Oh my goodness you guys must have been reading my mind. I was just about to post my most recent hair experience on this exact subject! We just got back from our honeymoon in Aruba where the water is amazingly soft. I noticed the difference in my hair after just a couple of cowashes. Long before anyone told us about the water. Apparently they are known for their water quality (softness, purity, etc.). The biggest difference was that my hair airdried like a dream. It was like silk. I could easily comb my through my completely airdried hair. It takes a lot of work to get my hair to airdry half as good at home. When I got home it only took 2 washes before my hair was back feeling rough. I was floored.
It made a huge difference. So much so that I immediately started looking at whole house water softeners. But they are expensive and I want to do some comparison shopping. In the meantime, I decided to try this hard water conditioner from Sally's that I'd been eyeing (they have a shampoo, but I'm abstaining). NE-way, I tried it today and my hair is back to feeling like it did on vacation. My products work a LOT better and my hair baby soft again. This product is the truth and hard water ain't no joke.
I knew it had an effect I just didn't realize how much until I spent 10 days without it.