The biggest names in the industry are sharing their insights. 

We could go on and on about how important it is to filter your water—and we will. But we know you probably want to hear it from the experts. That’s why we’re bringing you a lineup of dermatological pros and hair health aficionados to answer everyone’s burning questions about water filtration. Each with their own perspective, Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jenna Queller, MD, FAAD, Celebrity Hairstylist Marc Ballance, trichologist Jay Small, and licensed medical esthetician Jenn Mills are sharing their insight on what’s really happening with our shower water. 

Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jenna Queller, MD, FAAD and founder of DermWorks

Can you tell us a bit about chlorine and its effects on our skin?

"Chlorine and other common substances found in tap water can strip away your skin and hair’s natural oils. When that happens, your skin can feel tight, dry, itchy, or flaky—especially if you already have sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea. Chlorinated water can also make redness and irritation worse during flare-ups."

What about our hair?

"Chlorine can leave your hair feeling rough, frizzy, and more prone to breakage, and it may even cause color to fade faster. Over time, repeated exposure—especially from long, hot showers—can contribute to ongoing dryness and dehydration of both your skin and hair."

What do you tell patients who are curious about filtering their water?

"In my experience, filtering your shower water can be a simple but very helpful step, especially if you struggle with dry, sensitive, or easily irritated skin. A good shower filter can reduce chlorine and other impurities that strip away your skin’s natural moisture. Many patients find that their skin feels more comfortable and less tight after showering, and their hair feels softer and less brittle. It can also help reduce frizz and slow down color fading for those who dye their hair."

How does a filter coexist with an existing skincare routine?

"While a shower filter isn’t a replacement for a solid skincare routine, it can remove an environmental stressor that may be working against your products.?

What sorts of differences have you seen in patients who’ve installed shower filters?

?I’ve definitely seen a difference in patients who install high-quality shower filters. Many report less dryness, less itching after bathing, and fewer flare-ups of conditions like eczema or dermatitis. Hair often feels smoother and easier to manage as well. The changes may not be dramatic overnight, but for patients with sensitive skin or a weakened skin barrier, filtering shower water can make a noticeable and meaningful improvement in their overall skin health and comfort.?

Marc Ballance, Celebrity Hairstylist at IGK Salon 

Can you tell us about chlorine in our water, and its relationship to our hair?

"Chlorine tends to strip the natural oils from the hair and open the cuticle, which leads to your hair strands feeling drier, duller, and frizzier. If you have colored hair, the chlorine can make the color fade faster and make the hair feel more porous. It’s not something you would notice instantly; it’s a slow buildup that can lead to you feeling like your hair is off."

What about “hard water”?

?Hard water is one of the most common reasons people feel like their hair just doesn’t have that ‘umph’ anymore. The minerals in hard water build up on the hair, and that coating makes hair feel dry, brittle, and dull. A lot of the time, when someone tells me their hair feels dull, frizzy, or like it tangles instantly, hard water is a hidden factor."

Do you recommend clients filter their shower water? If so, what differences do you see?

"Yes! Especially if you color your hair, have curls, or you’re someone who washes your hair often. A shower filter is one of those small upgrades that makes a massive difference.

The biggest differences I see include:

• hair feels softer

• the hair shaft becomes less frizzy

• color stays for longer

• curls behave better

• hair looks shinier with less styling"

What else should people know about how their water is impacting the way their hair looks?

"The biggest thing people don’t realize is that water quality affects how your hair performs. If your hair is constantly being dried out by chemicals or coated in mineral build-up, your hair won’t look as good as it should.

If your hair feels dull, heavy, or like it’s harder to style than it should be, I always recommend:

• clarifying occasionally

• using good quality shampoo/conditioner

• considering a shower filter

It’s one of the most overlooked parts of haircare, but it makes a difference."

Jay Small, Trichologist, Stylist, and founder of Arey Haircare

What does chlorine do to the scalp when left unfiltered in our shower water?

"Chlorine is an alkaline substance used in high-volume municipal water systems to eliminate harmful bacteria. While this is a necessary step for water safety, it can be detrimental to our skin and scalp, which are naturally acidic environments.

When the scalp is exposed to chlorinated water, it triggers oxidative stress, a known accelerator of biological aging. On average, our scalps are exposed to direct shower water for 3 to 7 minutes, while our faces often receive less than 60 seconds of contact. Simply put, unfiltered chlorine cannot decipher between 'good' and 'bad' bacteria; it disrupts the scalp's microbiome, leaving it susceptible to dryness and inflammation, affecting both what you see and what you can’t.

As a Trichologist, I see oxidative stress as a leading driver of hair aging, including premature greying, thinning, and shedding. While many of my clients now prioritize clean haircare, the simplest proactive step you can take is to add a high-quality filter to your shower and remember to change it regularly."

What about heavy metals, what does that mean for scalp health?

"Trace amounts of copper, lead, iron, and mercury are frequently found in unfiltered municipal water. This often confuses consumers, as some of these minerals are essential nutrients found in the very supplements we recommend for internal health. However, when applied topically in this raw, unfiltered form, these heavy metals act like 'microscopic sandpaper.’

Every time you wash with unfiltered water, these metals 'rough up' the hair cuticle and the scalp’s surface, creating an imbalanced, oxidative environment. If you are using proactive products to preserve your natural pigment and support hair longevity, these metals are your #1 enemy.

A high-quality shower filter is the most effective way to chemically 'trap' these metals before they reach your scalp. By removing these stressors, you ensure your follicles remain in a low-stress environment, allowing your natural biological functions and proactive products to work harmoniously, rather than constantly struggling to repair and defend your hair."

What are the simplest ways we can take care of our scalp health?

"We often overlook the most fundamental ways to maintain a healthy scalp environment. Just like any other part of the body, our scalp needs to be fueled, nurtured, and protected. On average, the scalp ages significantly faster than the skin on our face, a biological gap I frequently observe as a Trichologist. This is often the result of overlooking the products we apply or the quality of the water we use to rinse.

My foundational recommendations for anyone looking to protect or repair their scalp health are simple: clean products, filtered showers, a nutrient-dense diet, and restorative sleep."

How does this translate to overall healthy hair / skin?

"Our scalp is one of the most complex ecosystems of the body. It serves as the 'factory' for one of our most precious biological resources: hair. When you begin to treat your scalp like a high-functioning facility ensuring it is clean, fueled, and balanced the results have a direct, visible effect on your hair health.

However, while we have become experts at treating our faces with disciplined care, the skin on our bodies often remains overlooked. True hair and skin health require a consistent, systemic approach. Once you commit to long-term changes in the products you use, the foods you eat, and your daily routines, your body will respond with visible, positive results."

What differences have you seen in your work when people start to use a shower filter?

"It is a difference you can truly see and feel. As we’ve discussed, unfiltered water often contains harsh minerals and chemicals; when these are removed, the results are often visible within just a few uses. When hair is burdened by heavy metal buildup, it appears dull, flat, and loses its natural luster. Simultaneously, the scalp may show visible signs of irritation or chronic dryness.

Many of my clients who use a filtered shower head joke that they can 'feel' the exact moment the filter needs to be replaced. They become so attuned to the sensation of truly clean water and the manageable, vibrant hair that comes with it that they never want to go back."

Do you have any other words of scalpcare wisdom?

"As a hairstylist and trichologist, I’ve seen many people respond to changes in their hair in a purely reactive way. Over the last two decades, we’ve seen a massive shift from reactive to proactive skincare; I encourage my clients, friends, and anyone who will listen to adopt that same philosophy for their haircare routine.

Unlike our skin, which sheds and regenerates roughly every 30 days, our hair stays with us for much longer. If your hair reaches your shoulders, those ends have likely been with you for the last 2.5 years. This means that dry, brittle ends may not be the result of what you are doing to your hair today, but rather a reflection of your scalp health and habits from years ago. Your hair is essentially a 'time capsule' of your past scalp health."

Jenn Mills, licensed medical esthetician and founder of Cult Skin by Jenn and Biomecult

What are the effects of chlorine in our water on our skin?  

"Chlorine is wildly oxidative, in which it degrades the lipid layer and protective barrier (stratum corneum), and triggers inflammation. It damages our key structural proteins (keratin), it raises the pH of the acid mantle, which protects us against bacteria and irritants-creating reactivity and sensitivity."

What about heavy metals? 

"They also create oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS), creating “leaky skin” where increased permeability causes dermatitis, eczema, and even allergies. They can also enter the dermal pathway and either accumulate in the stratum corneum or penetrate through hair follicles via sweat and sebum."

What sorts of issues do you see in your clients as they pertain to their water filtration? 

"I have all of my clients get specific water filters for their shower and sink immediately upon seeing me. As I tend to work with very sensitized clients-adult female acne, dermatitis, and eczema. This almost always immediately helps lessen inflammation-which is present in all of these skin pathologies."

Have any cleared up simply from changing / adding a filter? 

"Inflammation is greatly reduced in everyone, and oftentimes it (tap water) can be a main trigger to their dermatitis."

Anything else you want to add about the quality of water and its effect on skin health? 

"Clean water, especially something as spring water can behoove the skin by creating moisture retention, acting as an anti-inflammatory, and contributing to a healthy skin microflora! A healthy skin microbiome is skin health, indeed."