The 6 best shower filters for healthier hair and skin, according to experts

Your shower water might be the reason for your bad hair day. Hard water — water that is high in calcium and magnesium — is common throughout the US. While it isn’t a health concern, it can negatively affect your hair and skin if you don’t use a shower filter. After testing some for ourselves and consulting the experts, we’re convinced investing in one of the best shower filters is totally worth it.

“City water is typically recycled and treated to make it safe for use and consumption,” explains Amanda Buechner, trichologist and Function Hair Council member. “Chlorine, sodium chloride, magnesium carbonate, bicarbonates, sulfates, calcium, iron and aluminum can be added to the treatment process to remove particles [and] kill bacteria, parasites and viruses. This makes the water safe for consumption but oftentimes not great for the hair structure and scalp.”

“The chlorine and heavy metals, in particular, strip out the natural oils in our hair and our skin and are the root cause of many of the issues we spend so much time, money and effort trying to resolve — brittle hair, split ends, frizziness, change in hair color, eczema, acne, rashes, even hair loss,” share Arjan Singh and Ryan Babenzien, founders of Jolie.

Buechner also notes that “without a shower filter, the chemicals used in water treatment plants can wreak havoc on the hair,” especially with permanent treatments like hair dyeing or keratin treatments. “These elements can also interact with hair serums and styling products, causing a chemical reaction in the hair,” she says. “Some of these elements will create a crystallizing effect on the hair when mixed with certain ingredients in hair products. This can leave the hair feeling dry and brittle, causing breakage. The hair can become hard to manage with frizz and tangles. The scalp is also at risk of becoming dry and flaky.”

Likewise, shower filter heads are good for the skin, too. Hard water can cause skin dryness and make it more difficult to find an effective skin care routine. “One published study tested people with normal skin to the effects of hard water and found that there was a greater residual of an irritating substance, SLS (often referred to simply as sulfates), in people who washed in hard water versus soft,” says Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care. “Also, the amount of water loss from the skin, and subsequent drying, was greater when skin was washed in hard water,” she adds. “For people who have underlying sensitive skin and a form of eczema called atopic dermatitis, they will get worsening of their rash and increased skin itching when washing in hard water.”

How to identify hard water

People who have hard water in their homes may notice soap scum buildup in their showers or that their glassware has water spots or a cloudy film after doing the dishes. This is because calcium in hard water reacts to soap and creates a residue.

To know the exact level of water hardness, Ciraldo recommends getting a hard water testing kit.

For a quick test, “you can also put some liquid soap into a bottle you’ve filled with your own tap water,” the dermatologist says. “If you shake the bottle and don’t get sudsing, this is a sign you have hard water.”

Benefits of a shower filter

Since the shower is where we’re most exposed to tap water, installing a shower filter is worth the investment to protect your hair and skin from the chlorine, metals and minerals that can lurk in the water.

“[A shower filter] helps increase the efficacy of all the topical hair care and skin care products we combine with water (such as your favorite shampoo or serum),” Singh and Babenzien say.

Long-term benefits include skin that is “better hydrated, less red or sensitive,” according to Ciraldo, while Buechner notes positive hair effects like ​​”fewer tangles, better manageability, more shine and moisture balance within the hair, better color absorption and longer-lasting color.”

What type of shower filter is most effective?

If you’re wondering how to choose a shower filter, there are a few indicators of a quality product. Most top-performing shower filters use Kinetic Degradation Fluxion filter media (often listed as KDF-55), which contains a copper-zinc alloy to convert chlorine, heavy metals and harmful bacteria into neutral elements that won’t affect the skin or hair. This can be combined with other filtration systems, like carbon, for multi-stage filtration.

Consumers can also look for NSF certification to ensure that their shower filter’s performance has been tested and proven to remove chlorine from water.

How long does a shower filter last?

It’s worth noting that shower filters need to be replaced to ensure proper filtration and efficacy. The lifespan varies product to product, but three months is the general benchmark for replacing your shower filter. How often you shower and the length of each shower also play a factor. If you love indulging in an hour-long everything shower regularly, the amount of water you run through your filter is higher than if you limit yourself to quick five-minute showers, and therefore, the filter will need replacing more frequently.

And if you’re still wondering whether shower filters are good for you, the experts we spoke to said there are only benefits to trying a shower filter — the only risk is not using one. Ahead, find the best shower filters to upgrade your hair and skin care.