Best shower filters to protect hair from hard water

I found the Hello Klean showerhead 2.0 to be the best shower filter, which is no surprise given it’s the leading brand in the growing hard-water scene, offering aesthetic maintenance treatments such as shampoos, conditioners, body wash, scalp soak and body cream. The elegant shower head (which comes in beige, black and chrome) is at the core of the business, and the first product the brand launched back in 2019. Since then, it’s undergone tweaks and redesigns to become the shower head 2.0 that I spent weeks testing. It’s very easy to install: unscrew your usual shower head and screw on the Hello Klean. Run the water for 30 seconds to be sure it's screwed on tight enough, and you’re good to go.

Typically, the filter lasts approximately 50 washes, and you can rotate the headpiece easily to remove the cartridge and swap it out for a new one. It has a two-step circular filtration system that reduces metals, chlorine and impurities in hard water, which you may not notice immediately, but you will see a marked improvement in the water pressure with one use.

The filtration system contains three key ingredients for tackling hard water damage – KDF 55 which removed iron, lead and mercury (small amounts are found in water) and neutralises chlorine to keep skin feeling soft; activated carbon, which traps contaminants in your pipes, which can make your shower smell; and amino acid granules, which keeps your natural hair oils intact so it doesn’t feel dry and stripped of moisture.

It worked very well to combat the itchy, post-shaving dryness I often experience on my legs, and I found the haircare products I used, including shampoo, conditioner and masks, rinsed out much quicker, with a marked improvement overall in the condition of my hair. My hairdresser even commented on its condition, despite years of bleaching my hair.

The water pressure is high, but it uses less water, so overall it is a great energy-efficient option. It feels like an upgrade, it looks super chic and is very easy to clean, install and incorporate into your daily routine. It’s well worth the investment.

Read the full Hello Klean showerhead 2.0 review

If you want to introduce a shower head filter to your everyday routine but want something affordable, Magichome’s showerhead is the best budget option. It’s not as chic as others I tried, but it’s easy to install and has a simple filtration system. It comes in plenty of colours, including white, pink, black and silver, with five spray modes, silicone nozzles that distribute even water pressure and fits universally into most showers.

Just be careful to screw it on tightly before running the water, as you’ll find it leaks otherwise. Inside each kit is the shower head, two bags of mineral balls and a safety ring. Place the safety ring at the top of the handle, and carefully pour one pack of filter beads in before tightening the shower head to your typical hose.

The filtration system includes multi-coloured mineral balls in the handle, designed to reduce chlorine and contaminants in your water pipes, while improving water pressure – it does both adequately for the low price tag.

The biggest difference I saw when using this was how much softer and shinier my hair felt. Given that I often reach for dry shampoo between washes and use more heat than I probably should, it’s prone to looking dull and drab, but this was a great treatment to combat that. The softer water has also allowed my skin to feel more supple and a lot less dry by the time I stepped out of the shower.

Picki Niki is a German brand that makes its showerhead filter in Korea. It’s a simple but effective design that features two different filters – one in the showerhead handle, which filters sediment, rust and dirt; the other in the head itself, which reduces hard water and chlorine. Installation takes seconds – simply unscrew your old showerhead and screw this one on in its place. The brand claims this showerhead reduces water consumption by 35 per cent, and I was thoroughly impressed by how quickly it made a difference to the water pressure. I also appreciated the fact that the brand’s website details the studies it has conducted to evaluate product performance, enabling people to learn more before investing.

After washing my hair just once, it felt smoother, silkier and shinier, thanks to the vitamin C gel filter, which also includes glycerin and collagen, helping to keep your skin feeling supple. The vitamin C filter is used to reduce any residual chlorine that can be left on hair washed with hard water. After two weeks, I saw a huge improvement in my overall hair health, with less dryness and frizz.

Meko’s hard-water filter showerhead is at the lower price point and is an easy entryway into adapting your water for your hair and skin needs. Again, like the others I tried, installing it required a few seconds of screwing on and off, and it comes with the handheld shower head, a 1.5m stainless steel hose, teflon tape and two extra washers. I loved that it has four spray modes (rainfall, spray, mixed and a powerful cleaning jet stream (which is fantastic for cleaning your shower walls)), so you can switch between whichever suits you best (I preferred rainfall and spray). To adjust the water pressure, simply twist the handle of the shower head to run through each mode.

It offers a 15-stage filtration system that reduces minerals such as chlorine, bacteria, algae, and fungus by incorporating concealed activated carbon, vitamin C, and ceramic balls in the shower head handle. You can also quickly turn the water flow off by pressing the large stop button on the head, which also prevents any water from continuing to drip onto the floor when you’ve finished your shower.

The silicone massage head looks nice, but I didn’t reach for it at all, typically because my hair is prone to knotting, so it’s aesthetically pleasing but not very functional. My only gripe is how heavy the shower head is – it weighed the hose down and often leaned forward, so keep that in mind if you don’t have a very structurally sound shower set-up.

Overall, it’s reasonably priced, easy to install, improves water pressure and makes washing your hair a quicker experience, thanks to the adjustable water spray options on the shower head. While I have an oily scalp, I don’t experience any dandruff-induced flakes, but I do find it can sometimes feel itchy, and after two weeks of using this, I noticed less irritation. It also improved the knottiness of my hair, made it easier to brush once clean, and reduced frizz, so styling it dry was quicker.

Usually, the filter system needs replacing every four to six months - two come extra in every order - so it’s cost-effective too and won’t break the bank.

Another stylish option comes from Curo Skin, founded by Harry Bilby in 2024, who himself suffered with dry, irritated skin and sought to solve the root of the problem: his water. The Curo Skin filtered shower head comes in three sleek colours: black, chrome and gold.

The faceplate easily twists off to reveal a slot to insert the fabric capsule filter, which contains KDF-55, calcium sulfite and activated carbon. Simply pop it in and screw the face back on. It’s a simple design that’s fuss-free to get to grips with, making it easy to slot into your routine.

There’s a satisfyingly immediate improvement in water softness. After a fortnight of use, I noticed differences such as knotty hair taking less time to detangle after washing, smoother strands and a general increase in softness, despite using my usual shampoo and occasional conditioner.

If you’re forgetful about replacing the filter, which the brand advises you do every 90 days, it also offers subscription packages on an annual or quarterly basis to keep you organised.

Much like the Meko hard-water filter showerhead, it’s heavy. It was far too heavy, in fact, to fit in my usual shower holder and stay upright. Curo Skin does sell its own shower holder to combat this, which is inexpensive at £10, but it is an added cost that its competitors don’t come with.