The Best Filtered Shower Head

IT WAS ONLY a matter of time until we started paying as close of attention to the water we shower with as the water we drink. It’s a positive development, as so much of the H20 we rely on in our dwellings is full of contaminants like hard metals. That water might just be running down your hair and skin but it can still be detrimental to your physical health.

Enter the era of the filtered shower head. These little appliances work wonders, minimizing the blow hard water can inflict. That means, no more dry skin or squashing helpful natural oils. Like a good offensive line, these shower heads protect you, the QB, from an onslaught of potentially damaging minerals.

A lot (but not all) the rapid expansion of this category is credited to the most-popular-model Jolie. Since launching in late 2021, social feeds have been inundated with videos of this easy-to-install filtered head.

SHOP THE JOLIE FILTERED SHOWER HEAD

Now, it’s hard not to cry pseudo science upfront when you’re dealing on a mostly micro level. Like a good smartwatch, we want to see and witness the device working on our behalf. Well here’s the thing when it comes to filtered shower heads that our editors have tried over the years: You can feel the difference, almost immediately and certainly over time.

The Jolie has been the best filtered shower head in our guide since it’s come out. But does that mean it’s the best one for you? Here’s a breakdown of my experience with this filtered shower head and if it can help you bring a little spa-like water to your daily showers.

Perhaps there was some placebo at play―or just an ideal level of water pressure―but upon first installing the Jolie filtered shower head, I sensed softer water. It felt better on my skin and the range was ideal, thanks to both a good spray setting and the ability to oscillate fairly well.

If nothing else, my first reaction was taking pleasure in making my bathroom look better. A shower head is a small thing, but when it looks as sharp as the Jolie, it can elevate your entire space to spa levels. But the real proof is in the long term pudding, as that’s where a lot of the products claims get put to the test. And I came away impressed with how the filtered water treated things like dandruff and dry scalps, sensitive skin, and more. And over the years, some Men’s Health editors who have also tested it noticed the same.

Installation

Installation only takes a wrench and some plumber’s tape.

Honestly, you don’t need much more than five-to-10 minutes to install the Jolie. Perhaps even better, in an era of excess and packaging, the thing comes in a relatively small box with mostly biodegradable or recyclable materials. The head itself could not be easier on the eye and the fact that a decent quality wrench comes in the mix is all the better, especially for those without a proper tool setup.

Being a fixed shower head, there’s really only one installation route. However, depending on which state you live in, you may need to first install a tighter flow restrictor (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington all have stricter codes that call for this). Luckily, the Jolie includes this in the box if you you reside in one of these states, and plugging it in is a breeze. And when you do, you’ll be satisfied knowing you’re saving a little water.

About the only inconvenience is the fact that the bit about the tighter flow restrictor is written on the back of the directions. And, if you’re eager to get running like me, you might install the shower head before looking to flip the sheet over. But the process at large could not be more streamlined and the fact that you don’t need a single outside item (beyond maybe a chopstick to swap out the restrictor) makes this a painless process indeed.

SHOP THE JOLIE FILTERED SHOWER HEAD

Design and Features

The Jolie in modern chrome installed.

Jolie claims to have a filter with the most KDF-55. What does that mean? Well, KDF-55 stands for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion, which sounds like a term plucked straight from the script of “Back to the Future.” Really, it’s a type of filtration membrane that uses electrons to fend of unwanted contaminants like chlorine, iron, lead, and more. So, in theory, the Jolie should be filtering your water the best.

The design is clean and brings a little radiancy to your shower. The look alone reminds of something you’d expect in a higher-end hotel. On top of that, there are several finishes available and, as mentioned, the water pressure and spray coverage are both sound. A detachable element might be nice but the the Jolie’s ability to turn from its fixed position just about compensates for that.

There’s just the single spray setting so don’t get your hopes up about some kind of aqua massage. The shower head size is right on the money at 5.3-inches in diameter. It’s also durable and holds up well to frequent adjustments and bumps in the shower (and looks all the better with a little eucalyptus thrown in).

SHOP THE JOLIE FILTERED SHOWER HEAD

Effectiveness

The Jolie design elevates any shower.

If filtering is what you’re after, filtering is what you get with the Jolie. After just several uses, I felt my hair and skin to be cleaner, if not less dry to boot. The shower head itself remained free of any kind of build-up and is easy to clean.

If you’re after a strong spray, this might not be the model for you. But we found the pressure to be more than adequate. Yet, for those looking for multiple spray functions or that extra freedom you get from a handheld option, you might want to try something like the Cobbe Filtered Shower Head.

We’ve heard about other filtration types (carbon for example) and tried others, but the fact that this one is third party-tested gives us more peace of mind and reason to trust what’s going on beyond the naked eye.

SHOP THE JOLIE FILTERED SHOWER HEAD

Value

One of the few cons of the Jolie is the sticker price, but the value makes up for that. A bigger issue is the somewhat short lifespan of the filters, which are to be replaced every 90 days. Overall, though, it’s about what you’re getting dollar-for-dollar, pound-for-pound.

Here, you’re not only getting top filtration capabilities, but arguably the best looking format on the market. Additionally, setup is practically non-existent and for a fixed head, the range of motion is pretty good. Most will be more than satisfied by both the spay pressure and range, not to mention the fact that you’re bathing in water without any pesky toxins.

Filter Life

The Jolie filter lasts about 90 days.

Other models do tout filters with lifespans of four-to-six months. That’s considerably longer, but when weighing all the pros and cons, Jolie still comes out on top in this market for us. It’s a better filter and a better-looking package that’s worth the cost. You might be able to get away with a little more time per filter if you take shorter showers (which you should be doing for the planet anyway). But it does make some sense to pay a little extra for a proprietary filter that blends KDF-55 with calcium sulfite. You can get a slightly better rate on replacements per a subscription.

SHOP THE JOLIE FILTERED SHOWER HEAD

The Jolie is a solid bet both for those just looking to try out a filtered shower head or for those simply looking for a cleaner-looking model that will raise the overall caliber of your bathroom a bit.

Qualms? Just a few. While compatible, the Jolie might struggle to connect to some international shower heads. And the 60-day warranty could be longer. We’ve encountered some valid reviews of folks dealing with faulty shower heads after a few replacements, which tends to fall after the warranty has expired.

However, in my experience, the Jolie stood above the filtered shower head pack. I loved it for its easy install, fantastic aesthetic, solid stream, and market-leading filter tech. If you’re thinking about a filtered shower head, this is the prime choice.

Best Filtered Shower Head

Jolie Skin Company Filtered Shower Head

Cons

• Premium price tag
• Filters have a relatively short life
• Only has one spray setting

Style	Fixed
Water Pressure	1.8 gallons per minutes (GPM)
Spray Settings	1
Head Diameter	5.3 in.
Filter Lifespan	90 days

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Mark Stock is a food, drink, and outdoors writer from Portland, Oregon. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. In addition to Men’s Health, he writes for SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, The Somm Journal, The Drake, Willamette Week, Travel Oregon, and more.