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Apr 10, 2025

The Best Shower Filters for Healthy Skin and Hair — What Is the Best Filter for Hair?

Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Better hair days are ahead with our favorite easy-to-install shower

Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Better hair days are ahead with our favorite easy-to-install shower filters

An everything shower is sacred. It’s the occasion to pull out your best-in-class hair mask, a fresh razor, and the most luxurious body wash. But the one thing you might be missing from your everything shower is a filter to protect your hair and skin from harsh contaminants and the minerals in hard water. Even the most nourishing hair and skin products can't reverse the drying, stripping effects of unfiltered water.

“Unfiltered shower water often contains chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals, which disrupt the skin’s microbiome and natural moisture barrier, leading to dryness, premature aging, and conditions like eczema and acne,” says Robert Dorfman, a Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon. “These same contaminants strip the scalp and hair of natural oils, causing irritation, dandruff, excess oil production, and even increased breakage.”

The best part? You don't need to overhaul your shower to install a filter: there are filter attachments and filtered showerheads that can be installed in minutes, already fit your existing shower, and have spa-like features that elevate your cleansing experience. Ahead, we rounded up the best shower filters that experts love to revamp your shower, leaving your hair, skin, and nails feeling soft and shiny.

Canopy's Filtered Showerhead is highly rated and a favorite among Bazaar staffers, and for good reason. It's easy to install and has three spa-like stream options and an option to add a felt diffuser with one of the brand's soothing and relaxing scents.

Filter type: Activated carbon, KDF-55, calcium sulfite

Filter replacements: Every three months, $35 each

Colors: 4

Customer review: "I am obsessed with this shower head! The adjustable pressure settings make every shower feel customized—whether I want a relaxing rainfall or a stronger stream to rinse out my hair. The water feels noticeably softer, and I love knowing the built-in filtration is helping remove impurities. Plus, it looks so sleek and instantly upgraded my bathroom aesthetic. Installation was super easy, and it’s been a total game-changer. Highly recommend!." —Sydney Steer

Jolie is a leader in the filter space, thanks to its ability to effectively remove chlorine, impurities, and unwanted minerals without compromising water pressure. We love this filtered showerhead because it leaves our skin and hair feeling noticeably softer and cleaner with each wash. Plus, it comes in fun hues like vibrant red and metallic gold and classic shades like chrome and black, so you're bound to find a match for your shower style.

Filter type: KDF-55, calcium sulfite

Filter replacements: Every three months, $33 each

Colors: 5

What our editors are saying: "I wouldn't consider myself handy, but this filtered showerhead was so easy to apply and looks gorgeous in my shower. The pressure is also really strong, which is much needed with the subpar New York City plumbing." —Katie Intner, beauty market and commerce editor

Borfman praises Filterbaby's eco-friendly filter for its plastic-free refillable filter system, which removes over a dozen impurities and contaminants, including copper, mercury, lead, and microplastics.

Filter replacements: Every three months, $45 each

Colors: 4

Customer review: "Filterbaby is a lifesaver! Struggled with dry, irritated skin after showering, no matter what I did! I finally decided to try a shower filter, and I'm so glad I went with Filterbaby Pro. Huge difference in my skin. No more dryness or irritation, just soft, hydrated skin after every shower." —Audrey N.

One surefire way to turn your bathroom into a spa is with this filtered showerhead from hair tool brand T3, which has seven different spray settings. The mineral filtration system removes harmful minerals like hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and iron oxide and replaces them with good-for-your-skin minerals like zinc and calcium sulfide.

Filter type: Mineral

Filter replacements: Every six months, $29.99

Colors: 5

Customer review: "Best filter found so far. Not sure if my water makes it go bad quicker than usual, but the filter seems to do a good job protecting my hair from turning unwanted colors." —Alex L.

If you don't want to break up with your showerhead, but are looking for cleaner, softer water, opt for this filter that connects to your showerhead. It helps balance the pH level of your water, removes any unwanted odors, and infuses water with minerals that improve your hair, skin, and nails. The kit comes with the tools needed to install the filter, which takes just a few minutes and attaches to most showerheads without disrupting the existing pressure.

Filter type: KDF-55, calcium sulfite

Filter replacements: Every three months, $20 each

Colors: 3

Customer review: "This honestly work perfect I have hard water it used to make my hair feel so gross when its wet but now I can shower and actually like to wash my hair it makes my skin feel alot. Better also." —Cheyenne

This highly rated multi-filter showerhead softens water, can be easily applied in minutes, and reduces skin dryness. It's also perfect for acne-prone people, thanks to its ability to improve pH, remove contaminants, and infuse water with oxygen and essential minerals.

Filter type: Calcium sulfite, redox media

Filter replacements: Every four to six months, $24.95 each

Colors: 5

Customer review: "I no longer feel the dry, itchy skin on my face and head. It was easy to install, no leaking. Big difference in the way my body feels. Perfect for apartment showers with old pipes." —David Bloom

Kohler brought its bathroom expertise to the shower, and it shows. The brand's filtered showerhead has a five-layer system, including an activated carbon filter that removes heavy metals, chlorine, and buildup.

Filter type: 5-layer Aquifer KDF 55 system

Filter replacements: Every six months, $40

Colors: 4

What our editors are saying: "Not only does Kohler's filtered shower head lend to my hotel-level cleanse, but it generally makes my bathroom look more stylish (I'm obsessed with the brushed nickel version). It's easy to apply and makes a real difference in the quality of my showering experience, thanks to its built-in activated charcoal filter that reduces impurities like chlorine and heavy metals. And did I mention the filter only has to be changed every six months?" —Tiffany Dodson Davis, beauty commerce editor

Shower filters do exactly as you would expect—they use levels of filtration to rid chlorine, harsh minerals, unwanted chemicals, odors, and more. "All harmful contaminants are removed from your water before they come into contact with your skin and hair," says Borfman. "These contaminants are commonly found in tap water and can cause dryness, irritation, and long-term damage to both the skin and hair."

Again, there's no need for a full bathroom renovation to ensure your water is clean. Choose from filters that attach to your existing shower, or get a brand new showerhead that can be installed in just a few minutes. Pay attention to the type of filtration system, Borfman warns. "The best filters use a multi-stage process to effectively eliminate chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, microplastics, and even viruses," he adds.

For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women of every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

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