You bought the expensive shampoo. The bond-repair mask. The silk pillowcase. Your hair still feels like straw by Wednesday. The problem isn't what you put on your hair. It's what comes out of the showerhead.
A shower filter for hair works by removing chlorine, which strips the natural oils that keep hair soft and shiny. The Tubo Go Shower Filter removes up to 99% of chlorine, plus heavy metals and fluoride, so hair stops drying out with every wash. Prefer a whole new head? The Tubo Pro Showerhead Filter does the same, built in.
What does chlorine do to hair?
Cities add chlorine or chloramine to tap water to kill germs. The EPA caps it at 4 mg/L. Safe to drink, but your hair doesn't need the disinfectant.
Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Taylor Bullock explains that chlorine "strips away natural oils that normally protect your hair," leaving it "dry, rough, dull and more susceptible to breakage" the more it's exposed.
A swimmer gets it in big doses. You get it in a hot shower, every single day. That's the frizz that won't settle, the color that fades in weeks, the ends that snap when you brush.
- Color-treated hair takes the biggest hit. Bleached or dyed hair already has a weaker surface, so oil-stripping water hits it harder.
- The "green hair" thing isn't chlorine. Cleveland Clinic notes it's minerals in the water that leave a green tint, mostly on light or treated hair.
What does hard water do to hair?
Hard water carries a lot of dissolved calcium and magnesium. The US Geological Survey calls water "hard" at 121 to 180 mg/L and "very hard" above 180 mg/L.
Those minerals react with shampoo and leave a thin film on each strand. Over weeks, it builds up:
Dull, flat hair
A mineral film scatters light, so hair looks less shiny even when it's clean.
Coated or waxy feel
Minerals plus soap make "scum." It sits on hair the same way it sits on your tub.
Tangles and frizz
A rough surface catches on the brush. Curly and fine hair show it first.
Shampoo that won't lather
Hard water makes soap work harder, so you use more and rinse less well.
Not sure if you have hard water? Check your city's annual water quality report for the "hardness" line, or look for white crust on your showerhead. For the skin side, see hard water and eczema in kids.
Does hard water really cause hair breakage?
Here's what the lab research shows.
| Study | What they did | What they found |
|---|---|---|
| Luqman et al., 2018 (Int J Trichology) | Hair from 70 men, soaked 10 minutes on alternate days for 3 months in very hard water (about 487 mg/L) | Hard-water hair was measurably weaker than untreated hair (about 8% lower tensile strength). Deionized water made no difference. |
| Evans et al., 2011 (J Cosmetic Science) | Hair exposed to hard water (about 272 mg/L) | Hair picks up metals from the water. |
Very hard water weakens hair over time. Moderately hard water mostly makes it dull, rough and harder to comb, and rough hair breaks more when you brush it.
Notice that last finding: hair picks up metals from water. That's exactly what the Tubo Go takes out.
“So good i love it 😍”
What does a shower filter for hair actually fix?
A shower filter grabs chlorine and metals as water rushes through. Those are the two things stripping and roughing up your hair every day.
| Hair problem | Main cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, rough, straw-like hair | Chlorine stripping oils | Shower filter. This is what filters do best. |
| Pool or bleach smell after showering | Chlorine | Shower filter. |
| Faded color, frizz | Chlorine and metals | Shower filter. |
| Brassy or green tint | Minerals and metals | Shower filter. It pulls out the heavy metals. |
Want the full picture on how filters work? Read do shower filters actually work?
The Tubo Go screws on between your shower arm and your current showerhead, no tools. Want to replace a tired old head instead? The Tubo Pro Showerhead Filter ($95) is a complete filtered showerhead for the main family bathroom. Both get a fresh cartridge every 3 months. Not sure which fits you? See showerhead filter vs inline shower filter.
7 tips for hair in hard or chlorinated water
Bathing little ones in the tub? The Tubo 2.0 Bath Filter gives them the same clean water at bath time. See bath filter vs shower filter. Sensitive skin in the family too? See the best shower filter for sensitive skin.
Take the chlorine and heavy metals out of every wash and your hair stops fighting you. Rated 4.9 stars, trusted by 50,000+ families, with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Get the Tubo Go Shower Filter →
Frequently asked questions
Will a shower filter stop my hair from falling out?
It stops the chlorine dryness that makes hair brittle, so hair is softer and snaps less when you brush. For sudden heavy hair loss, check in with a dermatologist.
How long does it take to see a difference in my hair?
Most people notice softer hair within the first couple of weeks, as old buildup washes out and new washes are chlorine-free. A clarifying wash at the start speeds it up.
Is hard water bad for kids' hair?
It makes kids' hair duller and more tangly, which makes brushing harder. Filtered water, gentle detangling and a good conditioner make bath night easier.
Will the Tubo Go Shower Filter lower my water pressure?
No. The Tubo Go screws on behind your existing showerhead with no tools, and your water flow isn't affected. You get the same shower, with up to 99% of chlorine and heavy metals removed.
- US Geological Survey — Do you have information about water hardness in the United States? usgs.gov
- Luqman MW et al. — To Evaluate and Compare Changes in Baseline Strength of Hairs after Treating them with Deionized Water and Hard Water and its Role in Hair Breakage. International Journal of Trichology, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Evans AO et al. — Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011, as cited in Luqman et al. 2018 (above).
- Cleveland Clinic — How to Protect Your Hair From Chlorine. health.clevelandclinic.org
- US EPA — National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (disinfectant limits). epa.gov