Live in an apartment or a tiny house? You don’t have to suffer. Portable water softeners exist. They look like big plastic jugs and hook up to your shower or whole apartment supply.
The On-The-Go OT-4.0 is a fantastic little buddy. It’s lightweight, you can take it camping (weird flex, but okay), and it uses standard salt tablets. It won’t soften your whole house, but your skin and hair will thank you. Trust me, your shampoo will lather like a dream.