Thanks to This Shower Filter, My Hair Is Bouncier and Less Brittle

As someone who has battled (translation: attempted to maintain) thick curls her entire life, I've tried seemingly every trick in the book to revive the look and feel of my hair — especially after many years spent damaging it with hot tools and a lackadaisical hair-care routine. I'd always assumed my problem boiled down to low-quality shampoos or overused brushes — until my hairstylist informed me that my hair-quality issues could actually be a result of my showerhead.

Taking her insights to heart, I quickly found myself lost in a Google-induced hair-care rabbit hole that detailed all the related factors that could be contributing to my flimsy hair — starting with the negative effects of high-pressure showerheads and going all the way down to the actual quality of the water itself. Despite the overwhelming amount of information on the topic, all signs pointed to one easy solution: simply replacing my showerhead or shower filter, with top replacement recommendations coming from brands like Kohler and Delta.

After perusing through hundreds of reviews, I landed on the Act+Acre Showerhead Filter ($120) as my guinea pig to test whether or not a quality showerhead could truly transform the vibrancy of my hair (spoiler: a few washes in and that's already proven to be the case). From its easy installation and feasible price tag to the pressure of the water in comparison to my previous model, I break down everything to know about the brand's top-rated model — and how it transformed my shower routine for the better — ahead.

First and foremost, I love that I've seen an immediate difference in the look (and feel) of both my hair and skin, which can really only be attributed to this showerhead. My natural hair is curly and thick; I've always struggled with brittle ends and a generally dull look. Unlike past showerheads that I've used, this product releases an optimal water flow that's gentle, evenly distributed, and doesn't put too much pressure on my scalp. As a result, I've noticed myself losing less hair in the shower (specifically, fewer strands being pulled out when I'm shampooing or conditioning), and my hair is much less tangled when I go to comb it after the fact. Overall, it boasts more of a hydrated shine and the texture of my hair has become noticeably bouncier and more voluminous, with less breakage on my ends.

Besides the product's easy installation (which took less than five minutes), I also appreciate that the showerhead has a swivel design, which makes it easy to move around and adjust its positioning as needed throughout my shower.

This showerhead is easy to use and even easier to install. Per direction from the brand, I started by removing my existing showerhead with the help of a wrench (which is provided in the packaging for the Act+Acre model, in case you don't already have your own). Once removed, I proceeded to wrap plumber's tape (also provided) along the tip of the shower pipe, ensuring there were multiple visible layers of the tape. The showerhead comes with its own O-ring and flow restrictor, both of which should be placed inside the model's inlet (located on the opposite side of the spout). Next up: installation. Despite having no prior experience with installing a showerhead, I easily attached this product to the pipe; I simply twisted the head onto the pipe until it felt tight and relied on the wrench as needed. Finally, I turned the shower on and let the water run out of the spout for one minute — this final step helps to activate the product's filter.

From there, the showerhead works normally, providing a gentle stream of water each time I turn it on.

Unlike other showerheads, this model doesn't feature interchangeable water-flow settings, which makes it impossible to adjust the water pressure or customize it to your liking. Granted, the product is designed to filter through usual contaminants and dispense optimal water pressure, so I've found there isn't much need to make any adjustments. However, if you're a stickler when it comes to how you like your water pressure, you might want to consider shopping out other options.

Additionally, the brand recommends that users change out the showerhead's filter every three months. Act+Acre offers a subscription option, which gives users the opportunity to have a new filter automatically delivered as needed, removing the hassle of doing it manually every few months.

This showerhead filter is available to shop at Act+Acre, Sephora ($120), and Dermstore ($120).

Rating:
★★★★

Kyley Warren is an award-winning writer, editor, and affiliate strategist with more than four years of experience in the publishing space. She currently works as an assistant editor on POPSUGAR Shopping, where she reviews trending products, monitors commerce trends, develops thoughtful affiliate strategies, and relies on her unique expertise to compile helpful shopping guides that span a number of verticals — including fashion, home, beauty, and wellness. She previously worked with Entertainment Tonight as a style commerce writer, and her byline has appeared in publications globally.