The hardness setting will only assist the softener to calculate the number of gallons that are to be softened before regeneration will be needed. The appropriate hardness setting is determined by testing the amount of hardness in the water to be conditioned by the softener.
Changing the hardness setting will not change the actual softness of the water exiting the softener as all water flowing through the softener will pass through the resin media where hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) will be removed and exchanged with sodium ions. Of course, if the resin's softening capacity is exceeded, then hardness will be removed while capacity remains but the water will then become hard once the capacity has been depleted.
Some softeners are equipped with a small diameter line between the inlet and outlet connections. This will allow some hard water to blend with the softened water exiting the softener which will be controlled by a small manual valve to adjust the amount of hardness 'leakage'. This blending valve is not a common 'feature' as most people with a softener, usually want the water to be as soft as possible. If your softener is equipped with a blending valve, perhaps someone adjusted it without knowing its purpose?
The quantity of salt utilized for regeneration will also influence the amount of hardness leakage through the resin media. Programming a lower salt amount will reduce the softener's regenerated capacity per regeneration cycle, but will also increase the amount of hardness leakage over time. If you specify the currently programmed settings, we may be able to assist you with adjustments.
Since your concern is water that is too soft, it sounds as though your softener has been allowing hardness leakage for some time. Hardness in water will combine with soaps, shampoo, etc to form sticky curds that will stick to skin and hair, just as it does to create a bathtub ring.
The slippery feeling you are now experiencing is due to no soap adhering to you, so you are actually feeling the natural oils in your hair and skin without sticky residue. Soft water will actually rinse away soap and shampoo more thoroughly than hard water, but the amount of soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, fabric softener and dishwasher detergent will also need to be reduced as less is required when the water is soft.
Over a short time, if you allow, you will become accustomed to the new feeling, and once accustomed, you will likely feel less clean when bathing with water that contains any amount of hardness.
