Hello Klean review: how to master hard water and beat frizzy hair
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DRY or blemished skin, and frizzy hair; they’re just some of the unpleasant effects caused by mineral-rich hard water. So, if you’re part of the 60% of the UK that has it pouring from the taps, you might want to say ‘hello’ to Hello Klean.
This shower filter system and beauty brand promises to banish the unsavoury effects of hard water on complexions and tresses.
Recently featured on Dragons’ Den, Hello Klean already has 80,000 customers in the UK, US and Europe thanks to its effective, stylish-looking range.
But would it sort out my straw-like hair and pimple-dotted skin after years of exposure to London water, some of the hardest in the country? I put it to the test for a month to find out.
Rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Affordable compared to built-in water-softening systems
- Stylish looking
- Eco-packaging
- Shampoo, conditioner and body wash all clean well
- Hair looks and feels softener, smother and less straw-like
Cons:
- Fixture style doesn’t look right with all bathroom designs (chrome is best)
- Replacement filters add significant cost over time
- Water pressure changes or waterfall shower height difference may limit use
- Expensive to buy if you don’t have very hard water
Hello Klean review: quick summary
If you live in central, eastern or southern England, chances are you’ve got hard water. In fact, around 60% of the entire population of the UK is thought to live in areas where the H2O running through the taps is rich in minerals such as calcium.
While there’s nothing wrong with hard water for our health, showering and bathing in it day in, day out can wreak havoc on appearance, leaving skin feeling dry, pores clogged and hair looking frizzy. Some people try to combat this with water softening systems, which conventionally can be costly and complex to fit. But Hello Klean provides a more affordable – and stylish – shower-specific alternative that can be installed almost instantly.
I had noticed that, ever since moving to London more than a decade ago, my hair was frizzier and often felt wiry after washing. I was getting the odd pimple on my back too, which had never happened before.
After a month of using the system, which includes a purifying shower head and an overhead shower filter, alongside the range of shower toiletries, my skin felt more hydrated. I was getting compliments on how great my hair looked and my pimples had scaled back too.
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The kit is complemented by a range of hair and body products specifically designed to battle the effects of hard water. A shampoo, conditioner, body wash and scalp soak all are vegan, cruelty-free and made without sulphates or parabens.
Hello Klean is as keen on ethics as it is on turning out an effective product. Packaging is made from FSC-certified card stock, and bottles for the toiletries range are made from 100% recycled plastic.
First impressions
Right from the off, I liked the look of the Hello Klean range. It was packaged smartly but not excessively, in recyclable FSC-certified card stock. There were clear, simple instructions on how the products worked and how to get started.
Out of the box, every product in the range looked great too. The cream-hued Purifying Shower Head in particular was very smart; this looked like something I might actually choose to buy, unlike the more functional pieces of filtration kit I’d seen elsewhere online. The standard Shower Filter attachment was slightly less exciting to look at, but still pretty inoffensive.
Both were a total breeze to install too, with zero tools required. In both cases I just had to screw off my existing shower attachment – I have an overhead rainfall shower as well as a separate shower head – and screw on the new filter. Job done!
First off, it looks like a bit of magic in a bottle. At rest, it’s split into two layers, luminous clear green and milky white. Then with a quick shake, it transforms (‘activates’) into a gorgeous, smooth white foam, a bit like a latte. Containing a blend of matcha green tea, microalgae, provitamin B5 and niacinamide, it is meant to remove hard water residue from your skin while supporting hydration.
After using it – lathering it over my body for 30 seconds before washing it off, as instructed – my skin felt squeaky clean, but also soft and quenched, which a difficult balance to strike. I also liked the gentle aroma and easy-to-use pump.
At £16 per bottle, the Nourishing Micronutrient Wash is far from the cheapest body wash on the market. But with my skin quality improved (even some of those pimples started to fade) it felt like a worthy investment.
Even if you do have hard water, you’ll want to think about how much hard water is actually impacting your skin and hair, and whether other cheaper tweaks could be made first, say, the shampoo you use. Remember, even after the initial £65 outlay, you’ll need to spend another £120 each year on replacement filters to keep the system working. And that’s not including the Hello Klean toiletries at £16-£18 each.
But if you find that every time you are in a softer water area, your skin and hair are much improved, you may want to take the plunge – saying ‘goodbye’ to pesky hard water and ‘hello’ to Hello Klean.
Where to buy Hello Klean
All of the Hello Klean products, from the shower filtration hardware to the skin and haircare range, can be found at .
The Shower Filter costs £65 for the initial outlay, as does the Purifying Shower Head. Both are good initially for between 10,000 and 13,000 litres of water purification, which equates to around three to four months of use for a household of two. After that, you need to buy refill cartridges at £40 each that will last around four months.
The website also sells special scalp remedies including an (£12) and (£25), further helping you tackle hard water effects and boost hydration.
If you are like the 3% of customers who find their shower fit is a little bit tight for the conventional filter, you can also purchase a small rotatable for £8.
There are often sales on the website, so it’s worth keeping an eye on before you buy.
Hello Klean alternatives
There aren’t too many products just like Hello Klean on the market. Most of the shower systems you find online are either one-off filter showerheads or complicated water-softening systems that need to be installed throughout your entire home.
Amazon lists a range of alternative shower heads, with one of the highest-rated being the for £29.99. You will also need to buy replacement filters from time to time.
If you aren’t that concerned about hard water but you are interested in trying a showerhead that provides scented water and a dose of vitamin C, you can take a look at . The Handheld Starter Kit costs £95.