Shower Water Filtration
You Filter the Water You Drink. What About the Water You Shower In?
A shower filter can help reduce chlorine and, depending on the filtration system, other unwanted substances before the water reaches your skin, scalp and hair. Here’s what shower filtration can do, what it can’t do, and how to choose the right option for your bathroom.
When we think about water filtration, we usually think about the water we drink.
But what about the water we shower in every day?
A typical shower means several minutes with water running directly over your skin, scalp and hair. Turn up the temperature and there is another consideration: some volatile compounds present in treated water can transfer into the air more readily during a hot shower.
That means water quality isn’t only something worth considering at the kitchen tap.
A shower filter is a simple way to reduce chlorine and, depending on the filtration system, other unwanted substances before the water reaches you.
If you already know you want to compare your options, you can browse the complete Awesome Water shower filter range .
Why Is Chlorine in Our Shower Water?
Chlorine is commonly used in municipal water treatment because it performs an important job: helping disinfect the water supply as it travels through the distribution system.
So chlorine itself isn’t simply something we should label as “bad”. It serves an important purpose in maintaining drinking-water safety.
However, the qualities that make chlorine useful for water treatment don’t necessarily make it desirable for your hair and skin.
For some people, regularly showering in chlorinated water can contribute to that familiar dry or tight feeling after a shower. Hair may also feel dry, coarse or harder to manage.
A shower filter is designed to reduce chlorine at the point where you actually use the water.
Your Skin Is in Contact With Shower Water Every Day
Your skin has a natural protective barrier and oils that help it retain moisture.
Frequent exposure to chlorinated water can contribute to dryness and irritation for some people, particularly those who already have sensitive or dry skin.
You might notice your skin feels tight after a long or particularly hot shower, or find yourself reaching for moisturiser soon afterwards.
Reducing chlorine and other impurities in shower water may help make showering gentler on the skin and leave it feeling less dry.
It isn’t a treatment for a skin condition, but improving the quality of the water coming into contact with your skin is a sensible consideration as part of a broader skincare routine.
What About Your Hair and Scalp?
Your hair gets the same repeated exposure.
Chlorinated water can contribute to dryness, while minerals and other substances in water can also affect how hair feels after washing.
This can be particularly noticeable for people with:
- Dry or brittle hair
- Colour-treated hair
- A dry or sensitive scalp
- Hair that feels rough after washing
- Hair that requires significant amounts of conditioner to feel manageable
Reducing chlorine and other impurities can help create a gentler showering environment for your hair and scalp.
Many people choose shower filtration because they’re looking for softer, more manageable hair and less of that “stripped” feeling after shampooing.
It may even mean you find yourself relying less heavily on conditioner and other products to restore moisture afterwards.
There’s Another Part of Showering We Don’t Often Think About: The Air
A hot shower doesn’t just put water onto your body. It also creates a warm, humid environment that you’re breathing in for the duration of the shower.
Certain volatile compounds associated with chlorinated water can transfer from the water into the surrounding air, with warmer water increasing volatilisation.
So when considering shower-water quality, direct contact with your skin and hair isn’t the only potential exposure route.
This doesn’t mean you should be worried about taking a normal shower. It simply highlights why reducing chlorine at the shower can be worthwhile for people who want to minimise unnecessary exposure and improve their overall shower-water quality.
Could a Shower Filter Help Your Shampoo and Conditioner Work Better?
Potentially.
If your hair is being left dry or rough by your shower water, it’s easy to compensate by using more shampoo, conditioner, treatments and styling products.
Improve the water first, and you may find your normal hair-care routine performs better.
The same principle can apply to your skin.
Rather than only addressing dryness after you step out of the shower with lotions and moisturisers, shower filtration tackles one potential contributor at the source: the water itself.
What Does a Shower Filter Actually Remove?
This is where it’s important to understand that not every shower filter is the same.
Different filtration media are designed to target different substances.
Depending on the model, an Awesome Water shower filter may help reduce substances such as:
- Chlorine
- Sediment
- Dirt
- Odours
- Iron oxides
- Hydrogen sulfide
- In selected systems, certain heavy metals and other impurities
Some systems use specialised filtration media designed specifically to perform effectively with shower-temperature water.
This distinction matters because a filter is only as useful as the filtration media inside it.
For a broader look at the different ways filtration can improve household water quality, visit our Improve Your Water Quality guide .
Do Shower Filters Soften Hard Water?
There’s an important distinction here.
A shower filter and a true water softener are not the same thing.
Some shower filtration systems can reduce sediment, metals and other impurities that affect the showering experience, but customers shouldn’t assume that every shower filter removes the calcium and magnesium responsible for hard water.
If hard water or scale is your primary concern, the appropriate solution will depend on your water and what you’re trying to achieve.
For chlorine reduction and improving the quality of the water you’re showering in, however, a point-of-use shower filter can be a simple and practical option.
Shower Filter Buying Guide
Choosing an Awesome Water Shower Filter
There isn’t one shower filter that’s necessarily right for every bathroom.
The best option depends on your existing shower, the type of filtration you’re looking for and how frequently you want to replace the cartridge.
Here are the main options available from Awesome Water.
Awesome Water Efficient Shower Filter – New Model
A straightforward option for households primarily looking to reduce chlorine while maintaining good shower flow.
The filtration media is designed to remove more than 99% of residual chlorine, with the product also tested to NSF/ANSI 177 standards.
The cartridge has an indicated service life of approximately 6–12 months or 40,000–45,000 litres, depending on usage and water conditions.
Best suited to: households wanting a simple chlorine-reduction shower filtration solution with a longer service interval.
Awesome Water Efficient Shower Filter
Another practical chlorine-reduction option designed to fit into an everyday shower routine without sacrificing water flow.
Its CND filtration media is designed to remove more than 99% of residual chlorine, helping reduce the amount of chlorine coming into contact with your skin and hair.
The stated service life is approximately 6–12 months or 40,000–45,000 litres.
Best suited to: customers looking for straightforward chlorine reduction for their existing shower.
Awesome Water Universal Shower Hose Filter
Have a handheld shower?
This compact in-line filter is designed to connect between a standard shower bracket and hose, making it a useful option where a conventional shower-arm filter isn’t suitable.
It uses Chlorgon non-carbon filtration media and KDF to reduce free and combined chlorine, dirt, odours and iron oxide.
The replaceable cartridge lasts approximately three months or up to 10,000 gallons, depending on usage and water conditions.
Best suited to: handheld shower installations.
Awesome Water High-Output 12-Stage Universal Shower Filter
For customers wanting broader filtration, this high-output system combines multiple filtration media including KDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbon and mineral stones.
It’s designed to reduce chlorine along with impurities including certain heavy metals, dirt and odours while maintaining a strong flow rate.
Installation is straightforward, with compatibility for standard 1/2-inch connections and a cartridge life of approximately six months.
Best suited to: customers wanting multi-stage shower filtration rather than chlorine reduction alone.
Awesome Water Shower Pure Head Filter
Prefer an all-in-one solution?
The Awesome Water Shower Pure Head Filter combines the showerhead and filtration system in one unit.
It provides seven different spray settings and incorporates filtration media designed to reduce chlorine, sediment, iron oxide and odours.
The replaceable cartridge typically lasts approximately three to six months, depending on water quality and usage.
Best suited to: customers who want to replace their showerhead and add filtration at the same time.
Awesome Water Slimline Chrome Shower Filter
If you want something compact and discreet, the Slimline is designed to add filtration without substantially changing the appearance or position of your existing shower.
The chrome unit sits between the shower arm and showerhead and adds only around 4 cm in length.
It reduces chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, iron oxide, sediment and odours and uses a replaceable cartridge with an approximately six-month service life.
It also includes a handy Dial-A-Date indicator to help you remember when the cartridge is due for replacement.
Best suited to: customers wanting a compact shower filter that works with their existing showerhead.
Awesome Water High Output Chrome Shower Filter
For a more substantial, long-life option, the High Output Chrome Shower Filter uses a combination of KDF and Chlorgon filtration media designed to perform effectively with shower-temperature water.
It reduces chlorine and a range of other impurities including sediment, dirt, iron oxides and unpleasant sulphurous odours.
The replaceable HOC cartridge has a stated service life of up to 12 months.
Best suited to: customers wanting a premium, high-capacity shower filter with a longer replacement interval.
Awesome Water High Output Plastic Shower Filter
This model offers similar high-capacity filtration in a lighter-weight housing.
It uses Chlorgon and KDF filtration media to reduce free and combined chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, iron oxide, dirt and sediment.
The reversible HOC cartridge is designed for approximately 12 months of use, depending on water quality and household usage.
Best suited to: households wanting long-lasting shower filtration in a lightweight, practical format.
Not Sure Which Shower Filter Suits You?
Compare the complete range in one place, including compact filters, shower-head systems, handheld-shower options and high-output filtration.
Don’t Forget the Replacement Cartridge
Like any water filter, a shower filter can only perform properly while its filtration media remains within its effective service life.
Replacement frequency varies between models. Some cartridges are designed for around three months, others six months, and selected high-output cartridges can last up to approximately 12 months.
Actual life can also depend on your household’s water consumption and incoming water quality.
If you already own an Awesome Water shower filter and simply need a new cartridge, browse the Awesome Water shower filtration range to find the appropriate replacement option for your system.
Is a Shower Filter Worth It?
For many households, we think it is one of the simplest water-quality improvements you can make.
You filter the water you drink because you care about its quality. It’s worth considering the water that runs over your skin and hair every day too.
A shower filter can help reduce chlorine and other unwanted substances before the water reaches you, without requiring a major plumbing modification or changing your entire household water supply.
For people experiencing dry-feeling skin, rough or difficult-to-manage hair, a dry scalp, or simply wanting to reduce their exposure to chlorine while showering, it’s a relatively simple place to start.
And unlike changing shampoos, conditioners and skincare products over and over again, a shower filter addresses the water itself.
Want to Improve Water Quality Beyond the Shower?
Shower filtration is a point-of-use solution. If your goal is to improve water quality across multiple taps, bathrooms and appliances, a broader household filtration system may be worth considering.
Learn more about Awesome Water whole house filtration systems or contact the Awesome Water team if you would like help comparing your options.
Explore Awesome Water Shower Filters
Choose from simple chlorine-reduction filters, compact in-line systems, filtered showerheads and higher-capacity filtration options to find the right fit for your bathroom.