Hair falling out in the shower due to hard water and chlorine in Australian tap water

The Hidden Culprit Behind Your Hair Loss (And How to Fix It)

Noticing More Hair in Your Shower Drain? You’re Far From Alone

If you’ve been noticing more hair collecting in your shower drain lately — you’re not imagining it.

Across Australia, thousands of people are experiencing the same pattern: a few extra strands at first, then a noticeably thinner ponytail, and hair that feels weaker, drier, and less full than it used to.

We blame stress. We blame hormones. Genetics, age, diet — all valid contributors to hair health.

But there’s one factor that rarely gets mentioned, despite affecting you twice every day:

Your shower water.

If you’re curious whether your water could be contributing to hair or scalp issues, you can find out in under a minute here:
👉 Take the Flowy Hair & Skin Quiz
https://flowy.com.au/pages/quiz

Normal Hair Shedding vs. Excessive Hair Loss

Losing around 50–100 hairs per day is completely normal — it’s part of the natural hair growth cycle.

But excessive shedding tells a different story.

If you’re finding clumps in the drain, noticing hair on your pillow, or seeing visible thinning over time, something has changed.

What many people don’t realise is that the issue often isn’t the follicle itself — it’s the environment around it.

And one of the biggest environmental stressors is water quality.

To understand why this matters, it helps to know what’s actually flowing through Australian pipes:
👉 What’s Really in Your Shower Water
https://flowy.com.au/blogs/shower-thoughts/what-is-really-in-your-shower-water

Your Scalp Is Skin — And It Reacts to Water Chemistry

Your scalp is skin — thin, sensitive skin that reacts to its environment just like your face does.

Repeated exposure to harsh water conditions can leave your scalp:

  • Dry and dehydrated

  • Chronically irritated

  • Inflamed and sensitive

  • Less capable of supporting healthy hair growth

Australian tap water commonly contains:

  • Chlorine (used for disinfection)

  • Hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium

  • Sediment and trace metals from pipes and infrastructure

These compounds don’t simply rinse away — they build up over time on your scalp and hair.

Chlorine: Stripping Your Scalp’s Natural Defences

Chlorine plays an important role in keeping water safe, but it’s extremely harsh on skin and hair.

With repeated exposure, chlorine:

  • Strips natural oils

  • Weakens the skin barrier

  • Increases inflammation and dryness

A compromised scalp creates the perfect conditions for premature hair shedding.

If your scalp feels tight, itchy, or flaky after showering, it’s often a sign of chemical irritation — not dandruff or stress.

Hard Water: The Silent Cause of Hair Breakage

Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, and it’s common across many parts of Australia.

You can see how hard water levels vary by region here:
👉 Australian Water Hardness Map
https://flowy.com.au/blogs/shower-thoughts/australian-water-hardness-map

Hard water minerals cling to hair strands, leading to:

  • Rough, straw-like texture

  • Dull appearance

  • Increased brittleness

  • Breakage that looks like shedding

Hard water also stops shampoo and conditioner from rinsing cleanly, leaving residue that weighs hair down and irritates the scalp.

When Water Stress Becomes Hair Stress

When chlorine, minerals, and sediment combine, they don’t just affect hair — they alter the entire scalp environment where new hair grows.

Over time, this can result in:

  • Faster shedding cycles

  • Slower regrowth

  • Progressive thinning

  • Constant frustration with products that don’t work

No serum or supplement can fix hair issues if the water hitting your scalp every day is the root cause.

Why Some People Are More Affected Than Others

Two people living in the same suburb can experience completely different hair outcomes.

You may be more sensitive to water quality if you have:

  • Fine or colour-treated hair

  • Naturally dry or sensitive scalp

  • Eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis

  • Hormonal fluctuations

These factors reduce your scalp’s ability to tolerate harsh water.

The Most Effective Fix: Filter Your Shower Water

If water quality is contributing to hair shedding, the most effective solution is to filter the water before it touches your scalp.

A properly designed shower filter helps reduce:

  • Chlorine and chloramine

  • Hard water minerals

  • Sediment and trace metals

By improving water quality, the scalp can calm, rebalance, and support healthier hair growth.

Most people notice improvements within weeks:

  • Less hair in the drain

  • Softer, smoother texture

  • Reduced scalp irritation

  • Hair that feels stronger and more manageable

Learn how Flowy works here:
👉 Flowy Filtered Showerhead
https://flowy.com.au/products/flowy-filtered-showerhead

What To Do Next

If hair shedding, dryness, or thinning has become part of your routine, your shower water deserves a closer look.

Start here:

  1. Take the personalised quiz → https://flowy.com.au/pages/quiz

  2. Understand what’s in your water → https://flowy.com.au/blogs/shower-thoughts/what-is-really-in-your-shower-water

  3. See if hard water affects your area → https://flowy.com.au/blogs/shower-thoughts/australian-water-hardness-map

  4. Filter your shower water → https://flowy.com.au/products/flowy-filtered-showerhead

The Bottom Line

Hair loss doesn’t always start in the follicle.

Sometimes, it starts at the tap.

Fix the water — and everything else finally has a chance to work.

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