Despite living in London my entire life, I never realised how polluted the water truly was until I started using the best filtered shower heads.
Ahead of making the switch, I came across some shocking statistics. According to Scaleguard, 60 per cent of water in the UK is considered “hard or very hard”, with many areas showing “over 200mg of calcium carbonate per litre”, among other contaminants.
Alongside stubborn water marks on the glass in my shower, I spotted a build-up of limescale around my taps and shower head – despite a full redecoration just five years ago. If hard water is ruining my bathroom appliances, what damage is it doing to my scalp and skin?
Since my teenage years, I have also battled with the hair-pulling condition Trichotillomania. Lately, I have been on a hair growth journey to repair the damage and give my hair, as well as my scalp, some TLC.
Several factors impact hair growth, but the Lead Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley, pinpointed unfiltered water as a major culprit. Unfiltered water can carry heavy metals, minerals and impurities, which can wreak havoc with skin, scalp, and hair health.
Best filtered showerheads at a glance
Best overall – Cult Beauty Qure Skincare Shower Filter: £133, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Best budget buy – JML 3 Function Pure Shower Head: £15, Dunelm.com
Best wall-mounted shower filter – Hello Klean Rain Shower: £76, Helloklean.com
Best smart handheld shower filter – Hello Klean Shower Head+, £120, Helloklean.com
Best for colour variety – The Water2 Filtered Showerhead, £89.96, Water2.com
Hard water can contribute to scalp conditions, dandruff, hair loss, brittle hair, breakouts, psoriasis, and other skin concerns. Kingsley explains: “Minerals and metals in hard water can cause the hair to look dull and feel dry, so using a shower head that filters out some of these elements can be beneficial. There is some evidence to suggest that hard water may also impact the skin.”
As a beauty editor, I’ve long been conscious of the products I apply to my face, body, scalp and hair. But what about the actual water I use when showering? So, I took the plunge and sought out the best filtered shower heads to protect my hair, skin – and even my interiors.
How I tested
Replacing my shower head and separate hose with new filtered shower heads, I used each device for several weeks at a time to assess its efficacy. Monitoring my skin, scalp and hair texture for any changes, I took note of my hair texture – if it felt softer, was less brittle and looked shinier after hair washes – while using the same shampoo and conditioner.
I also paid close attention to any changes in the skin on my face and body. I further considered each filter's compatibility with my shower, including the installation process as a DIY novice, the filtration system, and water pressure. I compared whether each filter needed an additional filter inside or if that was built into each attachment. The dimensions, costs, and colour options had to complement my interiors, too.
Read more: Best electric showers for your home
Qure Skincare Shower Filter
★★★★★
Best: Overall
What we love: I particularly like the large rotating shower head, as well as the practical selection of colours
Take note: The head and filter replacements are expensive
Qure has covered all bases with its shower filter, though I expect nothing less considering the price tag. Comprising three filtering tiers – a carbon fibre layer, KDF layer, and a “filter of future” layer – that remove chlorine, heavy metals and other contaminants from water, their combined magic delivers 90 days of clean water.
Water feels gentler and cleaner the instant I switch my shower on, working wonders on my skin and scalp moisture. I’ve even noticed the corners of my hairline have started to show signs of regrowth.
I can’t confirm if this is due to the water filter alone, but it’s certainly made my scalp and skin feel less irritated and inflamed. The large head can also be tilted effortlessly.
The three adjustable water settings – a gentle yet widespread rainfall setting, a massage option, and a targeted power spray – don’t impact the water pressure – I even checked my boiler. I mainly relied on the third power setting when shampooing and conditioning, while the rainfall setting was more relaxing.
Buy now £133.00, Cult Beauty
JML 3 Function Pure Shower Head
★★★★☆
Best: Budget-friendly
What we love: Though affordable, there’s a lot to love about this model, including its innovative design, transparent body, and adjustable water pressure settings
Take note: The head is smaller than its counterparts, and it’s not compatible with electric showers
What the JML Ionic Shower Head compromises on price, it doesn’t compromise on quality. I managed to fit this attachment onto my shower hose in under a minute, sans tools. Ultra-easy to use with three settings – massage, wellness and rain shower – the head is fitted with a toggle that details the three water pressures with user-friendly images.
The powerful massage setting alleviated tension in my shoulders, while the wellness option combines the massage and rain functions. Standing out in a sea of monochromatic shower filters, the unique design features Maifan stone pebbles in the transparent hose (you can also see the water gush through).
As this device filters water with stone pebbles, rather than detachable filters like Hello Klean, Curo and Qure, I questioned how effective and long-lasting it is. The pebbles can be replaced at a sale price of £10.99, but it’s arguably more cost-effective to buy an entirely new shower head. The stop toggle prevents dripping – and it’s a useful feature to pause the water flow mid-shower while lathering shampoo and conditioner without wasting water.
Note that water is prone to sitting in the head – a significant drawback that could prove counterproductive over time. A workaround is running water for a few extra minutes after showering to empty stagnant water. The shower head is also not compatible with electric showers.
Buy now £15.00, Dunelm.com
Hello Klean Shower Head+
★★★★★
Best: Hand-held shower filter
What we love: Aesthetically-pleasing, easy to install and compatible with an iOS app that notifies users on temperature and refills
Take note: Pricey, with a limited selection of colours available, and the water pressure is not adjustable
Hello Klean’s Shower Head+ is among the most high-tech, innovative pieces of kit I have seen in the beauty industry. Using a three-stage filtration with CRS and ADMS to remove limescale, metals and chlorine from the water, this smart design features a built-in intelligence system that analyses my shower habits.
Granted, I’m not a tech-savvy person, but the smart features were not wasted on me. I love piping hot showers, but the app made me realise the temperature was too high – and the danger of scorching showers to hair and skin health.
The app also tracks real water usage, the duration of the shower, skin health, carbon emissions, optimal time, the metals filtered, as well as the filter life and when to change it. Aside from the app, the shower head features a SmartHeat™ light that lights up when temperatures reach over 42°C, as well as a SmartRefill™ light to alert users to replace their filter.
Despite my shower having a main rainfall head and a handheld hose, the water pressure wasn’t impacted.
This device only offers one pressure flow, whereas Qure’s Skincare Shower Filter and JML’s handheld appliance offer adjustable pressure settings. The filter is also one of the more expensive filtered shower heads, so utilise the subscription offer to save some pennies.
Buy now £60.00, Hello Klean
The Water2 Filtered Showerhead
★★★☆☆
Best: For ease of use
What we love: Easy to install, has a matching rain and handheld filter available, and doesn’t impact water pressure
Take note: This model is slightly more cumbersome than others, and the water pressure isn’t adjustable.
After a leaky experience with the Water2 drinking filter, I was sceptical about the new Water2Skin filter for my shower. However, the attachment was easy to fit to the main hose without any leaks or changes in water pressure, and the filter was also simple to change.
Using a triple-filtration system of activated carbon, KDF, and vitamin C to reduce chlorine, fluoride, lead and limescale in the water, the filter left my skin and hair feeling soft, thoroughly cleansed, and less irritated. Plus, there was no limescale, residue or water marks on the attachment after consistent use – testament to its effective filtration system.
Without adjustable water pressure setting or a pause function, Water2 claims its shower head automatically increases the water pressure. The jury is out on that front, especially compared to JML’s Massage setting or Cure’s powerful hose.
More cumbersome than other designs, the 310g design feels significantly larger than most with its 27cm shaft and square head.
The three available colours – silver, gold and black – complement most bathroom interiors. A rainfall head is also available, albeit in the same square shape that might not appeal to all tastes.
Buy now, Water2.com/
Hello Klean Rain Shower
★★★★★
Best: For wall-mounting
What we love: Easy to install, it maintains strong water pressure, comes with a one year warranty and has a return period of 100 days
Take note: Be warned, the costly filters need to be replaced, there’s a limited selection of colours available, and the water pressure is not adjustable
Hello Klean’s Rain Shower was the first shower filter I tried, and it truly converted me. I noticed major differences right away: the water felt gentler, my hair felt soft and looked glossy once again, and my skin looked clearer.
This filter claims to reduce 90 per cent of chlorine, heavy metals, and impurities from the water to balance the pH level. It also promises to save 25 per cent of water.
The filtration neutralises the water and converts chlorine into a harmless chloride ion within a fraction of a second, yet there was no delay when I turned the dial on.
The filter sits neatly inside the head and is easy to replace after a few months. Plus, the head itself was simple to attach and adjustable thanks to the tilting head.
I have two bugbears: the filters are costly to re-buy (even on a subscription), and the colours are limited, which may irk those who are particular about their interiors. I opted for the chrome version, but it clashes with the existing silver accents in my bathroom.
Buy now £76.00, Helloklean.com
Curo Filtered Shower Head
★★★★☆
Best: Sustainable shower head filter
What we love: With an affordable subscription plan, it’s easy to fit and replace, an eco-friendly design and anti-clog nozzle
Take note: This model is quite heavy to hold
Curo’s shower filter has been approved by dermatologists and trichologists for improving skin and hair health. Its aesthetic design is equally appealing.
The round head may appear small, but my gosh, it is powerful – even with only one pressure setting. Curo claim this design boosts water flow by 18 per cent, but it feels substantially more. Some might even find it too aggressive.
This filter uses a combination of KDF-55, calcium sulphate and activated carbon to remove chlorine, heavy metals and nitrates from the water. An independent study showed an “average chlorine reduction of 91 per cent across its entire recommended lifespan.”
The anti-clog shower head left my skin and hair feeling thoroughly clean and smooth after use. It’s got impressive sustainable credentials too: the filtration system is housed in a recycled non-woven cloth and 90 per cent less plastic than rival shower head filters.
Its weighty filter makes this handheld attachment noticeably heavy. Though it fit into my existing shower holder effortlessly, the brand has advised customers to purchase Curo’s shower holder attachment separately for £10 to avoid weighing down existing pipework and to ensure a secure fit.
Buy now, Selfridges.com
Tappwater ShowerPro Rain
★★★★★
Best: Long-lasting shower filter
What we love: Removes contaminants and adds essential minerals, while adding good pressure and tilting easily
Take note: Only comes in one colour, and the filter is awkward to replace
Multifunctional with a clean and simple aesthetic, the Tappwater ShowerPro Rain boasts an impressive five-stage microfiltration technology (a metallic mesh, cotton film, calcium sulphite, KDF-55, and a Swedish mineral rock filter).
This hybrid is unlike other designs as it purifies and remineralises the water simultaneously. While the filter removes over 70 contaminants, it also adds essential minerals – including calcium, magnesium and potassium – into the water to promote healthy hair and skin. The water felt cleaner, softer and gentler.
This main shower head is easy to install without any tools, and it tilts easily without fear of it falling off. While the compartment housing the refill was stiff to undo at first, it only needs replacing every six months, which is longer than all the other shower filters – and ideal for those who may forget to change the filter.
Buy now £119.00, Boots.com
Picki Niki Filtered Shower Head with Vitamin C
★★★★☆
Best: Shower head for aromatherapy
What we love: 200 micro holes for powerful water pressure, and dual filter protection with vitamin C gel
Take note: Only comes in limited colourways
During testing with a sinus infection, I swapped out the heavenly spa filter for the tea tree vitamin filter to help clear my airways. Other vitamin filters available have not only boosted my mood but turned my shower cubicle into a mini spa – or what the brand calls a “water wellness” experience.
Picki Niki’s shower head is also impressively compact and lightweight – I’ve even seen influencers travel with it to maintain their hair and bodycare routine abroad.
Easy to fit to the hose, it’s equally easy to change the vitamin filter and replace the precision plate without any tools. The water pressure didn’t change, but it released a powerful yet ultra-fine spray of water, which made for a relaxing shower experience.
This design is fitted with a sediment and vitamin filter, a 200-hole precision plate, and vitamin C gel inside the head, which is an unusual feature. This combination neutralises chlorine, while binding calcium, magnesium and other minerals for gentler water. It left me energised in the morning, breathing better and more relaxed, with softer hair and skin.
It’s a shame that the head is only available in two colours, but considering the multifunctionality and price, it is a worthy contender for those prioritising skin and hair health, intrigued by its aromatherapy benefits, or seeking a travel-friendly companion.
Buy now, Picki Niki
What is the best filtered shower head?
All these shower heads left my hair soft, less brittle, and shinier, while my skin also felt smoother – I’m completely won over.
For those wanting to simply replace their rain shower head, I recommend Hello Klean’s simplistic and effective Rain Shower. Complete with a handheld attachment, it will appeal to those wanting a complete set. Elsewhere, JML’s Shower Filter is ideal for those on a budget and who want more control over the water pressure.
However, Qure’s shower head takes the top spot. Boasting adjustable water pressure for a luxurious shower experience, it’s got a powerful filtration system. For those seeking a handheld hose shower filter, the Hello Klean Head+ is the cream of the crop. It is easy to fit, offers optimum filtration, and the app connectivity makes it easy to monitor your shower routine, the temperature, water usage, and be alerted to replace your filter.
Why trust me
I have been sourcing, testing and writing about beauty, health, fashion and home products for over a decade, and I pride myself on finding the best products that truly deliver on their promise. I have battled with Trichotillomania for over 20 years and have recently struggled with hormonal breakouts, so I am keen to find solutions to help those facing similar beauty concerns. Over the last few months, I have been testing the best filtered shower heads, including overhead rain shower heads, as well as handheld hose attachments, to save you the time, energy and money.
Read more: This shower head filter works wonders on London's hard water
