Chlorine in your shower water: why your skin feels tight and your hair looks dull, and what a filter changes

You step out of the shower and your skin feels tight. Your hair is a bit rough, a bit dull, and your bathroom smells vaguely like the local swimming pool. It's not necessarily all in your head: the chlorine in tap water may have something to do with it. Here's why it's there, what it does, and what a shower filter can (and can't) change.

Why there's chlorine in tap water

Let's start with some good news: if your water is chlorinated, it's for an excellent reason. Chlorine disinfects the water and keeps it safe all the way through the pipes, from the treatment plant to your faucet. It's a normal, regulated and useful practice.

The amount varies by town, season and how far you are from the treatment point. Some days you can barely smell it. Other days it's very noticeable. To find out more about the water where you live, check the water quality information published for your area, or ask your local water provider.

Drinking isn't showering

Tap water is tested and made to be drunk. In the shower, things are just different: the water is hot, it runs over your whole body and hair for a long time, and the steam fills the room. That's when some people feel a bit of discomfort.

Tight skin, dull hair: what you might notice

Chlorine is a highly reactive substance. On skin and hair, it can have a drying effect, a bit like after a dip in the pool, only much milder. Depending on the person, that can mean:

• skin that feels tight after showering;
• hair that's rougher, less shiny and harder to detangle;
• color that seems to fade faster on dyed hair;
• a chlorine smell in the bathroom.

Heads-up: not everyone notices these effects, and they don't always come from chlorine. Water that's too hot, a very long shower, a harsh shower gel or dry winter air also play a big part. If you have a real skin or scalp issue, the right move is still to see a healthcare professional. A shower filter is a comfort accessory, not a treatment.

What a shower filter does

A shower filter sits between the faucet and the hose. The water flows through it before reaching the shower head. Inside, filter media reduce the chlorine as the water passes through.

What is KDF-55?

KDF-55 is a blend of copper and zinc in the form of small granules. When it comes into contact with water, it reacts with chlorine and turns it into a much gentler form. Another plus: it works well with hot water, which is handy for a shower.

And vitamin C?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, if you want to get technical) also neutralizes chlorine. Paired with KDF-55, it rounds out what the filter does. Together, they reduce the chlorine in your shower water. You'll mostly notice the difference in comfort and smell.

What a filter doesn't do

We'd rather be upfront, because there are a lot of wild promises out there on the internet:

• It doesn't remove limescale. Limescale is made of minerals dissolved in the water. A shower filter like this one doesn't take them out. Against limescale, regular cleaning is what counts.
• It doesn't cure anything. It's not a treatment, not for skin, not for hair. It's an everyday comfort, nothing more, nothing less.
• It doesn't make water “better to drink”. That's not its job.
• It doesn't last forever. The cartridge wears out shower after shower.

Getting the most out of your filter

• Change the cartridge regularly. A worn-out cartridge doesn't filter much anymore. Note the date you put it in somewhere, like on your phone.
• Run the water for a few seconds after fitting a new cartridge, to rinse it.
• Check the seal every time you change it, to avoid small leaks.
• Trust your nose. If the chlorine smell comes back before the due date, it may be a sign it's time for a change.

A few extra habits for your skin and hair

• Turn the temperature down a little. Scalding water dries you out, filter or no filter.
• Keep showers shorter when you can.
• Pick a gentle shower gel and a conditioner that suits you.
• Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing.
• Air out the bathroom after your shower.

The Showrz filter combines KDF-55 and vitamin C in a cartridge that screws straight in under the faucet, no tools needed. It simply reduces chlorine, and you change it every three months. It comes with the full kit and with the filter shower head. Refills are sold individually or in packs of three, so you never run out.