The Environmental Benefits of Using a Filtered Shower Head

The best shower head filters will help to reduce soap scum, chlorine, and other contaminants in your water. They’re simple to install and can be a great way to improve your skin and hair health.

But showerhead filters can’t solve every problem with your water. For example, they miss minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause hard water — a build-up that damages skin and hair health and shortens the lifespan of bathroom fixtures.

Reduces Soap Scum

The openings on your shower head are the perfect place for mineral deposits, soap scum, and bacteria to collect. This buildup is a big reason why your hair and skin might be itchy or brittle, even with the best soaps and conditioners. Shower filters help reduce these contaminants and keep your water smelling fresh, smoothing out your skin, and leaving your hair with more shine.

The most common types of showerhead filters use activated carbon or KDF-55, a material that removes chlorine and heavy metals from your water. Showerhead filters also tend to have a filter media that’s designed specifically for hard water, which helps prevent the buildup of minerals like calcium and magnesium on your skin, hair, and in your pipes.

Most filtered showerheads have multiple spray settings, so you can customize the experience for yourself and anyone else who uses your bathroom. Some even come with a mini wrench and plumber’s tape for easy installation. Filter types also vary widely, so it’s important to choose one that fits your home.

Some of the most popular showerhead filters use a form of ion exchange to reduce chlorine. This process can’t fully eliminate chlorine, but it will reduce its odors and tastes. Other filters are designed to reduce trihalomethanes, which are the harmful byproducts of chlorine disinfection. Still others are able to remove phosphates, nitrates, and other contaminants from your water supply.

Finally, there’s a type of showerhead filter that can remove chloramine, which is released by many municipal treatment plants when they disinfect the water with chlorine. Chloramine can irritate your skin, scalp, and hair, and it can cause damage to color-treated hair. A showerhead filter that removes this contaminant can help prevent the negative side effects of using chloramine-treated water.

Reduces Chlorine Smells

The chlorine that is used to treat water may cause an unpleasant odor, but it can also make your hair and skin feel irritated. A shower head filter reduces the amount of chlorine in the water and the resulting smell, which helps to protect skin and hair. Shower heads with filters that utilize activated carbon and oxidation-reduction technology can remove up to 95% of chlorine from the water, along with other contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide, iron oxide and dirt.

A filtered shower head also helps to protect your hair and scalp from irritants such as calcium and magnesium, which are found in most hard water. These minerals can clog pores and lead to itchy, flaky skin as well as brittle, dull hair. Filtered showerheads prevent the absorption of these minerals into the skin and hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

In addition, a filtered showerhead can help to reduce respiratory irritation caused by volatile chemicals that evaporate into the air during hot showers. These fumes can be particularly dangerous to those with breathing problems like asthma and allergies. Showerhead filters that contain a combination of activated carbon and KDF media, which uses a process called reduction-oxidation to neutralize harmful contaminants, help to reduce the release of these chemicals into the air during showers.

When shopping for a shower head filter, look for one that fits your current showerhead and has the option to change the spray settings. Also, be sure to consider how often you need to replace the filter and whether it has a subscription service that sends replacements right to your door. If you’re looking for an easy way to upgrade your shower experience, the Afina shower head offers both superior filtration and a luxurious feel, making it a perfect choice for your home. Finally, it is important to know what contaminants are present in your local water supply before selecting a showerhead filter, as some will target different types of impurities than others. You can check your local water quality report or contact a water testing company to find out more.

Reduces Scalp Irritation

A filtered shower head can reduce chlorine and other harmful chemicals that contribute to dryness and irritation of the skin and scalp. It also helps prevent damage to hair follicles that can lead to thinning and hair loss, resulting in healthier and thicker hair.

When choosing a shower filter, it’s important to look for one that is compatible with your existing shower head and easy to install. Most shower heads come with a filter cartridge that needs to be replaced regularly (on average, every 10,000 gallons or every six months). The filtration method is another consideration: some filters use granulated activated carbon to remove chlorine and other contaminants from water; others use kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) or copper-zinc filtration systems to reduce heavy metals; while still others use a combination of these and other methods like calcium sulfite to eliminate chlorine, heavy metals and other impurities.

While it’s not a guarantee, many users report that a filtered showerhead can help reduce dandruff and scalp irritation. A more balanced scalp environment may also reduce the need for expensive shampoos, hair treatments and conditioners, helping you save money in the long run.

Using a showerhead that filters out hard minerals (calcium and magnesium) can also reduce the buildup on your fixtures, faucets and appliances and reduce scale deposits that can shorten their lifespan. Some filtered showerheads claim to soften the water, but you should check your local water quality reports or buy an at-home water testing kit to be sure.

Reduces Hair Irritation

Shower water filters can help reduce the irritants that cause hair and skin problems. They remove harmful minerals, chemicals, and metals that can clog pores, irritate scalps, and damage hair. They also help maintain the natural oils of skin and hair. Some filters even claim to prevent chlorine from drying and damaging hair. This is great for those suffering from eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

Chlorine in water can be very drying, and this is especially true for those with sensitive skin or scalps. Filtered shower heads can eliminate this problem, and they can also prevent dandruff. Shower head filters can also reduce hair breakage and make hair more manageable.

The exact filtration mechanism of shower filters vary by brand, but most include at least one stage for removing impurities from the water. Some use a KDF 55 filter to remove chlorine and heavy metals, while others employ calcium sulfite or activated carbon. Some brands even combine these stages to offer more thorough purification.

While the specific benefits of a filtered shower head will vary by person, most users report that they improve the condition of their hair and skin. In fact, some manufacturers cite clinical studies that show a direct correlation between their products and hair/skin health improvements. However, this practice carries an inherent conflict of interest and should be considered carefully before making a purchase.

As a result, consumers should be wary of claims of showerhead filters promoting the treatment of dermatological diseases. In addition, they should research a filter’s longevity, water flow rate, mineral retention, and science to avoid purchasing products that may be falsely advertising their benefits. Lastly, individuals should consult with a dermatologist to ensure that a filtered shower head is safe and effective from a skin, hair, and scalp perspective.

Reduces Bacteria

There’s no such thing as completely pure water, so filtered shower heads aren’t necessarily a cure-all for skin and hair problems. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that these filters do reduce some chemicals, minerals and heavy metals that can cause irritation. Many filtered shower head manufacturers also cite studies that support their products’ claims of helping with specific conditions, like eczema, but the results can be anecdotal.

The filter type in a filtered showerhead determines what impurities it targets. Most are designed to target chlorine, heavy metals and other minerals in the water that may be harmful for skin or hair. The most common types of filtration used in these showerheads are activated carbon, KDF-55 and calcium sulfite. Some manufacturers add more stages to their filters to increase filtration capabilities, like sand or alum for particulate filtration.

Aside from removing harmful minerals, a filtered shower head helps to remove odors and bacteria. Some filtered showerheads use coconut shell charcoal to help eliminate unpleasant odors while others contain KDF-55 or a similar process that neutralizes chlorine and other contaminants through a chemical reaction, like redox, according to the Jolie website.

Another benefit of a filtered shower head is that it can help with the condition known as hard water, which can cause dry skin and brittle hair. It works by reducing the calcium and magnesium minerals that can dry out the skin, clog pores and irritate the scalp. A filtered showerhead can also reduce chlorine, which is a major allergen that causes rashes, itching and other symptoms in some people, including rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, according to dermatologists. Although there is little evidence that this allergy can be caused by the mineral compounds in hard water, it’s still important to note, Engelman said.