Best shower heads for hard water areas to filter the flow for a softer shower
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The idea for this article sprang to life when I found myself suddenly sensitive to a new product I’d just started using. I just didn’t know what.
First, I switched up my haircare. Next, bodycare, and finally my washing powder - all to no avail. After speaking to a dermatologist, it became clear that the guilty party may not be the lotions, potions or powders, but London’s infamous hard water.
While it’s easy to change the shower line-up, changing the quality of a water source feels near impossible - until I was introduced to a filtered shower head. These essentials come complete with mineral-based filtration systems that remove unwanted metals, chlorine and impurities that can cause irritation, dry out skin and make hair feel weakened and lacklustre - and some models even boost water pressure in the process.
The UK’s water supply is considered hard due to the presence of magnesium and calcium, which are picked up as the water passes through porous rocks like limestone. It is particularly hard in the southeast of England and can build up on our strands to make our mane feel heavy, dull and more difficult to manage. It can also cause colour to fade more quickly and strip natural oils from both our hair and skin, which may lead to dryness and itchiness.
Whether you are prone to sensitivities, want to transform your beauty routine or are looking for H2O that is kinder to young children and babies who may require a more gentle approach than the typical British supply, these shower heads may just be the solution. Most of the models chosen in this selection take a screw-right-in approach, so you don’t need to hire a professional plumber or install a costly water-softening system. Many also have the benefits of a more powerful shower experience, all without increasing your water bills.
What do the experts say?
For the skin
Dr Nora, a Dermatological doctor, recommends filtered shower heads to her patients, “Filtered shower heads can be a helpful adjunct for people with inflammatory skin conditions. By reducing chlorine, heavy metals, and other potential irritants in tap water, these filters may lessen the burden on already sensitive skin. While they’re not a standalone treatment, many patients with eczema, psoriasis, or even rosacea report huge improvements in skin comfort and reduced flare-ups when switching to filtered water”. She reveals too that acne-prone skin may see results.“Hard water can leave a residue on the skin that interferes with the effectiveness of cleansers and can clog pores. This can contribute to breakouts, especially in acne-prone individuals. Hard water may also increase skin pH, making it more vulnerable to irritation and bacterial overgrowth. Switching to a softening or filtered water source, or using pH-balanced skincare, may help improve acne over time.”
For the hair
Hairdresser and colour specialist, Samantha Cusick, reveals, “I see the results on my clients all the time. When someone starts using a hard water filter, especially in places like London where the water is notoriously harsh, their hair feels softer, colour lasts longer, and styling becomes easier. It’s not a miracle fix overnight, but with consistent use, the difference is clear. I recommend Hello Klean to my colour clients all the time because it really works”.
Trichologist Samantha Trace, founder of Trace Medispa, is confronted daily with the impact of hard water. “We've seen a huge rise in the benefits of drinking filtered water, so it's no surprise that using a filtered shower head can significantly reduce chlorine, heavy metals and other harmful chemicals. This helps to protect your hair and skin from dryness and irritation. Those with skin conditions such as eczema, dandruff and dermatitis can be even more prone to irritation, so using a filtered shower head would help restore softer, healthier skin and hair”. She adds that it can impact thinning and make hair more prone to domage and breakage as “mineral deposits make the hair more fragile”. What’s more, “These minerals make the hair dry and brittle, so it's less able to absorb moisture which can lead to hair shredding.”
Best shower heads for hard water at a glance
- Best for leading the pack: HELLO KLEAN Purifying Shower Head - ÂŁ65, Amazon
- Best for water pressure: Hello Klean Rain Shower Head - ÂŁ85, Amazon
- Best for watching science in action: Rymerce Shower Head - ÂŁ9.99, Amazon
- Best for a spa-like clean: FEELSO Handheld Shower Head with Filter - ÂŁ31.02, Amazon
- Best for something different: YEAUPE PRO StoreShower Head and Hose 1.6M with Filter - ÂŁ16.99, Amazon
- Best for style and substance: Act+Acre Showerhead Filter - ÂŁ112, Act+Acre
How we tested
Living in a rental flat, I was unsure whether a hard water shower head would be for me, but without any tools required, I was able to switch out the limescale-ridden option that came with the apartment and instead replace it with the fresh, filtered wash staple that transformed my routine in an instant. It was a simple screw-in process to affix and remove all of the above and below shower heads, and the impact on my hair and skin was immediate.
Without further ado, see below for a selection of filter shower heads that will be kinder to your hair as you rinse out suds and may be more gentle on conditions like psoriasis.
Shop now
HELLO KLEAN Purifying Shower Head
Best for: leading the pack
Hard water can wreak havoc on your skin and hair - and so Dragons Den alum HELLO KLEAN is here to help. Its collection of tools, body and haircare is created with the sole intention of turning hard water into a composition that’s kinder to the skin and strands.
The shower head was created to make a simple switch from your existing plumbing. It couldn’t be easier to fit: just screw it in. The built-in filters remove chlorine, impurities and heavy metals from your hygiene practices using an advanced system that calls on amino acids, activated carbon fibre and KDF 55 (used specifically for removing water-soluble metals). Not only that, but it’s designed to save water in the process, so should ease those ever-increasing household bills.
After just one hair wash, I noticed a difference in my strands that instantly felt silkier and shinier - it was even remarked on by a friend. My locks feel so much cleaner after I step out of the shower.
Hello Klean Rain Shower Head
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Best for: water pressure
London living is hard – and we’re not just talking about exorbitant rent and tedious commuting. We’re talking had water full of minerals that wreak havoc on the scalp and skin, leaving it dull, dry and irritated. Enter Hello Klean, a brand devoted to combating the capital’s hard water concerns.
Its Purifying shower head is already a cult buy, and now the brand has added another to its collection, a Rain Shower Head, a welcome expansion that has the ES Best team fighting over who would review it.
Affixed to your wall-mounted shower, it is said to boost water pressure yet use less H2O, thus saving on water bills, while creating a spa-like experience.
The inclusion of calcium sulphite in the included filter offsets chlorine and other common water contaminants (by 90 per cent according to Hello Klean).
Rymerse Shower Head
Best for: watching science in action
This is one of the most popular hard water filtering shower heads on Amazon; you need only take one look to see why. There’s just something incredibly satisfying about seeing the filtration particles in action, represented by the orange and black beads visible through the translucent casing.
Rymerse has made this option from a high-quality material that is resistant to high temperatures and durable. It screws right onto your current system and then provides three modes; rainfall, massage and jet - all of which encourage the water to go through bio-active stones that soften it by removing chlorine, metals, impurities and unwelcomed chemicals.
At the same time, it saves water by 30 per cent without sacrificing water pressure.
One reviewer exclaimed, “Best product I have purchased”, while another testified to the increase in water pressure, “I have bought a good few shower heads over the years in an effort to increase the water pressure (or effective pressure), this trumps the lot of them, maybe not the 200% stated but definitely a big improvement”.
FEELSO Handheld Shower Head with Filter
Best for: a spa-like clean
Every time you step into your shower - be it for the full works of hair wash, shave and relax, or a quick morning rinse - the H2O is treated to a softening process through an effective 15-stage process.
Layers of water-softening elements like activated carbon, vitamin C and KDF are chosen for their ability to remove heavy metals like lead, mercury, nickel and chromium from your water supply.
There are three modes: rainfall, massage and mixed, which can be switched between at the press of a button.
A reviewer lauded the shower, saying “The water pressure is fantastic, and the three spray modes make for a relaxing and customizable shower experience”, but that is not a universal experience, with others complaining that it is actually very low.
YEAUPE PRO StoreShower Head and Hose 1.6M with Filter
Best for: something different
Whether you’re coordinating your shower head to the geometric design scheme in your bathroom or looking to mix up the classic circular shape that dominates the shower head market, see this square head for something out of the ordinary. You may even find that you get better coverage with this shape, while also harnessing the power of mineral beads to remove any impurities. Alongside the head comes a leak-proof hose and an easy-fit attachment.
Act+Acre Showerhead Filter
Best for: style and substance
No plumber required, changing up your shower head for Act+Acre’s hard water-filtering alternative is a matter of simply screwing it in. The sleek black bathroom addition combines style and function in spades, removing contaminants that can affect hair’s shine – and looking good while doing it.
The product contains layers of coconut activated carbon, calcium sulphite and KDF-55, all components that will remove chlorine, bacteria and irritation-causing minerals to make London’s famously hard water that extra bit kinder on the tresses. It’s a satisfying rainfall flow too.
You can shop the replacement filter at Cult Beauty.