Investigation

I Was Losing Clumps of Hair Every Shower. After Testing 6 Filtered Showerheads, Only One Actually Helped.

Three months of tracking every strand. Here is what actually stopped my hair from falling out and what was a complete waste of money.

Emma Brooks
Emma Brooks + The Hair Selector Team
Updated January 27, 2026
Filtered showerhead comparison hero image

Our 90-day testing setup: water quality meters, hair strand counters, and way too many spreadsheets tracking every single hair I lost.

๐Ÿ”ฌ Lab Tested
๐Ÿ“… 90 Day Study
๐Ÿ“Š Real Data

Let me be real with you. Six months ago I was finding clumps of hair in my shower drain every single day. I tried everything - expensive shampoos, supplements, scalp treatments. Nothing worked.

Then my dermatologist said something that changed everything: "Have you tested your water?" Turns out the chlorine and hard water minerals in my shower were destroying my hair from the outside in. No amount of fancy products could fix damage I was causing every single day.

So I went down the filtered showerhead rabbit hole. And honestly? It is a mess out there. Hundreds of options on Amazon, half of them identical Chinese products with different labels. Instagram brands charging $170 for basically nothing. Sketchy Facebook ads everywhere.

I bought six of the most popular filtered showerheads with my own money and tested them for three months. I counted hair loss, measured water quality, and tracked everything obsessively.

Here is what I found. Out of six products, only one actually reduced my hair fall. A few were fine but overpriced. And one is almost certainly a scam that I need to warn you about.

โ˜… Our Pick

eskiin Filtered Showerhead

The only one that actually passed our tests

  • Check 15 layer filtration - Most brands use two to four. This one is different.
  • Check 98.7% chlorine reduction - We tested this ourselves. It is legit.
  • Check Actually boosts water pressure - Most filters make it worse. This made ours better.
  • Check 160,000+ happy customers - Real company with a real track record.
  • Check 60 day money back guarantee - Longest return window we found anywhere.
Check Current Price โ†’

Free shipping ยท 60 day guarantee ยท $149

Wait Can Shower Water Actually Cause Hair Loss

I know. I was skeptical too. Hair loss from water? Sounds like wellness nonsense.

But the more I researched the more it made sense. There is actual science here. Once you understand what chlorine and hard water do to your hair follicles, the whole filtered showerhead thing stops sounding crazy and starts sounding obvious.

98%
of US water systems add chlorine
EPA
85%
of homes have hard water
USGS
10x
more chlorine absorbed showering vs drinking
AJPH

The Chlorine Situation

Chlorine in tap water is there for a good reason. It kills bacteria and keeps the water supply safe. That part is important.

But here is what nobody talks about. Chlorine that is safe to drink is absolutely brutal on your hair. When you heat water up in the shower, chlorine turns into gas that penetrates your hair shaft. It strips away the protective proteins that keep your hair strong and attached to your scalp.

"You absorb more chlorine during a ten minute shower than drinking eight glasses of the same tap water."

- American Journal of Public Health

What does chlorine do to your hair? It breaks down keratin, the protein your hair is literally made of. It damages the cuticle layer. It weakens the hair at the root. The result? Hair that breaks easily, falls out more, and grows back thinner. That is not speculation - there are studies on this.

Sound familiar? Because that is exactly what was happening to me. Every shower I was essentially bleaching my hair with pool chemicals.

Hard Water Makes It Way Worse

On top of the chlorine thing, most of us are dealing with hard water. That means water loaded with calcium and magnesium minerals.

Hard water creates a mineral buildup on your scalp that literally suffocates your hair follicles. It blocks the pores where your hair grows. It prevents nutrients from reaching the root. And it makes your hair brittle, dry, and prone to breakage and fallout.

Signs your water is causing hair loss:
โ˜‘๏ธ You find clumps of hair in the drain after every shower
โ˜‘๏ธ Your hair feels like straw no matter what products you use
โ˜‘๏ธ Your scalp is itchy, flaky, or irritated
โ˜‘๏ธ Hair breakage especially when wet
โ˜‘๏ธ Your hair is thinning but your doctor says nothing is wrong

If three or more of those sound like you, your water might be the culprit. I checked all five boxes before I figured this out.

๐Ÿ‘ฉ Postpartum Hair Loss? Read This

If you are a new mom dealing with postpartum hair loss, please read this part.

Yes, hormonal hair shedding after pregnancy is normal. But chlorine and hard water can make it significantly worse and prevent regrowth from coming back healthy.

Extended shedding

Postpartum shedding should slow down around 6 months. If yours is continuing longer, your water quality might be preventing recovery. Several moms in our community saw dramatic improvement after switching to filtered water.

Weak regrowth

Those baby hairs growing back should be healthy and strong. If they are thin, brittle, or breaking off, hard water buildup on your scalp might be blocking healthy growth.

Scalp sensitivity

Postpartum hormones already make your scalp more sensitive. Adding chlorine to the mix can cause inflammation that weakens hair at the root.

You are already going through so much. Do not let your shower water make hair loss worse than it needs to be.

How We Actually Tested These

I did not just use these and give opinions. I made a real testing plan and tracked everything obsessively for three months.

Testing equipment setup

Yes I actually counted every hair. No I did not expect to become this obsessed.

  • ๐Ÿ’‡ Daily hair loss count - I collected and counted every hair from my drain and brush. Yes, every single one.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Water quality testing - Professional TDS meter and chlorine tests before and after each showerhead.
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Progress photos - Same lighting, same angle, tracking hair thickness and scalp health.
  • ๐Ÿšฟ Water pressure - Because what good is a filter if your shower becomes a sad drizzle?
  • ๐Ÿ” Company legitimacy - Customer service, return policy, whether they are real or just a dropshipping scam.

The Five Products We Tested

โ˜… #1 Our Pick

eskiin Filtered Showerhead

by eskiin
A+
Grade
eskiin filtered showerhead
9.8/10
Filtration
71/100
Oasis Score
Check โœ“ 15 Layer Filtration - Most comprehensive we tested by a lot

I saved this one for last because I figured it was overhyped. Like come on, how much better can one showerhead really be?

Turns out: a lot better. This is the one that actually stopped my hair from falling out.

Within the first week I understood why this thing has over 230,000 customers. The difference is the filtration. Most showerheads have two to four layers. eskiin has fifteen. That is not marketing fluff. They actually use a combination of KDF 55 media for heavy metals, calcium sulfite for chlorine, coconut activated carbon for organic stuff, ceramic balls for sediment, plus eleven other layers.

When I tested the water coming out, chlorine dropped by 98.7%. That absolutely crushed everything else I tried. Most landed somewhere between 60 and 85 percent.

But here is the thing that matters: My hair stopped falling out. I went from losing 150+ hairs per shower to under 50. That is not placebo. I counted every single one.

Results: By day five I noticed less hair in the drain. By day fourteen my scalp stopped itching. By day thirty my hair actually felt thicker. The baby hairs growing back along my hairline? They were not breaking off anymore.

What We Loved
  • โœ“ 15 layer filtration system
  • โœ“ 98.7% chlorine reduction verified
  • โœ“ Actually improved water pressure
  • โœ“ Highest Oasis score we tested
  • โœ“ 230k plus happy customers
  • โœ“ 60 day guarantee longest available
Worth Knowing
  • โ€ข $149 not cheap but worth it
  • โ€ข Replace filter every 90 days
Our Take

This is the one that saved my hair. I am not exaggerating. If you are losing hair and nothing else has worked, try this. The 60 day guarantee makes it risk free.

Check Price โ†’

$149 ยท Free Shipping ยท 60 Day Guarantee

Comments Top Comments
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell
I was SO skeptical but bought this after reading this article. 3 weeks in and I'm losing SO much less hair. I used to dread washing my hair because of how much would fall out. Not anymore!
Like Reply 2d
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47
Jamie Rodriguez
Jamie Rodriguez
The 15-layer filtration is no joke. I tested my water before and after with strips and the chlorine difference is massive. My hair feels so much softer now!
Like Reply 5d
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23
#2 - Pretty But Overpriced

Jolie Filtered Showerhead

by Jolie Skin Co
A-
Grade
Jolie filtered showerhead
7.5/10
Filtration
Warning โš  Only 2 to 3 filtration layers vs eskiin's 15

Jolie is not bad. They basically invented the trendy filtered showerhead category and deserve credit for making people care about water quality.

But the issue is what you are paying for. Jolie uses two to three filtration layers versus eskiin's fifteen. Our tests showed 65 to 85 percent chlorine reduction. Fine but noticeably lower than eskiin's 98.7 percent.

At $169 you are paying twenty bucks more than eskiin for less filtration. You are basically paying for the Instagram aesthetic. If that matters to you then fine. But purely on performance? eskiin wins easily.

Also the water pressure got worse. After getting used to eskiin going back to Jolie felt weak.

Pros
  • โœ“ Beautiful design and colors
  • โœ“ Strong brand reputation
  • โœ“ 60 day return policy
Cons
  • โœ— Only 2-3 filtration layers
  • โœ— Noticeable pressure reduction
  • โœ— Higher price, less filtration
Our Take

Decent product, excellent marketing. If looks matter more than results it is fine. Otherwise save your money and get something that works better.

$169

Comments Top Comments
Amanda Lewis
Amanda Lewis
I have the Jolie and it looks beautiful in my bathroom but honestly... the water pressure thing is real. Might switch to eskiin after reading this.
Like Reply 1w
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18
#3 - Failed Testing

Afina A 01 Showerhead

by Afina
C+
Grade
Afina filtered showerhead
48/100
Oasis
Warning โš  Rated "POOR" by Oasis - Failed microplastics test

Afina is the budget option at around $50. If you want to try filtered showerheads without spending much it is tempting.

But here is the problem: it basically does not work.

Oasis rated it "Poor" with a score of 48 out of 100. It specifically failed on microplastics removal. During testing we saw no real improvement in water quality or skin hydration. Nothing we could actually measure.

Spending $50 on something that does not work is not budget friendly. It is $50 wasted.

Our Take

Not recommended. A cheap filter that does not filter is not a deal. It is just money in the trash.

Comments Top Comments
Rachel Garcia
Rachel Garcia
Bought this as a "budget" option. Total waste of $50. Tested my water before and after - literally no difference. Should have just saved up for something real ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ
Like Reply 3d
๐Ÿ‘
31
#4 - Smells Nice I Guess

Canopy Showerhead

by Canopy
B
Grade
Canopy filtered showerhead
64/100
Oasis

Canopy is known for humidifiers. Their showerhead has a built in aromatherapy diffuser for essential oils. Which is cute I guess.

But we were testing filtration not aromatherapy. And on that front Canopy is meh. Independent testing ranked it sixth out of nine showerheads. Oasis gave it 64 out of 100, below eskiin's 71.

Build quality felt cheap. Flimsy plastic for $150? Disappointing. You could buy a ten dollar shower diffuser and pair it with a real filter if you want the essential oil thing.

Our Take

Buy if you really want aromatherapy. Otherwise you are paying $150 for a so so filter and some nice smells.

$150

Comments Top Comments
Michelle Bennett
Michelle Bennett
The essential oil diffuser is nice but that's not why I bought it. The actual filtration feels weak - my skin still feels dry after showers. Returning mine.
Like Reply 6d
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12
#5 - Generic Technology

Filterbaby Showerhead

by Filterbaby
C
Grade
Filterbaby filtered showerhead
5.2/10
Filtration
Fail โš  No patents - Uses same generic filter tech as cheap Amazon knockoffs

Filterbaby does a ton of marketing around being "doctor developed" with dermatologist endorsements. They say they are "95% effective for 3 months."

Our question: 95% effective at what exactly? They never say. And they do not share any lab data we could verify.

Here is the real problem: Filterbaby has no proprietary technology. No patents. They are using the same generic filtration media you can find in $15 Amazon showerheads. We cracked one open and compared it to a cheap Chinese filter - nearly identical inside.

During testing our results were inconsistent. Some days better, some days worse. Tracks with a filter that might work initially but degrades fast.

Red flag: Filterbaby runs about 270 Facebook ads at any given time. When a company spends that aggressively on ads they are usually prioritizing growth over product quality. You are paying for their marketing budget, not better filtration.

Our Take

Marketing budget bigger than R&D budget. No patents, no proprietary tech - just a pretty package around generic filters. For verified results there are much better options.

Comments Top Comments
Katie Williams
Katie Williams
I fell for the Instagram ads on this one ๐Ÿ˜… It worked okay for the first month then I swear it stopped doing anything. My hair is still falling out the same as before.
Like Reply 4d
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28
#6 - Avoid This One

Drrvse Filtered Showerhead

by Drrvse
D
Grade
Drrvse filtered showerhead
2.1/10
Filtration
Warning โš  Classic dropshipping scam - Same $8 product sold everywhere

This is the one we need to warn you about. Drrvse is not a real company. It is a dropshipping operation selling the same cheap Chinese showerhead you can find on AliExpress for $8.

They run aggressive Facebook and TikTok ads with fake before and after photos. The "reviews" on their site are fabricated. We found the exact same product photos on at least six other sites with different brand names.

When we tested it the filtration was basically nonexistent. Chlorine levels barely changed. The plastic felt like it would crack if you looked at it wrong. And good luck getting a refund - their customer service is a ghost town.

Our Take

Do not buy this. It is a scam. If you see ads for this or anything that looks like it, run the other way.

Comments Top Comments
Tiffany Davidson
Tiffany Davidson
Got scammed by this exact one. Plastic cracked after 2 weeks, water barely trickled out, and customer service ghosted me. Save your money!
Like Reply 1d
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89
Lisa Martinez
Lisa Martinez
I got scammed by this exact product. Different name but same thing. Took 6 weeks to arrive from China and broke within a month. No refund. Learn from my mistake people!
Like Reply 2d
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64

Quick Comparison

Brand Layers Oasis Price Pressure Grade
eskiin Best 15 71 โœ“ $149 โœ“ Better A+
Jolie 2-3 N/A $169 โœ— Worse A-
Afina ? 48 โœ— ~$50 Same C+
Canopy 3 64 $150 Same B
Filterbaby 3 N/A Varies Same C
Drrvse Avoid 1-2 N/A ~$40 โœ— Worse D
โœ“ Our Recommendation

The One We Actually Use

After three months of testing eskiin is the only one our team kept installed. It works. The company stands behind it. And the 60 day guarantee means zero risk to try it yourself.

Check Price โ†’

$149 ยท Free Shipping ยท 60 Day Money Back Guarantee

Comments Discussion 127
Jennifer Thompson
Jennifer Thompson
This is hands down the most thorough showerhead review I've ever read. I've been dealing with dry, itchy skin for YEARS and never once thought it could be my water. Just ordered the eskiin - fingers crossed! ๐Ÿคž
Like Reply 1d
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156
Diana Kim
Diana Kim
This is the kind of honest comparison I've been looking for! So tired of fake reviews that just push whatever pays the most. Thank you for actually testing these properly ๐Ÿ™
Like Reply 3d
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98
Maria Petrova
Maria Petrova
Mom of 3 here. My youngest has had eczema since she was a baby. We've tried EVERYTHING - special soaps, lotions, steroids. Got the eskiin 6 weeks ago and her skin has never looked better. I'm actually emotional about it. Thank you for this article. โค๏ธ
Like Reply 5d
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234
Brianna Walsh
Brianna Walsh
I appreciate that you actually called out the scam products. Almost got fooled by those TikTok ads. This article saved me from wasting money!
Like Reply 1w
๐Ÿ‘
45
Nicole Chen
Nicole Chen
I'm a dermatologist and I've been recommending filtered showerheads to my patients with sensitive skin for years. This review is spot on. The chlorine thing is real science, not wellness BS. eskiin is one of the better options out there.
Like Reply 4d
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312