Why you need a chlorine filter for your shower

Why you need a chlorine filter for your shower

Most of us don’t think twice about the water in our showers. But if it contains chlorine and chloramine – as Australian town supply tap water does – it could be impacting your health and wellbeing.

When you take a hot, steamy shower, chlorine – and other contaminants – are entering your body as water droplets absorbed through the pores in your skin and as vapour, inhaled through your lungs directly into your bloodstream.   

Over time, this kind of exposure can dry out your skin and hair, cause an itchy, flaky scalp and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as well as worsening respiratory issues like asthma. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to protect your skin and hair from chlorine and turn a daily shower into a wellness ritual for the entire family.

What is chlorine, and why is it in our water?

Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills germs in water, while chloramines are a group of chemical compounds made up of both chlorine and ammonia. Both are added to municipal water supplies to kill bacteria and make water safe for drinking. In Australia, free chlorine levels in public water systems can range from 0.1 to 4 mg/L, depending on the treatment process and distance from the treatment plant.

While chlorine plays an essential role in public health, its long-term health effects (especially when absorbed through the skin or inhaled as vapour) are less widely discussed. 

Most people associate chlorine with swimming pools, where chronic exposure can pose significant risks to skin and hair health. But the exposure we get from a daily hot shower can be just as significant.

How chlorine affects your skin, hair, and health

We’re exposed to chlorine in three main ways:

• Drinking it (which can be addressed with a system like the zazen Alkaline Water System)
• Absorbing it through our skin during bathing
• Inhaling it as vapour during hot showers

Over time, chlorine in shower water can strip the skin’s natural oils, causing dry, itchy, irritated skin and exacerbating conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It also contributes to brittle, dull hair that’s harder to manage and more prone to frizz or breakage. If you dye your hair, you may also find chlorine causes the colour to fade faster, requiring more frequent trips to the hair salon.

And it’s not just your skin and hair feeling the effects of chlorine in tap water. Inhaling chlorine vapours during hot showers has been linked to respiratory irritation, particularly in those with asthma or allergies.

Why your shower water matters

A hot shower might feel relaxing, but it can actually increase your exposure to chlorine. Why? Because the steam transforms chlorine into vapour, which is inhaled directly into the lungs. Studies* show that chlorine inhaled as vapour enters the bloodstream more directly than chlorine in drinking water.

While the body is equipped to process most of the toxins we encounter in everyday life, frequent exposure adds to your total toxic burden. Over time, that can impact your immune system’s ability to cope with other environmental stressors.

That’s why using a chlorine filter for your shower – like the zazen Infinity Shower Filter – is such a simple yet powerful way to reduce chemical exposure and elevate your everyday routine.

The Infinity Shower Filter removes up to 99% of chlorine, along with heavy metals such as copper, VOCs and other contaminants. It also releases the thousands of negative ions found in natural settings like waterfalls, flowing streams and in the air after a thunderstorm. These microscopic wellness ambassadors are believed to boost mood and energy levels, calm stress and anxiety and even improve respiratory function, transforming every shower becomes a daily ritual of renewal. 

Small change, big impact

At zazen Water, we believe that wellness starts with the basics – and water is as foundational as it gets. By incorporating a chlorine shower filter into your daily routine, you’re not only protecting your skin and hair, but also supporting respiratory health and reducing your overall toxic load.

In a world where environmental stressors are increasing, simple choices like filtering your water can make a real difference. Whether you're looking to protect hair from chlorine, prevent skin rashes, or just breathe easier, it starts in your shower.

Ready to experience the difference? Discover how the zazen Infinity Shower Filter can turn your daily routine into a restorative ritual for the whole household.