Approximately 60 per cent of the UK is considered to have hard water, meaning high amounts of calcium carbonate are found in pipes, showers and other water sources. London, Bedfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire are some of the most affected areas in the UK. Alongside notably more limescale in your kettle, reduced water pressure and an increased likelihood of blocked drains, hard water also has a dramatic impact on your hair.
Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and founder of Self London, explains: “Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium – and these minerals can have a significant impact on both skin and hair health. For hair, hard water can leave a mineral deposit on the strands, making it feel rough, dry, and more prone to breakage.”
“Those who colour their hair may notice that their colour fades more quickly due to mineral build-up preventing proper pigment absorption. Additionally, hard water can contribute to scalp irritation and dandruff in some individuals.” A growing number of brands have begun focusing on treating hair damage caused by hard water, creating dedicated shampoos and treatments, such as Hello Klean, Davines, Act+Acre and L'Oréal Professionnel.
Dr Mahto recommends opting for clarifying shampoos, which can help break down residue and following up with a deeply hydrating conditioner or hair mask containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter can help replenish lost moisture. “Leave-in conditioners and serums formulated with silicones (such as dimethicone) can create a protective barrier to minimise further mineral build-up.”
However, some brands have taken this one step further and created shower head filters, specifically designed to combat hard water damage, improve water pressure and provide an energy-efficient option that uses less water. But how effective are these treatments? Is investing in a shower filter worthwhile, and what results can you expect? I’ve spent the past few months putting some of the leading shower head filter brands to the test to find out exactly that.
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The best shower filters for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Hello Klean showerhead 2.0: Was £75, now £60, Helloklean.com
- Best budget buy – Magichome showerhead: Was £16.99, now £10.98, Amazon.co.uk
- Best value for money – Meko hard-water filter showerhead: £26.99, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
I’ve spent more than a year testing some of the leading showerhead filter brands. I examined each showerhead filter on how easy it was to install, any immediate differences I noticed in water pressure, the filtration system on offer, the aesthetic factor (let’s be honest, no one wants an ugly showerhead on show), price and long-term results. You can read my testing methodology in full at the end of the review.
Hello Klean showerhead 2.0
Best: shower filter overall
Filter replacements: £35 every 3 months
Colourways: Beige, black, chrome
Why we love it
- Easy to install
- Looks chic
- Simple to use
- Provides immediate softer water and increased pressure
Take note
- It typically lasts 50 washes before needing to be refilled
I found the Hello Klean showerhead 2.0 to be the best shower filter, which is no surprise given it’s the leading brand in the growing hard-water scene, offering aesthetic maintenance treatments such as shampoos, conditioners, body wash, scalp soak and body cream. The elegant shower head (which comes in beige, black and chrome) is at the core of the business, and the first product the brand launched back in 2019. Since then, it’s undergone tweaks and redesigns to become the shower head 2.0 that I spent weeks testing. It’s very easy to install: unscrew your usual shower head and screw on the Hello Klean. Run the water for 30 seconds to be sure it's screwed on tight enough, and you’re good to go.
Typically, the filter lasts approximately 50 washes, and you can rotate the headpiece easily to remove the cartridge and swap it out for a new one. It has a two-step circular filtration system that reduces metals, chlorine and impurities in hard water, which you may not notice immediately, but you will see a marked improvement in the water pressure with one use.
The filtration system contains three key ingredients for tackling hard water damage – KDF 55 which removed iron, lead and mercury (small amounts are found in water) and neutralises chlorine to keep skin feeling soft; activated carbon, which traps contaminants in your pipes, which can make your shower smell; and amino acid granules, which keeps your natural hair oils intact so it doesn’t feel dry and stripped of moisture.
It worked very well to combat the itchy, post-shaving dryness I often experience on my legs, and I found the haircare products I used, including shampoo, conditioner and masks, rinsed out much quicker, with a marked improvement overall in the condition of my hair. My hairdresser even commented on its condition, despite years of bleaching my hair.
The water pressure is high, but it uses less water, so overall it is a great energy-efficient option. It feels like an upgrade, it looks super chic and is very easy to clean, install and incorporate into your daily routine. It’s well worth the investment.
Read the full Hello Klean showerhead 2.0 review
Buy now £60, Helloklean.com
Magichome showerhead
Best: budget shower filter
Filter replacements: £7.99, not specified how frequently refills need changing
Colourways: White, pink, black, silver
Why we love it
- Easy to use
- Very affordable
Take note
- Looks cheaper than others I tried
If you want to introduce a shower head filter to your everyday routine but want something affordable, Magichome’s showerhead is the best budget option. It’s not as chic as others I tried, but it’s easy to install and has a simple filtration system. It comes in plenty of colours, including white, pink, black and silver, with five spray modes, silicone nozzles that distribute even water pressure and fits universally into most showers.
Just be careful to screw it on tightly before running the water, as you’ll find it leaks otherwise. Inside each kit is the shower head, two bags of mineral balls and a safety ring. Place the safety ring at the top of the handle, and carefully pour one pack of filter beads in before tightening the shower head to your typical hose.
The filtration system includes multi-coloured mineral balls in the handle, designed to reduce chlorine and contaminants in your water pipes, while improving water pressure – it does both adequately for the low price tag.
The biggest difference I saw when using this was how much softer and shinier my hair felt. Given that I often reach for dry shampoo between washes and use more heat than I probably should, it’s prone to looking dull and drab, but this was a great treatment to combat that. The softer water has also allowed my skin to feel more supple and a lot less dry by the time I stepped out of the shower.
Buy now £10.98, Amazon.co.uk
Picki Niki filtered showerhead
Best: shower filter for immediate water softness
Filter replacements: £12 (vitamin C gel filter), £17 (sediment handle filter), £25 (sediment head filter)
Colourways: Black, white
Why we love it
- Immediate improvement to water pressure
- Water is instantly softer
- Hair feels less dry
- Installation takes seconds
Take note
- Expensive
Picki Niki is a German brand that makes its showerhead filter in Korea. It’s a simple but effective design that features two different filters – one in the showerhead handle, which filters sediment, rust and dirt; the other in the head itself, which reduces hard water and chlorine. Installation takes seconds – simply unscrew your old showerhead and screw this one on in its place. The brand claims this showerhead reduces water consumption by 35 per cent, and I was thoroughly impressed by how quickly it made a difference to the water pressure. I also appreciated the fact that the brand’s website details the studies it has conducted to evaluate product performance, enabling people to learn more before investing.
After washing my hair just once, it felt smoother, silkier and shinier, thanks to the vitamin C gel filter, which also includes glycerin and collagen, helping to keep your skin feeling supple. The vitamin C filter is used to reduce any residual chlorine that can be left on hair washed with hard water. After two weeks, I saw a huge improvement in my overall hair health, with less dryness and frizz.
Buy now £83, Pickiniki.com
Meko hard-water filter showerhead
Best: value for money
Filter replacements: £23.99 for a 2-pack every 4-6 months
Colourways: Grey, black, white
Why we love it
- Includes four spray modes
- Has a stop button to prevent leaks
Take note
- The silicone massage head is a bit unnecessary
- Head is quite heavy
Meko’s hard-water filter showerhead is at the lower price point and is an easy entryway into adapting your water for your hair and skin needs. Again, like the others I tried, installing it required a few seconds of screwing on and off, and it comes with the handheld shower head, a 1.5m stainless steel hose, teflon tape and two extra washers. I loved that it has four spray modes (rainfall, spray, mixed and a powerful cleaning jet stream (which is fantastic for cleaning your shower walls)), so you can switch between whichever suits you best (I preferred rainfall and spray). To adjust the water pressure, simply twist the handle of the shower head to run through each mode.
It offers a 15-stage filtration system that reduces minerals such as chlorine, bacteria, algae, and fungus by incorporating concealed activated carbon, vitamin C, and ceramic balls in the shower head handle. You can also quickly turn the water flow off by pressing the large stop button on the head, which also prevents any water from continuing to drip onto the floor when you’ve finished your shower.
The silicone massage head looks nice, but I didn’t reach for it at all, typically because my hair is prone to knotting, so it’s aesthetically pleasing but not very functional. My only gripe is how heavy the shower head is – it weighed the hose down and often leaned forward, so keep that in mind if you don’t have a very structurally sound shower set-up.
Overall, it’s reasonably priced, easy to install, improves water pressure and makes washing your hair a quicker experience, thanks to the adjustable water spray options on the shower head. While I have an oily scalp, I don’t experience any dandruff-induced flakes, but I do find it can sometimes feel itchy, and after two weeks of using this, I noticed less irritation. It also improved the knottiness of my hair, made it easier to brush once clean, and reduced frizz, so styling it dry was quicker.
Usually, the filter system needs replacing every four to six months - two come extra in every order - so it’s cost-effective too and won’t break the bank.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon.co.uk
Curo Skin filtered shower head
Best: for easy installation
Filter replacements: £40 every 90 days
Colourways: Black, chrome, gold
Why we love it
- Offers subscription packages for filter refills
Take note
- Essential to use Curo’s shower holder to carry its additional weight
Another stylish option comes from Curo Skin, founded by Harry Bilby in 2024, who himself suffered with dry, irritated skin and sought to solve the root of the problem: his water. The Curo Skin filtered shower head comes in three sleek colours: black, chrome and gold.
The faceplate easily twists off to reveal a slot to insert the fabric capsule filter, which contains KDF-55, calcium sulfite and activated carbon. Simply pop it in and screw the face back on. It’s a simple design that’s fuss-free to get to grips with, making it easy to slot into your routine.
There’s a satisfyingly immediate improvement in water softness. After a fortnight of use, I noticed differences such as knotty hair taking less time to detangle after washing, smoother strands and a general increase in softness, despite using my usual shampoo and occasional conditioner.
If you’re forgetful about replacing the filter, which the brand advises you do every 90 days, it also offers subscription packages on an annual or quarterly basis to keep you organised.
Much like the Meko hard-water filter showerhead, it’s heavy. It was far too heavy, in fact, to fit in my usual shower holder and stay upright. Curo Skin does sell its own shower holder to combat this, which is inexpensive at £10, but it is an added cost that its competitors don’t come with.
Buy now £89.99, Selfridges.com
What are the best showerhead filters?
Taking the top spot is the Hello Klean shower head 2.0, thanks to its sleek design, easy installation, improvement to water softness, and overall streamlined solution to hard water. You can also find it available at multiple retailers and directly from the brand, which makes it easy to stay on top of replacing filters and refilling capsules.
How I tested
I’ve researched and interviewed experts to find out what to look out for in a shower filter and why you need one. I’ve tested a broad range of filters, from high-end options to cheaper designs, to find the best ones to buy. I considered the following factors:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Louise Whitbread is one of our go-to beauty experts. She has covered everything from skincare to hair care and make-up for IndyBest since March 2020. Her product reviews are expansive and detailed, from the best hair bonding treatments and cleansing balms and sheet masks. When it comes to hair care, Louise is well-placed to guide your purchases after testing which showerhead filters made a difference on her skin and hair.
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