I Tried the Jolie Filtered Showerhead for 3 Months and My Hair Is Shinier Than Ever

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality: 19/20
• Quality/Ease of Use: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Installation: 20/20
• TOTAL: 97/100

The Jolie filtered showerhead ($165) is designed to remove chlorine, heavy metals and other harmful contaminants from our shower water, a process the brand calls “step zero” on the way to better skin and hair. Founded in 2021 by Ryan Babenzien and Arjan Singh, the Jolie Skin Company (adorably named after Babenzien's wife) has already made waves in the beauty industry, garnering dozens of press mentions and TikTok reviews thanks, in part, to their savvy branding. Though filtered showerheads are nothing new, Jolie certainly made them cool, and after months of dealing with unusually drab and dry hair, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

The Pros:

• Universal fit in all showers
• Aesthetically designed with Scandinavian influences
• Available in six colors
• Easy to install
• Minimal change in water pressure
• Less mineral buildup and soap scum in shower
• Real results: shinier, smoother and more hydrated hair

The Cons:

• Filter replacement required every 3 months ($36 each)
• Minor rusting on water holes

Do I Need a Filtered Showerhead?

According to Jolie, most water systems use chlorine and other heavy metals to disinfect and kill bacteria. And while that’s definitely a good thing, those chemicals don’t get filtered out once they’ve done their job. This often-cited study asserts that overexposure to chlorine can cause scalp irritation, resulting in hair dryness, coarseness and flakiness. “Minerals and heavy metals like copper negatively impact hair and can cause discoloration over time,” Mark DeBolt, head colorist and co-owner of Mark Ryan Salon tells us. “Also, if you bleach your hair, get highlights or generally just color your hair, metals can create damage when we’re processing the color.” He mentions they can also impact texture and cause build-up, making the hair “tangly and difficult to comb out.” As an NYC-based stylist, DeBolt wishes more people would use a filtered showerhead. “For the buildings in New York with old copper pipes, built-in filters are a must [in] the long run,” he adds. This is especially true for color-treated hair, but also for maintaining general hair health.

In addition to chlorine, water can contain increased amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium, commonly referred to as “hard water.” Since minerals don’t evaporate like water does, these deposits are often left behind. If you’ve noticed dry strands, dullness or frizzy flyaways (my complaint du jour), hard water might be to blame. One study by the International Journal of Trichology found that participants who used hard water experienced weakening of the hair and thus, more breakage. Getting even more granular, this study by the International Journal of Dermatology found that hard water-treated hair had a more “ruffled appearance with higher mineral deposition and decreased thickness.” When it comes to skin, which is our biggest organ, the science is largely the same, citing increased sulfate deposits on the skin of hard water users, resulting in dryness, irritation and even atopic eczema.

Wondering if your home uses hard water? Some of the telltale signs include visible residue left behind on surfaces (like your tub, sink and dishes) in addition to a slick or slippery feeling on your skin after washing with soap. For more information, Jolie offers a free water report backed by the U.S. Environmental Working Group.

How Does Jolie Compare to Other Filtered Showerheads?

With an emphasis on simplicity and thoughtful aesthetics, Jolie stands out in a sea of chrome hardware. As the Warby Parker of showerheads, it’s clear that Jolie was made with the concerned millennial in mind (someone who values their well-being without having to invest too much time, money or effort). And like many direct-to-consumer brands that have come before it (think Brooklinen, Brightland and Our Place), it turns a mundane task like replacing your showerhead into an experience that’s both personal and fun.

Unlike other overly engineered multi-stage systems, Jolie keeps things simple. Each showerhead has a KDF-55 water filtration media that uses a “high purity combination of copper and zinc shavings to remove chlorine and other heavy metals.” According to Jolie, this, plus calcium sulfate, work together to remove chlorine without noticeable clogs or lags, meaning you get all the benefits of a built-in filter without severely impacting your water pressure. As someone who judges another person’s home by the strength of their water pressure, this was a huge win in my book. To back these claims, Jolie uses third-party testing and benchmarks from the NSF177 (which happens to be the authority on water filtration).

My 3-Month Jolie Routine

For the most accurate results, I knew I needed to isolate the variable (in this case, the showerhead). So, for three full months, I stuck to my typical haircare routine (one to three washes per week) using the below products:

There’s truly nothing better than a product that actually delivers on its claims (insert clap emoji here). My husband handled the installation and he said it couldn’t have been easier. Each showerhead comes with its own “tiny but mighty” wrench in the signature Jolie seafoam green hue, so even if you don’t own a toolbox or any tools to speak of, you’re good to go. Though there was a slight change in water pressure when compared to my hand-me-down showerhead, the difference was hardly noticeable after the first few days.

Here’s what I did notice: My bar soap washed off with ease, my shampoo lathered up thoroughly and I was no longer wasting precious time (and water) in a never-ending rinse cycle scrubbing at phantom hard water remnants to no avail. The overall experience felt both familiar and elevated. I got through my shower quicker and somehow felt cleaner in the end.

And now, as I look at the before-and-after photos, I’m convinced it wasn’t all in my head. My hair looks shinier, my strands feel softer and my natural highlights are slowly creeping back in (in January, no less!). My hair finally feels like my own again, and I didn’t have to change a single beauty product.

The added bonus I wasn’t expecting? Significantly less build-up on both my tub and shower walls. Pre-Jolie, my shower needed weekly cleaning. Soap scum and mineral deposits lined every corner, crevice and groat line you could find (another unfortunate side effect of hard water). Post-Jolie, my porcelain tub stays whiter for longer, while the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser lives to fight another day.

Final Thoughts

In a world where more is more and the siren call of Sephora is always beckoning, it can be hard to resist the draw of a shiny new product. But if this experiment with Jolie has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes, rather than piling on another cream, oil or deep conditioner, it’s better to just strip it all away and start fresh. Trust me, your hair will thank you.