8 Best Showerhead Filters for Seriously Soft Skin and Hair
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The best showerhead filters take care of everything you’re not thinking about when you’re deep into your everything shower—namely, hard water contaminants. But what does hard water have to do with anything? “Hard water has higher levels of calcium and magnesium in it,” explains Omer Ibrahim, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist. “While they are generally safe to drink, they can be hard on the skin and hair.”
If you’ve been dealing with bouts of dry skin or brittle hair and have tried nearly every moisture-intensive treatment available, your existing showerhead’s filtration system (or, most likely, lack thereof) might be the root of your problem—and we’re here to fix that. Below, take a look at some of the top-tier filtered showerheads available that improve water quality and, therefore, your hair and skin.
Best Showerhead Filter Overall: Jolie Filtered Showerhead, $165
Best Handheld: Canopy Handheld Filtered Showerhead, $150
Best Filtration Set: Kohler Aquifer Filtered Showerhead, $51
Best Spray Settings: T3 Source Showerhead Shower Filter, $150
Best Budget: Kitsch The Shower Filter, $40
Best Color Options: Sproos Filtered Shower, $69
Best Water Pressure: Afina Filtered Shower Head, $129
Best Adjustable Showerhead: Aquasana Filtered Shower Head, $120
How does hard water affect my skin and hair?
How does a filtered showerhead benefit my skin and hair?
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Jolie
Why it's worth it: Jolie’s Filtered Showerhead is a TikTok star that’s well worth the hype, according to Dr. Ibrahim. “While this one is on the pricier side, it is a full filter system with an aesthetically pleasing showerhead,” he says. It utilizes two water-filtration mediums (KDF-55, which is a mixture of carbon and zinc, and calcium sulfite) to dramatically minimize levels of chlorine, heavy metals, and minerals in your shower water for up to 90 days. After that, you can just swap in a new filter.
Spray settings: 1 | Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite | Filter life: 90 days | Color options: 5
Canopy
Why it's worth it: On top of its sleek design and water-clarifying properties, the Canopy Handheld Filtered Showerhead also acts as a scalp massager and essential oil diffuser (it’s a win across the board!). This handheld showerhead’s filter utilizes granular activated carbon, KDF-55, and calcium sulfite to remove chlorine and mineral impurities that can dry out your hair and skin. Its tool-free, easy installation means you can get right to your elevated shower experience in five minutes.
Spray settings: 1 | Filter material: activated carbon, KDF-55, calcium sulfite | Filter life: 90 days | Color options: 4
Kohler
Why it's worth it: With Kohler’s Aquifer Filtered Showerhead with Water Filter System, you’ll get twice the clarifying power. Along with its filtered showerhead, this duo comes with a separate water filter that cleanses with a coconut shell-based carbon filter cartridge for up to 8,000 gallons (about six months’ worth) of water.
Spray settings: 3 (full coverage, silk, powerzone) | Filter material: coconut shell-based carbon | Filter life: 8,000 gallons (approximately 6 months) | Color options: 3
T3
Why it's worth it: For a spa-level shower, treat yourself to T3’s Source Showerhead Shower Filter. This sleek design is small in stature but powerful enough to literally shower you with seven high-pressure settings. T3’s showerhead is, of course, developed with your hair in mind (the brand is behind some seriously game-changing hair tools) and utilizes calcium sulfide, zinc, and copper to significantly lower levels of dirt, minerals, and chlorine in your water supply.
Spray settings: 7 | Filter material: calcium sulfide, zinc, copper | Filter life: 10,000 gallons (approximately 6 months) | Color options: 1
Kitsch
Why it's worth it: Kitsch’s The Shower Filter doesn’t come with a sparkly new showerhead, but it does have the benefit of working with your current one (plus, it’s less than $50). Don’t let its small size fool you, because this showerhead water filter contains KDF-55 and calcium sulfite to reduce mineral buildup without clogging or compromising your shower’s flow rate.
Spray settings: none | Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite | Filter life: 3 months | Color options: 3
Sproos
Why it's worth it: Tired of the usual chrome and gold showerhead colors? The Sproos Filtered Shower will add some color to your shower space with any of its six vibrant shades (including a matte black for minimalists). This hand-held showerhead has three spray settings and a pause button for moments when you need to stop the flow (like, say, when you’re wearing a hair mask or shaving). As for its filter, this device cleanses water with two layers of filtration media: a cotton-based layer to trap large particles like rust and the brand’s proprietary KDF Media, a blend of KDF-55 and calcium sulfite to address impurities like chloramine and minerals.
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Spray settings: 3 | Filter material: cotton; KDF-55, calcium sulfite | Filter life: 90 days | Color options: 6
Afina
Why it's worth it: Afina’s Filtered Shower Head doesn’t skimp on either water pressure or clarification. This showerhead’s KDF-55- and calcium sulfite-based filtration system ensures levels of heavy metals are lowered for up to 3 months. This pick has a wide, thin base that creates a waterfall-esque effect with optimal water pressure, turning your shower into your little moment of paradise.
Spray settings: 1 | Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite | Filter life: 3 months | Color options: 1
Aquasana
Why it's worth it: Sometimes, it’s the little things that count, like the fact that Aquasana’s WaterSense Filtered Shower Head has a 360-degree showerhead neck for effortless adjusting. On top of its flexible neck, this new addition to your bathroom features a coconut-shell carbon and copper-zinc filtration system to provide cleaner water and, therefore, softer skin and hair.
Spray settings: 1 | Filter material: coconut shell carbon, copper-zinc | Filter life: 6 months | Color options: 1
Let’s start with a not-so-fun fact: Hard water contributes to soap scum, according to Dr. Ibrahim. “For people who have hard water in their shower, they’ll often see a layer of soap scum on their walls–that’s due to the minerals reacting to soap to form this insoluble layer,” he explains. How does that relate to your skin and hair? Well, according to Dr. Ibrahim, that layer of “scum” also develops on your body, which can exacerbate dryness and inflammation, especially for those with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, and even acne.
As for your hair, that layer of minerals leads to a dry, brittle texture and dull color (a major bummer if you pay for expensive color treatments). “Hard water can also exacerbate dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” adds Dr. Ibrahim.
Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist Adam Friedman, MD, previously told Allure that these filters, also known as“water softeners, cleanse your tap water of mineral buildup “and replace them with sodium through a process called ion exchange," he explained.
This process lowers the water’s concentration of mineral sediments, minimizing buildup and, potentially, irritation. To that end, “shower filters can help as long as they include a water-softening system,” says Dr. Ibrahim. In removing these minerals from your shower water, they can deliver calmer, healthier skin—not to mention shinier, softer hair. Consider them an investment in your long-term beauty routine.
Omer Ibrahim, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist
Adam Friedman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C.
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We are particularly discerning when writing about skin-care devices. This is because of the increased risks and, in many cases, the high price points, that accompany at-home dermatological tools and devices.
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Userk6tp 06/01/2025
Good morning and thank you for letting me know this info 早安愉快，祝你有美好的一天
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