In the three years that I've lived in my flat, I can count on a single hand the number of times I've had a bath. You see, I've just always been a shower person.
Nothing jolts you awake like standing under steaming hot water, especially first thing in the morning. But despite this daily ritual, the search for a great showerhead has proved challenging (yes, even in my line of work, which is saying something).
They either didn't sit properly in the shower holder or affected the water pressure, which is frustrating when you need to get in and out quickly.
Since I live in London, hard water is also a big factor. Any design without some kind of filter to get rid of impurities would quickly see limescale building up, which isn't doing my hair and skin any favours.
Then I heard about Curo Skin's filtered showerhead, and reader, it seems as though my search may finally be over.
Curo Skin filtered showerhead key specs
- Showerhead colours: Chrome silver, gold or matt black colours
- Filter composition: KDF-55, calcium sulfite and activated carbon
- Filter replacement: every 90 days
- Shower holder size: fits 19mm - 25mm sliding bars
- Guarantee: 60 days
Design
The handheld showerhead and filter arrive in a plastic-free box. The opaque shower accessory, which comes in chrome, gold and black finishes that should match most bathroom interiors, looks high-end, with no windows into the internal parts like other filter showerheads I've tried.
The design's faceplate twists off to reveal the cavity where you'll need to insert the filter, which contains KDF-55 (which filters by a natural chemical reaction), calcium sulfite and activated carbon. This triple-threat comes in a recycled non-woven fabric capsule, so there's no need to fiddle about decanting filter beads - just pop it in and twist the faceplate back on, clockwise. Done. Curo also includes a drawstring carry bag, should you wish to take your showerhead and its holder with you on trips.
Now, I can’t say I’ve ever quite felt the need to pack a showerhead for travel, but if you're a frequent flier who appreciates home comforts, no matter how minute, well, the option is there.
Set up
The only tools you're going to need are your own two hands. As the brand promises, there are 'no plumbing qualifications required' to get this showerhead up and running.
Once you've put the filter into the showerhead, connect it to the hose before hanging everything on the included reinforced shower holder, which attaches around standard shower bars or rails. A few twists here and turns there is all it takes; you should be ready to go in a matter of minutes.
Performance
The filter is where the magic happens, cleansing 99 per cent of impurities and hard metals from standard tap water before it hits your hair and skin. That said, feeling the high water pressure flowing through a brand new showerhead is a certain kind of alchemy.
My previous showerhead would never stay in quite the right position, spraying water beyond the screen door, but Curo's holds steady directly over my head, offering something closer to the rainfall experience one usually luxuriates under in swanky hotels.
While it's hard to discern the difference in water hardness while showering, after a week of use, my hair felt much softer and smoother than before, despite sticking with the same shampoo and conditioner. It's also easier to comb through, so styling takes half the time; a welcome change in my usual, tornado-like weekday morning routine.
As for my skin, I've noticed it doesn't feel as dry afterwards, and the unwelcome family of spots on my chin has started to shift. Customers with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and flaky scalps have reported an improvement, thanks to the filter stopping irritants from soaking into their sensitive skin.
Cost - is it worth the price?
When you can pick up a cheap filter showerhead online for a few quid, you may wonder why you should fork out £80 on Curo’s showerhead and filter.
The considered design is a big draw, but the main attraction is that filter capsule, which removes chlorine and hard metals from the H20 equation. These filters last 90 days, so the cost-per-wash works out to 88p a day for daily use. Think about how much you pay for regular skincare, and it starts to feel like money well spent.
Subscribe, and you could pay as little as 32p a day on the Annual deal, which sends you a showerhead and four filters a year. If you're the forgetful type, the Quarterly subscription dispatches a fresh filter every 90 days, so you'll have a physical nudge to swap over your filter and keep that water quality high.
Both subscription plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you’ll have time to see if Curo Skin works for you first.
Verdict
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Curo Skin showerhead and filter
Tap water may be safe to drink, but if you’re dealing with London’s notoriously hard water, full of chlorine and heavy metals, you’ll notice the effects in your hair and skin.
Curo Skin removes 99 per cent of these impurities through its filters that work effectively, even with hot water, for 90 days. The design-led showerhead, available in gold, silver and black finishes to suit most interiors, and eco-friendly, replaceable filter takes minutes to attach to standard shower rails and looks pleasingly high-end, upgrading your bathroom aesthetic as well as your water quality.
After a week, my hair and skin felt softer and nourished. It turns a daily shower into a wellness ritual - not bad for as little as 32p a day.
Buy now £80.00, Curo Skin
