 
 
 This results in split ends and flyaway strands, according to the study. 
 
 
 
 And even salon regulars aren’t safe from the damaging effects, which are far worse in people with dyed hair. 
 
 Study leader Dr Jennifer Marsh, a research fellow at consumer goods multinational Procter & Gamble, said: ‘Copper is not present in very large amounts but it is important. 
 
 ‘The copper comes in from tap water and the hair acts like a sponge picking it up over time. 
 
 ‘Colouring hair can create free radicals that damage protein in the hair and the copper can catalyse that reaction. 
 
 ‘In the same way, UV exposure from going out in the sun can do the same thing over a longer period of time. 
 
 ‘Hair is less able to stand up to physical processes like brushing, blow drying and washing. 
 
 ‘It will break down faster, leading to split ends, a lack of shine as well as making it harder to manage.’ 
 
 Dr Marsh and her team analysed the hair of 450 women from around the world and found varying levels of copper. 
 
 
 
 Most had between 20 and 200 copper atoms for every million molecules in their hair, but some had more than 500 parts per million molecules. 
 
 The metal can harm the cuticle – the outer sheath of the hair – leaving it dry and prone to damage. 
 
 And the impact gets far worse over time, as a single strand of hair can take three years to grow out. However it’s not all doom and gloom for those of us who covet glossy, luxurious locks. 
 
 Damaging: Researchers claim the copper leads to split ends, fly-away strands and less shine as well as speeding up damage caused by UV rays 
 
 The research, which was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, discovered that treating hair with chelants – chemicals commonly used in washing powder – can neutralise the copper. 
 
 The race is now on for beauty companies to try to find a way of incorporating chelants into our everyday dyes and shampoos. 
 
 Dr Jeni Thomas, principal scientist at Pantene, said: ‘Everyone seems to have copper in their hair, but the levels seem to vary a great deal. 
 
 ‘You often can’t see the effects under the microscope, which is why we believe copper has been largely missed as a source of damage. 
 
 ‘At the moment we are focusing on tackling this in hair colour formulations but we are also exploring how to use it in everyday haircare.’ 
 
 Last year a poll revealed that the average British woman spends the equivalent of 26 years of their life suffering from bad hair. 
 
 The survey found that most women woke up to limp, greasy or uncontrollable locks at least three days a week. This works out at 156 days a year – a grand total of 9,828 ‘bad hair days’ based on the average woman’s lifetime. 
 
 
 
 ||||| Globally, billions of individuals wash their hair in water, which acts as an exogenous metal source. Many studies which measure the metal levels found on human hair specifically aim to remove exogenous materials prior to analysis. Although this is needed when using hair analysis to probe the impact of the local environment on endogenous metal levels, it is not relevant for understanding exactly what is on hair as a result of contact with its daily environment. Understanding these levels are important, as the presence of redox active metals, such as copper and iron, can impact fibre health, either as a result of UV irradiation, or during the hair colouring process. A global hair sampling study of over 300 individuals from nine countries has been performed, and the combined endogenous and exogenous metals analysed. The levels measured vary widely, even within the narrow geography of each hair sampling location. The levels of calcium, magnesium, copper and iron were not correlated, and within each location, there are expected to be individuals with high metal levels. Levels increased from hair root to tip for calcium, magnesium and copper, attributed to hair contact with the environment showing the impact of exogenous metals in the overall levels on hair. Levels of redox metals were comparable between individuals who coloured or did not colour their hair, although water hardness ions were statistically significantly higher for hair colouring individuals. Individuals who perceived their hair health as poor had higher metal levels on their hair. Controlling metals on hair, either by preventing their binding during environmental contact, or through controlling their ability to cause hair damage, should lead to improved consumer perceived hair health. ||||| Women spend 26 YEARS of their lives suffering bad hair (and watch out - it makes them mean, too) 
 
 
 
 The average British female will spend the equivalent of 26 years of her life suffering from bad hair, it was revealed today. 
 
 The incredible findings emerged in a poll of 2,000 women and shows most wake up with unruly hair at least three days a week. 
 
 This means they spend 156 days a year with limp, greasy, uncontrollable or lifeless locks - a grand total of 9,828 'bad hair days' based on the average woman’s lifetime of 63 years. 
 
 Women spend 156 days a year with limp, greasy, uncontrollable or lifeless locks - a grand total of 9,828 'bad hair days' based on the average woman¿s lifetime of 63 years, a study showed 
 
 It also emerged waking with a dodgy hairdo leads the average woman to spend an hour and a quarter feeling moody and depressed. 
 
 Celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill, launching online advice website ‘Team Rapunzel’, said: 'It is incredible the impact bad hair can have on the day ahead. 
 
 'Women feel like entirely different people when their hair won’t behave - having flat, unmanageable tresses can make you feel tired, grumpy and less confident. 
 
 'In contrast, having great hair can make you feel more self-assured, you’re more likely to hold your head up high. 
 
 'So it is understandable that women will spend longer in front of the mirror trying to get their look perfected on days where they have to go to work, attend meetings or be around lots of other people.' 
 
 The survey also revealed 12 per cent of women have cancelled a date because of their hair, while the same percentage have rearranged an outing with their friends. 
 
 One in ten girls wouldn’t meet a best friend if they felt their hair wasn’t up to scratch, and nine per cent wouldn’t go to a party. 
 
 TV presenter Holly Willoughby will sympathise - she posted a photo on Twitter recently complaining she was having a bad hair day. '‘Having said this was going to be a good day, I just looked in the mirror to find my hair doing this!' 
 
 
 
 When faced with a 'bad hair day', 13 per cent of girls try to get away with wearing a hat all day, while eight per cent totally over-do their make-up to compensate. 
 
 More than one in 20 girls have even been known to call in sick to work when their mop won’t behave. 
 
 When it comes to being seen in public with bad hair, a third of British women would most hate their work colleagues to see them. 
 
 And while a third of women hate the idea of friends seeing them without their usual sleek and shiny mane, a quarter of ladies don’t want their partners to see them looking anything other than perfect. 
 
 Mark Hill added: 'Let’s face it - a bed-head look later in the day isn’t always appreciated. 
 
 'I have found women are more experimental with their hair than ever before which is incredibly exciting and should be great fun. 
 
 'Most hair will allow itself to be teased and tamed - if it is ‘prepped’ and primed using perfect products and styling tools for the hair type and desired look.' 
 
 
 
 'A Great Hair Day is more than the opposite of a bad one. Women feel sexy, confident and ready to take on the world.' 
 
 
 
 Bad hair days have led to one in 20 girls being dumped for being so grumpy, and one in five have missed their bus or train to work. 
 
 Twelve per cent of women have had huge rows with a partner simply because their barnet made them mad, while 14 per cent have been known to snap at the children. 
 
 Eight per cent of unlucky ladies have even received a warning at work following a particularly dire mood.
– When you shake your fist in anger on a bad hair day, shake in the direction of your home's pipes. Scientists say copper might be the culprit, per research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science picked up by the Telegraph. The dastardly process: Copper found in pipes (or in your hot water tank) leaches into water; wash your hair with it, and over time the metal will build up in the strands' outer layers, where it amplifies the creation of cuticle-destroying molecules. That translates into weaker hair, which makes it more susceptible to things like split ends and fly-aways. If you dye your hair, the effect is worse, they say. The "they" in this equation is noteworthy, though: They're researchers with Procter and Gamble, which just so happens to be working on creating copper-fighting hair dyes. They looked at hair samples from women living in various parts of the globe, and found that everyone seemed to have it in their hair, at varying levels. "You often can’t see the effects under the microscope, which is why we believe copper has been largely missed as a source of damage," says the head scientist at Pantene. Quirky side note: The Daily Mail reports that a 2012 poll of 2,000 Brits found women endure 26 years of bad hair in their lifetime.