Filtered Shower Heads: Are They Worth It?

Key Takeaways:

• Filtered shower heads are marketed to help reduce chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants from shower water, which may support skin and hair health. 
• Studies show that KDF-55 filters and calcium sulfite can be effective at reducing chlorine and other heavy metals from water. 
• Using a filtered shower head is generally considered safe, but it’s important to research products as quality may vary widely. 

Filtered shower heads are gaining popularity. This trend can largely be traced back to Jolie, a beauty wellness company, which gained attention quickly after it launched in 2021. 

But what exactly do filtered shower heads do? According to the Jolie website: 

“Nearly all of the water in the country contains chlorine, heavy metals & other contaminants, which all contribute to many common skin & hair issues, such as dry skin, damaged hair, change in hair color, and rashes/irritation. We believe that beauty starts with clean water. The Jolie Filtered Showerhead helps reduce chlorine, heavy metals & other contaminants from your shower water — to support your skin, hair, and wellbeing.”

While this seems promising, it’s worth investigating whether there’s research to support these claims. 

[signup]

Do filtered shower heads work? 

Several studies have found that using hard water — which is water high in dissolved minerals — can be associated with skin problems, such as atopic dermatitis and eczema. (1, 2). 

What’s less clear is whether filtered shower heads can address these problems. For the sake of this article, we’ll focus specifically on Jolie’s filtered shower heads and compare some of its claims against existing research:

NSF Certification

According to Jolie’s website, their product uses an attachable water filter, which has a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Certification. The NSF’s certification process involves rigorous testing, inspection, and verification to standards for public health protection. In other words, Jolie’s water filter meets globally recognized standards in terms of safety and quality. 

KDF-55 

Jolie’s filter contains KDF-55, which the website describes as “high-purity copper-zinc granules and designed specifically for reducing chlorine and heavy metals at high pressure and higher temperatures.” One study supports this claim, saying that KDF filters have high efficiency in chlorine reduction, as well as other heavy elements. 

Calcium Sulfite

According to Jolie, its shower head filter also contains calcium sulfite, which works in tandem with KDF-55 to help reduce chlorine levels. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using sulfite salts — like calcium sulfite — is a common dechlorination method that’s used to disinfect wastewater. 

Overall, Jolie’s product aligns with existing research about water filtration practices. 

What are the potential downsides of using filtered shower heads? 

However, there are things to keep in mind if you’re getting ready to purchase a filtered shower head: 

• It’s an unregulated industry. There are no federal regulations around filtered shower heads. What this means is that companies aren’t required to make products that meet certain standards — leading to potentially vast differences in product quality.

• More studies are needed. While there’s research around certain chemical compounds and their effects on water purification, there are currently no studies that thoroughly and directly investigate the effectiveness of filtered shower heads when it comes to skin and hair quality. 

[signup]

Should I invest in a filtered shower head? 

In short: there’s likely no harm in using a filtered shower head — and there’s a good chance it may even support improved skin and hair health due to the reduction of chlorine and other heavy metals from water.

However, as we mentioned earlier, not every filtered shower head is created equal. So make sure to do your research to ensure you invest in a product that aligns with your expectations.