Sydney Water & Skin: Why Showers Feel Dry
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If you live in Sydney and notice your skin often feels tight, dry, or a bit “squeaky” after showering, you’re not imagining it. Many people think their products or habits are to blame — their cleanser, shampoo, moisturiser, or even diet — but one of the main reasons is actually the water itself.
Sydney’s water is safe and meets all public health standards. However, the way it’s treated and the minerals it carries by the time it reaches your home can make it feel harsher on your skin and hair than you might expect.
Because this happens gradually, many don’t realise it’s the water causing these sensations — not their daily routines.
Let’s look at this more closely.
Want the full Australia-wide explanation?
If you'd like a deeper look at how water quality affects skin and hair across Australia, start here:
→ What’s In Australian Shower Water?
How Sydney’s Water Treatment Works (Simple Explanation)
Sydney’s tap water mainly comes from the Warragamba Dam and is treated at several filtration plants before it reaches your home. During treatment, chlorine is added to disinfect the water and keep it safe as it travels long distances through pipes.
Sydney’s water is considered soft to moderately hard, depending on the suburb and the specific water filtration plant supplying your area. The Prospect Water Filtration Plant, Woronora Plant, and North Richmond Plant all play roles in processing Sydney’s water. These different sources and treatment methods can cause slight variations in water pH levels and the shower water feel you experience.
Sydney Water Hardness By Region
|
Region |
Approx. Hardness (mg/L as CaCO₃) |
How It Feels on Skin & Hair |
|---|---|---|
|
Inner West / CBD |
40–60 mg/L |
Softer but still slightly drying due to chlorine levels |
|
Eastern Suburbs |
60–90 mg/L |
Noticeable tightness or dryness after showering |
|
Western Sydney |
90–140+ mg/L |
More frizz, mineral buildup, dryness, and irritation |
Suburbs That Commonly Report Higher Hardness
-
Parramatta
-
Blacktown
-
Penrith
-
Liverpool
-
Campbelltown
Why Chlorine Makes Your Skin Feel Tight
Your skin has a natural protective barrier function — a thin layer of oils known as the skin moisture barrier that helps retain moisture and keep irritants out.
Chlorine’s purpose is to kill bacteria. But when it’s in your shower water, it can also:
-
Strip away those natural oils
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Disrupt the skin barrier function
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Leave skin feeling tight, dry, or “stretched”
If you’ve ever felt the urge to moisturise immediately after showering — especially on your arms and legs — that’s your skin’s barrier reacting:
“I’m working hard to protect you.”
Over time:
-
Moisture loss increases
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Irritation becomes more frequent
-
Skin loses its natural glow and appears rougher
How Hardness Impacts Hair & Scalp
Water hardness level in Sydney varies by suburb, but even moderate hardness can affect hair texture.
Minerals like calcium and magnesium minerals in the water may:
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Coat the hair cuticle, making hair feel rough
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Prevent conditioner from absorbing well
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Increase frizz and breakage
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Leave a “film” or reduce bounce
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Dry out the scalp
This explains why your hair might feel fine when wet but frizzy, flat, or tangled once dry.
It’s not your shampoo or humidity. It’s the water.
Why pH and Mineral Balance Change How Water Feels
Sydney’s water typically has a pH range between 7.0 and 8.5, which means it’s generally neutral to slightly alkaline. These water pH levels can influence how the water feels on your skin and hair.
When water has higher pH or contains more calcium carbonate hardness from minerals, it can lead to more noticeable mineral buildup on your hair strands and skin over time. This buildup can reduce softness and increase dryness or irritation.
Because Sydney’s water comes from different filtration plants, each with its own treatment approach, the balance of minerals and pH can vary slightly, changing the overall shower water feel you experience in different suburbs.
Understanding Water Quality Data in Sydney
Water hardness is measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L) as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Sydney’s water hardness levels generally range from soft to moderately hard, influenced by the source reservoirs and treatment plants.
The main filtration plants serving Sydney — Prospect, Woronora, and North Richmond — treat water drawn from surface reservoirs and catchments like the Warragamba Dam. These plants ensure the water meets safety standards but also influence the mineral content and chlorine levels in your tap water.
Knowing your local water hardness and treatment source can help explain why your shower water feels the way it does and guide you in managing its effects on your skin and hair.
Common Signs Your Shower Water Is Affecting You
If you notice any of these, your water might be the cause — not your products:
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Skin feels tight right after showering
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Legs or arms itch after towel drying
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You find yourself reapplying moisturiser frequently
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Hair frizzes or puffs up despite using conditioner
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Hair looks dull or dry at the ends
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Scalp feels dry, tight, or flaky
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Shampoo never seems to rinse out completely
These experiences are quite common in Sydney homes.
Quick Fixes That Help (But Only Temporarily)
You may have tried some of these:
-
Switching to gentler cleansers
-
Using thicker moisturisers or body oils — ideally fragrance free moisturizer or creams applied while skin is still damp
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Weekly hair masks or a deep conditioner
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Clarifying shampoos to remove mineral buildup
These can provide relief — but only on the surface.
The real issue remains: the water itself.
Your skin and hair are constantly recovering from something they shouldn’t have to face daily.
The Long-Term Fix: Improve the Water at the Source
Rather than continually changing your products, the most lasting solution is to improve the water that touches your skin and hair every day.
That’s why many Sydney households choose a Flowy filtered shower head — not to remove every mineral or purify the water entirely, but to make it feel gentler.
A well-designed shower filter can:
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Reduce chlorine levels → helping skin feel softer and less prone to dry or damaged skin
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Balance mineral effects → reducing dryness, irritation, and frizz caused by calcium and magnesium minerals
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Make water feel more hydrating and gentle
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Support the skin barrier function instead of stripping it
When the water improves, your skin and hair have a better chance to recover.
Over time, you may notice:
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Skin stays naturally moisturised — no need to constantly apply moisturizer
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Hair becomes easier to manage and less prone to chlorine damaged hair
-
Scalp irritation decreases
-
Your products work more effectively
If You Want to See What This Feels Like
Explore the Flowy Filtered Showerhead
→ Check out the Flowy Filtered Showerhead here
This product was designed with Australian water conditions in mind, including suburbs with Sydney’s specific chlorine and hardness profile.
If You’re Not Sure How Your Suburb Rates
Try the 60-second Flowy Water Quiz:
→ Take The Flowy Skin & Hair Quiz
It uses your city to identify your water type and suggests the best shower setup for you.
Clear, simple, and personalised. No pressure — just understanding.