Dry hair and skin? Take a look at your shower water

Water is central to daily life and wellbeing, but drinking water is only part of the picture. The water used for washing can matter to everyday comfort too.

It may be worth considering how your tap water feels on skin and hair as well as how it tastes. If your skin feels tight or your hair feels dry after washing, look at temperature, your usual products and water quality together. A suitable filter is one option; persistent symptoms should not be treated as a water-treatment diagnosis.

Why consider filtering shower water?

Water is often introduced simply as H₂O, but tap water also contains dissolved substances. Its source and treatment affect its composition, taste and feel.

To understand your supply, start with current water-quality information. 

Public water systems serve many uses, including municipal drinking and cooking supplies as well as toilets, washing machines, showers and baths.

Treatment is designed around regulated quality requirements for the supply, while a household may have additional preferences about taste or showering comfort.

Chlorine helps control microorganisms in water distribution systems. It can also react with organic matter to form disinfection by-products. Managing both disinfection and by-products is part of water treatment and monitoring.

Some people find showering leaves skin or hair feeling dry. Temperature, shower duration, water quality and personal-care products can all contribute.

Claims about long-term health effects require evidence about the particular substance and exposure. A shower filter should be assessed by its treatment specifications, not promises to prevent disease.

Which shower filter should you choose?

A filtered shower head is a convenient option. Common technologies include activated carbon, KDF and vitamin C, each with different operating requirements.

Activated-carbon shower filters

Activated carbon is commonly used to reduce chlorine, taste and odour. Performance depends on the cartridge design, temperature, flow and contact time; check that the product is intended for shower use.

KDF shower filters

KDF media use copper and zinc in a treatment process that can reduce chlorine and some other substances under suitable operating conditions.

Performance depends on the complete filter design and operating conditions. Check specific claims for chlorine, chloramine and other substances rather than assuming a KDF cartridge addresses every water issue.

Vitamin C shower filters

Vitamin C cartridges use ascorbic acid to neutralise chlorine.

The reaction with chlorine is rapid, but the result from a particular shower filter also depends on flow, water conditions and the remaining cartridge life.