Why Your Shower Water Might Be Sabotaging Your Skin & Hair
Reach peak hair and skin performance with our top shower filter pick and tips for keeping your tresses gunk-free.
Introduction
Recently, my family moved into a new home. Over the course of a few months, I noticed my hair looked and felt as though I hadn’t washed it recently, even when I washed it that day! It became so greasy looking. I worked in clarifying shampoos, brushed my hair with a boar bristle brush daily and switched products. Was it silicones or other ingredients present in the products causing the build up? Was it my postpartum hormones shifting again? Was I not rinsing my second shampoo out enough? I felt dejected, as a licensed Cosmetologist who should know how to wash her own hair. The clarifying shampoo and treatments helped, but only for one night when I could go days without washing my hair before. What was the deal?
I have been on a health kick and decided to test my water, as we just got a ZeroWater filter for our kitchen. Sure enough, our tester read 95 ppm, or parts per million of dissolved solids aka minerals, in our water. While this isn’t incredibly high, in comparison with my London based sister water’s reading of 293 ppm, a lightbulb suddenly went off. The hard water was likely the cause of my beauty products underperforming! I didn’t have an uncontrollable oily scalp after all. In fact, the hard water could be the cause of several issues, like eczema, tangly hair, acne, dry/itchy skin and even dandruff.
I’m here to say- your water is the problem. Once I swapped out my showerhead filter for one to weed out the unwanted minerals, after two washes with clarifying shampoo, I was able to again go days without washing my hair. It was a miracle!
Because I am an excellent friend wanting to save you from these beauty woes-I will save you the time and effort spent researching shower filter models.
Here is a list of the Top 3 Showerhead Filters I Recommend.
Keep reading to find out which one I went with and why!
1. AquaBliss Revitalizing Shower Filter $38
This filter attaches behind your showerhead filter, so if you already have a showerhead that you like, simply install this behind it. It has a multistage filtration system to reduce chlorine, heavy metals and other impurities. Some models also infuse the water after filtration with beneficial skin loving minerals, like Vitamin C, Zeolite, Tourmaline and Magnetic Energy beads.
2. Jolie Filtered Showerhead $165
This aesthetic showerhead filters out chlorine, heavy metals and other contaminants. It is easy to install and fits all US showers. You have probably seen this one in magazines and the first to pop up on an Amazon search with its memorable name.
3. Canopy Filtered Showerhead $150
This showerhead comes with multiple streams in addition to filtering out chlorine and build up causing minerals. It also has an aroma kit that diffuses a spa-like luxurious scent via essential oils while you bathe.
So which shower filter did I go with?
I chose the AquaBliss Revitalizing Shower Filter and am so happy with it! Not only does it offer great filtration performance, but the infusion of skin and hair loving beneficial minerals such as Vitamin C make my skin look and feel better. Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but it makes me feel good that I am treating my skin to this beneficial water every time I shower. My hair feels less oily, less tangly, and I have been able to extend my days between washes, in addition to seeing a remarkable difference on my skin in just a few short weeks. At $38, this product comes in way under the other leaders in this category and allows you to use your preferred showerhead filter. In my opinion, this is the clear winner.
Important things to note prior to purchasing your AquaBliss Shower Filter:
-Based on where you live, you may have different filtration needs. There are different models of the AquaBliss filters. The difference between the models can be found here.
-I found the AquaBliss SF400 to be the best model for my needs, due to the additional filtration of lead which is present in my area within Connecticut.
-The filter needs to be changed every 6 months on average. You can get these on auto-order from the AquaBliss website.
I’m not ready to buy a shower filter, what other ways can I remove build up from my hair?
You may experience more than average build up on your hair from a new product containing silicones, parabens or going on vacation and swimming in a highly chlorinated pool. Depending on the severity, here’s what you can do:
Go to a salon and get a Redken Pre Art Clarifying Treatment. This intensive treatment will gently strip out even the toughest of chlorine and mineral buildup. It is the GOAT of mineral buildup products. Your hair will be washed, towel dried and then saturated with the Pre Art. After that, you will be capped and under a heat source for 15-20 minutes. Then left to cool off for 2-5 minutes. The Pre Art will be taken out of your hair and followed with Redken Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo. Your hair will be squeaky clean and show your true tone!
If your build up isn’t as severe, you can use Redken Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo by itself. You can choose to let it sit for a couple minutes, or double shampoo and follow with conditioner. This is a great way to remove regular product buildup and achieve great volume.
Last but not least, Malibu Hard Water Packets are amazing at removing moderate mineral build up. These are great for use prior to color services as they create an even, clean canvas for color to adhere to. If you are a blondie like myself, I highly recommend having the blonde version on hand for color maintenance in between highlights or balayage, found here.
Important to Note Before Clarifying Your Hair
-Clarifying products such as shampoos, treatments and packets will strip out minerals, but also color and essential nutrients from your hair. Because of this, I recommend waiting at least 4 weeks after color or glossing services to deeply cleanse.
-I recommend reconditioning the hair after each cleanse with a deep conditioner packed with nutrients your colored or natural hair could benefit from. I recommend the Briogio Don’t Despair Repair Masque.
Conclusion
The best way to deal with oily, greasy looking build up in your hair is to invest in a shower filter and use clarifying products to remove the unwanted minerals causing tangles, acne, eczema, dry/itchy skin and even dandruff. Finding a shower filter, like the AquaBliss Revitalizing Filter, will even infuse the water with beneficial minerals that will make you look and feel your best.
Now that is a beauty product we can get behind!
Sources:
https://aquabliss.com/collections/shower-filters
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/g60267517/best-shower-filters/