Your shower water could be the reason for your bad hair day. Hard water – water high in calcium and magnesium – is popular all over the US. While this is not a health concern, it can negatively affect your hair and skin if you don’t use the filter in the shower.
“City water is often recycled and treated to ensure it is safe for use and consumption,” explains Amanda Buechnertrichologist and Member of the Hair Function Council. “Chlorine, sodium chloride, magnesium carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, calcium, iron and aluminum may be added to the treatment process to remove particulates. [and] destroy bacteria, parasites and viruses. This makes the water safe to consume but sometimes bad for the structure of the hair and scalp. ”
“In particular, chlorine and heavy metals strip the natural oils from our hair and skin and are the root cause of many of the problems we spend a lot of time, money and effort on to solve. – brittle hair, split ends, frizz, hair color changes, eczema, acne, rashes, even hair loss,” said Arjan Singh and Ryan Babenzien, founders of Jolie.
Buechner also notes that “without shower filters, the chemicals used in water treatment plants can wreak havoc on hair,” especially with permanent treatments like hair dye or keratin treatment. “These factors can also interact with hair serums and styling products, causing a chemical reaction in the hair,” she says. “Some of these elements will produce a crystalline effect on the hair when mixed with certain ingredients in hair products. This can make hair dry and brittle, causing breakage. Hair can become unmanageable with frizz and tangles. The scalp is also at risk of becoming dry and flaky.”
Likewise, hard water can dry out the skin and make it harder to find an effective skin care routine. “One published research tested people with normal skin to the effects of hard water and found that there was a trace amount of the irritant, SLS (commonly known simply as sulfate), in people who washed in hard and soft water.” , speak. Dr. Loretta Ciraldoa board-certified dermatologist based in Miami and the founder of Dr. Loretta. In addition, more water is lost from the skin and subsequent drying, she adds, when the skin is washed in hard water. “For people with potentially sensitive skin and a form of eczema called atopic dermatitis, they experience a worse rash and more itchy skin when washing in hard water.”
People with hard water in their home may notice soap scum build up in their shower or glassware with water spots or cloudy films after washing dishes. This is because the calcium in hard water reacts with the soap and creates a residue.
To know the exact level of water hardness, Ciraldo recommends taking hard water test kit.
For a quick check, “you can also put some liquid soap in your own tap water-filled bottle,” says the dermatologist. “If you shake the bottle and it doesn’t leak, this is a sign you have hard water.”
Since the shower is where we come in contact with the most tap water, installing a shower filter is a worthwhile investment to protect your hair and skin from possible chlorine, metals, and minerals. hidden in the water.
“[A shower filter] helps boost the effectiveness of all the topical hair and skin care products we combine with water (such as your favorite shampoo or serum),” Singh and Babenzien say.
According to Ciraldo, the long-term benefits include “better hydrated, less red, or more sensitive” skin, while Buechner notes positive effects on hair such as “less frizz, more manageable, More shine and moisture balance in hair, better color absorption and longer lasting color. ”
The experts we spoke to said there are only benefits to trying a shower filter – the only risk is not using a filter. First, find the best shower filter to upgrade your hair and skin care.
Buechner recommends Aquasana’s premium shower filter. While the brand has some models available, including standard showerhead and handheld showerhead options, this version has the highest rating on Amazon. “Aquasana is a great bath filter for better skin and hair, as well as Rated A + with a one-year warranty, says Buechner. It uses multi-stage filtration with KDF-55 and coconut shell carbon to remove chlorine and other contaminants. KDF-55 (short for Kinetic attenuation flux) filter media uses copper-zinc alloy to convert chlorine, heavy metals and harmful bacteria into neutral elements that will not affect skin or hair. You’ll need some plumber’s tape to install, and the filter chamber isn’t the most visible, but it’s one of the most effective filters available.
Jolie’s shower head is an attractive option that comes in a variety of colors and comes with everything you need to install it, including a wrench and plumber’s tape, plus an additional scented ceramic tile. that you can keep in your bathroom. “We designed [the shower head] to remove the most chlorine and heaviest metals in the longest time. We achieve that through the use of ‘Ferrari water filter’ – KDF-55 and calcium sulfite,” share Singh and Babenzien. Both KDF-55 and calcium sulfite are more effective at filtering water than carbon, ensuring a chlorine-free shower.
The best built-in hand held shower filter
Sprite Biarritz 7 Mode Handheld Filter Shower Head
Sprite’s KDF-based shower filter uses Chlorgon, a patented redox filter media, to purify water. Its universal inline model comparable to the AquaBliss (below), but for those looking for a built-in filter, the handheld model is a great choice. It looks sleek, feels tall, and comes in seven spray patterns. One caveat to keep in mind is that Sprite’s handheld showerhead filter needs to be replaced every three months, while the in-line filter has a six-month lifespan.
This fan-favorite shower filter features 12 filtration stages – including redox media to convert contaminants – to remove chlorine and dirt from the water. The in-line design is compatible with handheld, stationary and showerheads, and requires no tools for installation. With over 27,000 5-star ratings, one reviewer wrote, “I could tell the difference in my hair and skin in no time!”
Voesh Shower and Vitamin C Fortified Shower Filter
An affordable spa-like option, Voesh shower filters infuse the water with the beauty benefits of vegan probiotics that help support skin microbiota and oatmeal to soothe skin, while vitamin C removes chlorine and other impurities. It also features a botanical oil treatment and comes in five relaxing scents. The screw-in installation doesn’t require any tools, so turning your shower into a spa treatment is super simple.
Not all wells have hard water, but it is most likely the well has hard water because the water supply comes from the ground, where there are minerals in the soil, resulting in a higher mineral content in the water. A multistage filtration system is recommended, like the one in this series that uses KDF 55, calcium sulfide, activated carbon and ceramic beads to filter the water and remove chlorine, iron, copper, lead, cadmium and nickel. Hello Klean’s filters are sleek and sustainable, with an aluminum housing and recyclable refillable components. Cylindrical filters work with most showerheads, but for wall-mounted faucets, this brand is also available. shower adapter.
