Let’s Talk About Water: What’s Flowing From Our Taps in Turkey, and Why It Matters for Your Skin & Hair


When we talk about skincare and haircare, we often focus on products the oils, the creams, the shampoos, the serums. But one silent factor that often goes overlooked is the water we use daily. And if you’re living in Turkey especially Istanbul this message is for you.

Here at Naturel Afrika, we’ve heard the stories. Itchy scalp. Hair thinning. Dry skin. Breakouts that just don’t make sense. You’re using all the right products, but something still feels off. Sound familiar?

 It might be your water.


So, What’s in the Water?

Most of the tap water in Turkey, particularly in major cities, is known to be hard water meaning it contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. And while these minerals aren’t harmful to drink, they do affect your skin and hair in ways that are easy to overlook:

  • Clogged pores: Mineral buildup can block your pores, causing acne, inflammation, or dull skin.

  • Dryness & irritation: Hard water strips the skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness and sensitivity.

  • Hair breakage & scalp issues: Hard water makes it difficult for shampoo to lather properly, leaving residue that can irritate the scalp and weaken strands over time.


For Melanated Skin & Natural Hair, It Hits Different

As a Black-owned brand founded right here in Istanbul, Naturel Afrika was born from personal struggle. Many of us in the African community arrived in Turkey with rich curls, glowing skin, and beauty routines that worked perfectly back home only to find our skin suddenly misbehaving and our hair feeling brittle or falling out.

We now know: the water is part of the problem.

Melanated skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation and sensitivity, and natural hair requires consistent moisture retention two things hard water works against.


What Can You Do?

Here’s what we recommend from inside the Naturel Afrika community:

 Filter your water If you can, use a shower filter that reduces harsh minerals. It’s a game changer.

Clarify regularly Our African Black Soap Shampoo is designed to deeply cleanse your scalp from buildup caused by hard water, pollution, and product residue.

Hydrate deeply Our H4 Hair Kit and Glow Kits are made to replenish lost moisture and lock it in, using ancestral ingredients that truly get our skin and hair.

Don’t blame your body  If your skin and hair are reacting strangely, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. You might just be using your usual routine in an unusual environment.


Final Words from Us

At Naturel Afrika, we’re not just here to sell products — we’re here to help you understand what your body is going through and how to care for it. Living in a different environment means adapting with knowledge, not panic.

Your beauty is not failing  it’s just adjusting.

And we’ll be here, always, with formulas that understand your roots and routines that make sense wherever you call home.

With love,
 The Naturel Afrika Team