What Heavy Metals in Shower Water Do to Your Skin and Hair

15th January, 2026

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Do you know what’s in your shower water? You might not realise it, but the tap water in many UK homes can contain heavy metals. These aren’t dangerous, but they can affect your skin and hair when you shower.

 

Heavy metals are different to the minerals found in hard water, but they often appear together. Unfortunately, both can contribute to skin and hair problems including irritation, dryness and longer-term issues.

 

Here, we’ll take a look at what metals may be lurking in your shower water and the impact they can have on your hair and skincare regime. Plus, what you can do about it. 

What Heavy Metals Can Be Found in Shower Water?

The most common heavy metals found in shower water in the UK are lead, copper and iron. They mainly enter the mains water system through deteriorating water systems and ageing, corroding pipes. 

Copper

Copper typically enters the water supply when copper pipes corrode. As you’ll know if you’ve ever had any plumbing work, copper pipes are widely used in the UK. They tend to last a long time but do eventually corrode.

 

Does hard water corrode copper pipes? Actually, it can - as the limescale buildup that hard water causes can trap corrosive elements and accelerate or exacerbate the process. This is why pipework in properties in hard or acidic water areas - as well as older properties - may suffer from corrosion. 

Iron 

Traces of iron are often found in water sourced from old cast iron water mains or pipes. When these corrode, it creates rust - and these iron particles enter the water supply. Iron is also naturally present in the soil and rocks that rainwater travels through as it makes its way to our water supplies.

 

If you’re wondering - does hard water contain iron, or does iron make water hard? It does often contain iron, but this isn’t why it’s classed as ‘hard’. This is mainly due to the mineral deposits hard water contains, but minerals and metals are often found together in hard water. 

Lead 

Water leaving treatment plants is typically lead-free, but it may pick up traces of lead as it passes through lead service pipes connecting to the mains - or in pipes inside the property. Older properties, such as those built before 1970, may still have lead pipes if they’ve not been replaced.

 

Lead is one of the most dangerous heavy metals to be present in tap water, so it is best to replace lead pipes if you have them. 

Other Possible Metals - Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc

There may also be traces of magnesium, manganese and zinc in your shower water. These aren’t as harmful as lead, but they can still contribute to problems with dryness and residue in your hair and skin. 

How Heavy Metals Affect Your Skin and Hair

Heavy metals in shower water can cause the following problems in your skin:

  • Dryness and tightness - they can interfere with or damage the skin barrier, which pulls out moisture and stops your skin properly rehydrating
  • Irritation and redness - metals can disrupt the pH balance and cause micro-inflammation, something that is especially common in people with very sensitive skin or a condition such as eczema
  • Blocked pores - when combined with mineral deposits in water, heavy metals can mix with oils to create a film or residue which clogs pores.

 

In hair, heavy metals can contribute to dullness and lack of shine, dryness and breakages, and residue build-up. This can make hair feel heavy or sticky, even after washing. And if you have coloured hair, you may find the colour fades quickly or changes over time - this is due to metals interfering with the dyes and causing brassy or muddy tones. 

Signs Your Shower Water Contains Heavy Metals

The problem with heavy metals and minerals in your tap water is that they’re sometimes difficult to detect. You don’t necessarily know that there’s an issue until you start noticing the impact on your hair and skin.

 

Here are some of the signs that you might want to get your water tested:

  • Staining in the shower - orange or brown stains could indicate iron, while a white, chalky buildup points to hard water minerals mixed with metals
  • A metallic smell - in some cases, water may have a slight odour of rust or coins
  • Fast limescale buildup - if you’re noticing deposits on showerheads and tiles which seems to form quickly, this could be a sign of hard water and/or metals
  • Dry skin and hair - even after moisturising and conditioning. You should also watch out for scalp irritation and flakiness
  • Discoloured hair - if your newly coloured blonde hair has turned brassy, it may not be the hair dye to blame. Similarly, if your freshly dyed dark hair appears dull or brittle

How to Reduce Heavy Metal Exposure in the Shower

The first thing you can do is to have your water tested, as this will give you an indication of the concentrations of metals and minerals a typical sample contains. If you have older plumbing or any evidence of lead or corroded copper pipes, these should be replaced

 

You can also try:

  • Running cold water first, as this can reduce pipe corrosion
  • Cleaning your showerhead frequently, as limescale build up can trap metals and make the problem worse
  • Use chelating or clarifying hair products - these can help to remove mineral buildup, but can be drying if used for long periods.

 

There’s also a simple upgrade you can make to your shower setup that doesn’t require a plumber - install a shower filter. 
 

How a Shower Filter Helps Remove Heavy Metals

A high-quality shower head filter is the simplest, most effective way to reduce heavy metal exposure at home.

 

The Best Shower Head Filter is designed specifically for skin and hair health. Its multi-stage filtration system tackles and removes heavy metals, limescale, and chemical irritants, giving you softer water straight from the source.

 

You can install it yourself in minutes, with no tools or specialist expertise required. There’s no maintenance either, other than replacing the filter regularly to maintain performance over time.

 

If you’re worried about heavy metals in your water, a Curo shower filter could be the ideal solution. Your hair and skin will thank you!
 

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