Do You Really Need Chlorine Shower Filter – Hair and Skin Problems?

Is a shower filter necessary? What are the benefits of chlorine shower filter? In this article, we are taking a deeper look at shower filters.

Chlorine mandatory but harmful

Do your shower water contain chlorine?

Many people are aware of the hazards of chlorine and acquire a wide range of water filters such as pitchers and other water filters. However, most people are forgetting shower completely and its chlorine exposure, which is considered to be a lot more harmful than chlorine in drinking water.

Why chlorine is more harmful in a shower?

  • First, people use much more water during their shower time (up to 60 liters per day).
  • Second, chlorine evaporates at a much lower temperature than water, so it’s inevitable that you inhale some chlorine fumes during a shower.
  • Third, in a shower, your chlorine exposure comes to a significantly larger area than when drinking water. Skin is the largest human organ that absorbs nutrients and toxins. In addition, a warm shower opens up your skin pores, providing an easier way to get chlorine in your body.

Potential harms of chlorine exposure

Inhalation of chlorine is known to cause asthma (especially for children). About 235–300 million people globally have been diagnosed with asthma, in many countries, it is the most common chronic disease. A number of professional swimmers already knows the dangers of chlorine. In addition, drinking chlorine water is found to increase breast and bladder cancer.

Can chlorine cause skin disorders?

If your shower water has chlorine, it can weaken the skin’s natural bacteria, which causes dry skin and other problems.

Some of the skin disorders might actually be caused by an allergic reaction to chlorine. If your skin is dry after a shower, it’s plausible that your water has chlorine.

Acne can be caused by many different reasons, but also chlorine in a shower can have a big impact on acne. There is a lot of experiences on acne forums that after getting a shower filter many people see improvements in their skin. (For example, this.)

A shower filter is obviously not a magic pill for acne treatment, but it’s worth to give a try. Consider getting a chlorine shower filter, especially if you taste or smell chlorine odor in your water.

Video: Why you should use a shower filter?

Chlorine reduction may bring unexpected benefits such as:

  • Healthier and younger-looking skin and softer hair.
  • Eases suffering from dry skin.
  • Hair color will last longer.
  • More energy during the day, chlorine exposure might cause fatigue.
  • Improved air quality throughout the house.
  • Skin becomes softer, healthier and younger look, without the drying effects of chlorine.
  • Removing chlorine from the shower might reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin rashes.
  • Hair is able to maintain it’s natural oils, and it will look softer and healthier.
  • Save money: your skin is able to retain its natural moisture, you can reduce the use of your moisturizer creams.

For most people, it will be a shock – how much stronger, thicker and beautiful their hair looks when their own natural oils are not destroyed by chlorine. (No more brittle and breaking hair). In addition, you will save money when you don’t need to use different types of shampoos and moisturizer creams. And also if you use hair colors, they will last longer which will also save you more money.

Personal experience with chlorine shower filter

First I thought that this chlorine and water filter stuff is hippies bullshit, but I was wrong.

After two weeks of use: no more dry skin after a shower. The hair is looking a lot more resilient, more abundant. Skin looks noticeably younger, no more itching or dry skin, and I have noticeably more energy during a day.

How to choose a chlorine shower filter?

Before you invest in a shower filter, you should always look for the NSF mark or the product will not necessarily do what it promises. NSF is the world’s best-known independent food and water-related product tester.

I’ve been looking for the best shower filter for a reduction of chlorine. I come across to Rainshow’r CQ-1000-NH Dechlorinating Shower Filter (Amazon.com), which is certified to be working for reduction of free chlorine by NSF.

Features of this shower filter:

  • Removes up to 90% of the chlorine in the shower
  • Filter lasts up to a year
  • Easy to install, you do not even need tools.
  • Dechlorination Certified by NSF / ANSI Standard 177, up to 95,000 liters
  • Replaceable filter cartridge.
  • Universal coupling: fits directly to almost all showers

On average, one person uses 60 liters of water during a shower. This means that in a 4 person family, one chlorine filter will last up to a one year. If you are single, one filter could last potentially up to 2-3 years (Even though the manufacturer recommends to change the filter every year). New filters are available in here (Amazon.com).

My Experiences With Chlorine Shower Filter
Rainshow’r Dechlorinating Shower Filter

How it’s working?

It is always good to do research and acquire knowledge somewhere elsewhere than the seller’s web site.

This particular filter works with KDF-55 filter technology, that was invented in 1984. KDF-55 is a very popular technique for reducing chlorine, especially with shower filters.

KDF-55 consisting of zinc powder (55%) and copper (45%), and as water flows through, it’s converting a free of chloride (Cl) to harmless form water-soluble chloride.

This filter is based on the power of the electro-chemical reaction (oxidation/reduction). (In contrast: activated carbon filter is based on adsorption.)

KDF-55 filters are better than activated carbon filters, at least in a shower (of course it depends on what you want to filter). For example: with a KDF-55 filter service life, bacteria management and recycling possibilities are better than in activated carbon filters.

KDF-55 chlorine shower filter is not for everyone.
KDF-55 is a very useful filter for showers in cities and large urban areas where chlorine is used for water purification. It works well on the reduction of free chlorine, water-soluble heavy metals, as well in odor reduction.

KDF-55 is not suitable for all purposes.
For example: if you use your own well water, and you don’t use chlorine for disinfection, then this filter is almost useless. This model does not filter everything. (For example, this filter does not work on removing chloramine, which is used for water purification in some cities.

While some use this to filter drinking water. I would not use it for drinking water, because activated carbon filters are a far better option for drinking water filtration.

If you have copper hypersensitivity: KDF-55 filter can add a small amount of copper content in the water, so it is not recommended for copper filtration.

Installing Rainshow’r dechlorinating shower filter

Installing this shower filter is not really difficult. Literally, anyone can and know how to install this. Honestly, I think even a child can install this.

how to install chlorine shower filter
Installing chlorine shower filter is easy.

Here is step by step guide to install it:

Take a chlorine shower filter from the package, remove the red plug from the filter.

Remove the shower hose and replace it with filter, attach the hose to the filter – congratulations, now you can enjoy chlorine-free showers.

The connector is universal, ie it will fit for most showers unless you have some special model. It fitted perfectly on my shower.

If it does not fit, you might need to go a hardware store and ask for suitable connector / sequel.

Shower filter conclusion

If you live in the city or you can smell chlorine in your water, then this filter is your best choice and highly functional solution for removing free chlorine from your shower.

If you live in the US, the best place to get it is amazon.com

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