I Used Act+Acre's Shower Filter For 3 Months & My Hair Has Never Been Softer

Not-so-fun fact: Your body absorbs more toxins from a 10-minute shower1 than drinking a liter of the same water. Safe to say, shower filers are in order. 

As a beauty editor, I've tested several shower filters. More often than not, I'm left unimpressed. My water pressure suffers, installation is complicated, and most importantly, there's no noticeable difference in my hair or skin. 

When I got word that industry-leading scalp care brand Act+Acre was launching a showerhead filter, I had a gut feeling it'd blow the others out of the water. To no surprise, I was right. 

Similar to countertop water filters, not all shower filters are made the same. The most common filtration system used is KDF-55; this layer is essential for removing heavy metals. This system is often paired with calcium sulfate, which focuses on removing chlorine (a major concern with most water!).

Given my lack of skills in the tools department, I'm typically frustrated installing new showerhead filters. However, this one came with an easy-to-follow instructions leaflet, a new wrench, and plumber's tape, making the process a breeze. 

Upon unboxing, you'll notice that the filter comes with three different flow restrictors colored yellow, green, and red. The leaflet accompanying tells you which one to use depending on what state you're in. This is decided by the state laws, but luckily this showerhead comes with every option. 

Within five minutes, my new showerhead filter was installed and ready to go. The moment I turned on my water, I was taken aback. The powerful rainfall stream is reminiscent of five-star hotels and luxury spas. I immediately jumped in and was met with a comforting rinse that made me say "wow" out loud. 

Within seconds, all of my hair was wet. It's important to note that I have quite thick and wavy hair that usually takes a few minutes to properly dampen, so this was a plus. The strong water pressure and unique stream design have continued to make my shower experience more luxurious, enjoyable, and efficient than ever before. 

Now for the real test: results. I'll admit, I didn't go into this testing with any pressing hair concerns—after all, part of my job is dedicating time to testing products that help prevent dryness and frizz. Nevertheless, my persistent post-shower skin dryness was eliminated after a few weeks of use. 

I noticed my body and face didn't feel tight upon stepping onto the bath mat. While I typically would run to my body cream to soothe ashiness, my skin felt comfortable and balanced. 

About 85% of the country has hard water, and a recent study found that nearly half of U.S. water contains PFAS (or "forever chemicals"). 

This widespread water-quality problem is reason enough to invest in a showerhead filter. More than that, investing in cleaner water is only going to help your skin, hair, and scalp health. For anyone looking to optimize hair growth, soften strand texture, or prevent skin irritation, it's a worthwhile endeavor.