Hello Klean Review: Can A Shower Filter Really Transform Your Hair?

By Elizabeth Bennett

Hello Klean launched in 2019 after frequent jet-setting founder Karlee Oz' hair feeling dry and brittle. Here, we put the Hello Klean shower filter to the test.

Ever noticed that your skin and hair suddenly looks its best ever self while on holiday? Although the rest and relaxation might be playing a small part, chances are it’s also down to the water you’re washing in. Water is defined as hard or soft, and the former can cause a whole host of skin and hair issues. It drives dryer skin and sensitivity and irritates and intensifies existing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. On the hair front it makes locks dryer, coarser and more brittle, especially for those with curly hair types or already suffering with dryness. Annoyingly, it can also bring about dandruff and scalp issues.

Hard water is more of an issue in some places than others and in the United Kingdom it’s particularly bad in London and the South East. Except for upping sticks and relocating, for a long time we couldn’t do much but suck it up and deal with it. However, now a new breed of brands and products are coming to the fore, especially designed with hard water in mind.

Leading the way is Hello Klean, an indie beauty brand founded in 2019 with the aim to fix the root of skin and hair sorrows with smarter showers. The brand started with their hero and consistently best selling Shower Filter. This handy screw-on shower attachment filters the water as it comes through and reduces unwanted impurities. The Dragons’ Den approved brand then branched out and launched the Purifying Shower Head and a range of products specifically for hard water - the Nourishing Micronutrient Wash, Hard Water Shampoo and Hard Water Conditioner.

Intrigued by how much our shower filter can impact skin and hair? We set about giving Hello Klean’s shower filter a go. Scroll down to read our full review.

As someone who has always had sensitive skin and a long-term sufferer of Eczema, I have always had to be careful with the products I slather on my face and body. Considering I have spent the last ten years working as a beauty journalist, I have become pretty hawk-eye at decoding INCI lists and eliminating pesky ingredients that can cause nasty flare-ups. Having said this, it wasn’t until relatively recently that I had given much thought to the water I was showering in every day.

By Gabi Thorne

By Meg Walters

By Hayley Spencer

Hello Klean’s shower filter is built with dry and sensitive skin in mind, so it seemed like an obvious thing for me to try. My hair is also on the thirsty side - largely due to the fact I have been signed up to the bleach blonde club for over 15 years. I was therefore looking forward to seeing the improvements it could have in that area too.

Hello Klean are clear that there is no magic cure for conditions like hair thinning, psoriasis and eczema but are keen to spread the word that water affects your skin and hair just as much as the products you use. Their filter is all about prevention for those living with hard water and helping users achieve healthy hair and healthy skin.

The problem is that hard water contains minerals, heavy metals, chlorine and other contaminants. For the skin, hard water creates soap scum that settles on the skin which saps away moisture making the skin drier and increasing the chance of congested and bumpy skin. This means eczema, psoriasis, rashes, dry skin and body acne are more common. The minerals found in hard water penetrate the hair and crystallise it as it dries which causes a crispy feeling to the hair and makes it more prone to breakages and sometimes even hair loss.

Hair issues with hard water include dryness, discolouration and dandruff. Another issue with hard water is that the products you use don’t lather as well. Not only does that mean the products themsleves aren’t as efficient, it means there is a buildup of product residue and minerals which causes itchiness and the skin or scalp to flake.

The stainless steel mesh captures any large sediment in the water while calcium sulphite removes chlorines, KDF 55 targets minerals and residual chlorine and granular activated carbon remove bacteria, mould and odours. Lastly, ceramic beads help to balance your shower water's pH level.

You may think you need a plumber to install something in your shower but Hello Klean have made this process very easy. It takes two minutes to install and no tools are needed. Once you’ve got the filter out the box, you remove the white and blue plugs from each end. Then you remove the cord from the tap in your shower (it should just twist or pull off) and connect the shower filter on before connecting the cord back on the end.

Simply run the water for 30 seconds and it’s good to go. For awkward spacing or taps located close to the wall (less than 2.5cm space), you'll need the brand’s Shower Adapter to lengthen the distance. However, they report that only around roughly 3% of customers encounter this issue.

Washing your hair daily? Mistake number one.

By Bianca London and Elle Turner

When you buy your first aluminium shower filter, it comes with the first capsule inside. This lasts for 13,000 litres of water, which is around 3 months for a household of 3, 4 months for a household of 2 and 5 months for a household of 1. When you need to swap the filter over, you remove the shower filter, unscrew the top or bottom cap, swap with a new refill capsule and reattach the shower filter onto your tap. To save money and never be without a refill, Hello Klean offers a handy subscription service where you can receive a new filter in the post every 3, 4 or 6 months.

Hello Klean are sustainably focused and the refillable, aluminum design uses 70% less plastic than most brands. The shower filters are recyclable and refillable while the keep-forever aluminium filter comes housed in a plastic-free FSC certified box and is delivered by Carbon conscious shipping.

I do not pride myself on practical abilities so was a little nervous getting the attachment in would prove trickier than Hello Klean suggests. I was quickly proved wrong and I found it took no time at all.

By Gabi Thorne

By Meg Walters

By Hayley Spencer

From the first wash, I noticed my hair was a little softer than usual and easier to tame with my comb. I was impressed. Over the next few weeks I noticed this pattern continued and quickly became a convert to the shower filter life. Now, I don't notice quite the difference I do when I go to my parents in Devon where the water is super soft but it’s enough of a difference to be notable.

I continue to use the filter for the next few months and I am keen to see the impact on my skin and the eczema flare-up I sometimes get on my neck. This is harder to measure as this is something I have had since childhood and seems to go up and down without any rhyme or reason. What I do notice though is my skin does feel a little less tight and dry when I get out of the shower which can only be a good thing. This alone is enough to keep me hooked.

I’m a big lover of baths and soaking in some oils is great for my eczema, let alone super relaxing. It feels counterintuitive to do this if the hard water is actually negatively impacting the skin so knowing I have the filter on provides a great piece of mind. I just keep my filter in its usual place and let the bath fill up from the shower running.

Compared to other shower filters on the market, I do think Hello Klean is also one of the most sleek and stylish. If you have silver shower fittings like I do then it really does seamlessly blend in to the point it can’t be seen. If you do perhaps have gold or bronze fixings, you might want to think about how it will look. The fact that it fits on the shower without affecting the shower head itself is also a win in comparison to other models out there – with Hello Klean you can use the filter with both overhead or hose style showers.

I also really appreciated the sustainable credentials. No one wants to be wasting unnecessary plastic so the fact the refill cartridges can be put in the recycling and the aluminium filter is designed to last is a real bonus.

Considering the aluminium case is keep-forever, I think the starting price of £59 is relatively reasonable. The filters cost £40 if you buy them individually but you save if you subscribe. At this price, it works out at less than £10 a month for one person which in comparison to lots of products in the beauty, haircare and wellness space seems pretty decent. Especially considering it can help your products work harder and potentially eliminate the need for others.

I loved the way it made my hair feel softer and will do anything to help keep my eczema at bay – even if it’s not making a noticeable difference straight away. The Hello Klean Shower Filter really has changed my shower routine and is a shower care essential I can no longer live without. Shop it now at helloklean.com.

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