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The best showerhead filters are all over TikTok, and though we’re skeptical of most viral products, these particle-minimizing home gadgets take our everything showers to a cleaner, gentler level. They essentially filter out hard water contaminants like metals and minerals from your water, which can otherwise build up on your skin and hair and lead to dryness, dullness, and even an itchy scalp. “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.”
Our Top Showerhead Filters
- Best Overall: Jolie Filtered Showerhead, $169
- Best Aromatherapeutic: Canopy Filtered Shower Head, $150
- Best Universal Filter: AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter, $37
- Easiest to Install: Weddell Duo Shower Filter, $90
- Best Compact: Kohler Cinq Filtered Showerhead, $218
- Best Spray Settings: T3 Source Showerhead Shower Filter, $160
- Best Budget: Kitsch The Shower Filter, $40
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.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How does hard water affect my skin and hair?
- How does a filtered showerhead benefit my skin and hair?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Jolie Filtered Showerhead
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Jolie
Filtered Showerhead
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Revolve
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 KDF-55 (a type of copper-zinc alloy filter) and calcium sulfite to 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.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 1
- Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite
- Filter life: 90 days
- Color options: 5
Best Aromatherapeutic: Canopy Filtered Shower Head
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Canopy
Filtered Showerhead
Amazon
Nordstrom
Sephora
Why it's worth it: Canopy makes one of our favorite humidifiers for dry skin, but the brand’s Filtered Shower Head is also a favorite amongst Allure editors and dermatologists like Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City. She previously vouched for its intensive filtration system of granular activated carbon, a copper-zinc complex, and calcium sulfite to remove contaminants. This showerhead also features a built-in felt diffuser for adding a dab of your favorite essential oil, turning your shower into a spa-like, sensory experience.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 3
- Filter material: granular activated carbon, copper-zinc, calcium sulfite
- Filter life: 90 days
- Color options: 4
Best Universal Filter: AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter
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AquaBliss
High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter
Amazon
Walmart
Why it's worth it: Whether you want to stick with your current shower head or upgrade to something new, the AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter will work effortlessly with it. This teensy addition to your shower set-up targets metal and sediment buildup floating in your water with a slew of filtration mediums, including a micro-fine stainless steel mesh and activated carbon—while infusing it with a combination of beneficial compounds (like vitamin C and tourmaline) that actually help skin and hair. This tiny filter has a universal fit and is the perfect accompaniment for any showerhead, including rain showers.
More to know
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- Spray settings: none
- Filter material: sand, stainless steel mesh, cotton, calcium sulfite, activated carbon, Redox media (copper-zinc alloy)
- Filter life: 4-6 months, depending on usage frequency
- Color options: 5
Easiest to Install: Weddell Duo Shower Filter
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Weddell
Duo Shower Filter
Amazon
Why it's worth it: If the thought of tools, plumbers, instruction manuals, or all of the above makes you want to bail, this one’s a no-brainer. The Weddell Duo installs in minutes—just twist it on between your existing showerhead and arm—and immediately begins filtering out impurities that can dry out skin and hair. And don’t worry: It doesn’t mess with water pressure, so you can expect a cleaner rinse without sacrificing a satisfying spray.
More to know
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- Spray settings: none
- Filter material: activated carbon
- Filter life: 5-6 months, depending on usage frequency
- Color options: 3
Best Compact: Kohler Cinq Filtered Showerhead
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Kohler
Cinq Filtered Showerhead
Amazon
Kohler
Why it's worth it: For anyone who wants a filtered shower without cluttering their cramped shower space, Kohler’s Cinq is refreshingly streamlined. The filter is built right into the showerhead, so there’s no extra attachment or awkward, bulky silhouette. It’s especially appealing for smaller showers or renters who want a polished, all-in-one upgrade.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 1
- Filter material: activated charcoal
- Filter life: 6 months
- Color options: 3
Best Spray Settings: T3 Source Showerhead Shower Filter
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T3
Source Showerhead Shower Filter
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
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, designed with your hair in mind (the brand is behind some seriously game-changing hair tools) and uses calcium sulfide, zinc, and copper to significantly reduce levels of dirt, minerals, and chlorine in your water supply.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 7
- Filter material: calcium sulfide, zinc, copper
- Filter life: 10,000 gallons (approximately 6 months)
- Color options: 1
Best Budget: Kitsch The Shower Filter
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Kitsch
The Shower Filter
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
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.
More to know
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- Spray settings: none
- Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite
- Filter life: 3 months
- Color options: 3
Best Handheld: Sproos Filtered Shower
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Sproos
Filtered Shower
Amazon
Why it's worth it: A handheld showerhead can feel especially luxurious, especially if you grab one of the Sproos Filtered Shower in its eight vibrant colors. This one also 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.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 3
- Filter material: cotton; KDF-55, calcium sulfite
- Filter life: 90 days
- Color options: 8
Best Water Pressure: Afina Filtered Shower Head
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Afina
Filtered Shower Head
Amazon
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 helps lower heavy metal levels for up to three 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.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 1
- Filter material: KDF-55, calcium sulfite
- Filter life: 3 months
- Color options: 3
Best Adjustable Showerhead: Aquasana Filtered Shower Head
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Aquasana
Filtered Shower Head
Amazon
Walmart
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.
More to know
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- Spray settings: 1
- Filter material: coconut shell carbon, copper-zinc
- Filter life: 6 months
- Color options: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
How does hard water affect my skin and hair?
Considering hard water contributes to soap scum (as in, that gross layer of grime that can build up on your shower floor if you don’t clean it often enough), it’s no surprise that it can also lead to buildup on your body and hair, 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. When that layer of “scum” develops on your body, it 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.
How does a filtered showerhead benefit my skin and hair?
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. 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. These “water-softening systems” include filtration mediums such as KDF-55 (a combination of carbon and zinc) and calcium sulfite. 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.
Meet the experts
- Omer Ibrahim, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist
- Adam Friedman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C.
How we test and review products
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.
Each device undergoes extensive testing and must be approved by a senior member of our beauty team prior to appearing in Allure. Additionally, our editorial team consults board-certified dermatologists and cosmetic chemists about the science behind product claims and independently reviews any studies cited by brands. Testers consider performance across four primary categories: efficacy, safety (including ease of use), research and the science behind specific claims, as well as product value. To learn more information on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
