Most people don’t give much thought to what’s in their shower water. They turn on the tap, step under the spray and assume the water is simply… water.
After years working in the water filtration industry, one thing I’ve learned is that most people have no idea what’s actually coming out of their shower. Water may look crystal clear, but before it reaches your home it has almost certainly been treated with either chlorine or chloramine.
These two disinfectants are added by water authorities to help control bacteria and other microorganisms as water travels through the distribution network. Although they’re often grouped together, they behave very differently, are removed differently through filtration, and may affect your hair, scalp and skin in different ways.
In this article, I’ll explain the difference between chlorine and chloramine, why they’re used, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and why understanding your shower water is an important part of looking after your hair, scalp and skin.
Why Are Chlorine and Chloramine Added to Water?
Before water reaches your home, it travels through treatment plants, storage reservoirs and kilometres of underground pipes. During that journey, water authorities need to control harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that could otherwise grow within the distribution system.
To do this, they add a disinfectant before the water leaves the treatment plant.
For many years, chlorine was the disinfectant of choice. Today, many Australian water authorities have switched to chloramine because it lasts much longer in the water supply, allowing it to continue working as water travels across large distribution networks.
From a water treatment perspective, this makes sense.
From a filtration perspective, however, chloramine presents a much bigger challenge.
What Is Chlorine?
Chlorine has been used in drinking water treatment for more than a century. It’s a powerful oxidising chemical that rapidly destroys bacteria and other microorganisms, making it an effective disinfectant.
One of chlorine’s biggest advantages is that it works quickly.
Its biggest weakness is that it doesn’t last.
As water moves through the distribution system, chlorine gradually dissipates, which can make it more difficult to maintain over long distances.
Advantages of Chlorine
Fast and effective disinfectant.
Cost-effective for water treatment.
Proven technology with decades of successful use.
Easier to reduce using quality filtration.
Disadvantages of Chlorine
Dissipates relatively quickly.
Can leave an unpleasant taste and smell.
Is an oxidising chemical that comes into contact with your hair and skin every time you shower.
What Is Chloramine?
Chloramine is produced by combining chlorine with ammonia.
This creates a much more stable disinfectant that remains in the water significantly longer than chlorine.
That’s one of the main reasons many Australian water authorities now use chloramine.
The downside is that its stability also makes it much harder to remove.
Unlike chlorine, chloramine requires specialised filtration media to effectively break the chlorine-ammonia bond before it can be reduced.
Why Is Chloramine More Difficult to Remove?
This is where years in the filtration industry really make you appreciate the difference.
Many people assume that carbon removes everything, but that’s simply not the case.
Standard activated carbon is generally very effective at reducing chlorine. Chloramine, however, is far more stable and typically requires catalytic activated carbon, a specially treated form of carbon designed to break the chemical bond between chlorine and ammonia.
Understanding this difference is essential because not all filtration media perform the same job.
How Can Chlorine and Chloramine Affect Your Hair?
Both chlorine and chloramine are oxidising chemicals.
Over time, repeated exposure may strip away some of the natural oils that help keep hair feeling soft, smooth and manageable.
Many people notice their hair becomes:
Drier
Rougher
Harder to manage
Less shiny
More prone to tangling
More susceptible to breakage
More hair fall
People with colour-treated, chemically processed or naturally curly hair often notice these effects more because these hair types already require additional moisture and care.
Effects on Your Scalp
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
Many people experiencing dryness, irritation or flaking spend hundreds of dollars trying different shampoos and scalp treatments without ever considering the water they’re showering in every day.
While there are many possible causes of scalp irritation, regular exposure to oxidising disinfectants may contribute to:
Dryness
Tightness
Itchiness
Flaking
General scalp discomfort
Effects on Your Skin
Your skin is exposed to shower water just as much as your hair.
Many people report that their skin feels:
Dry
Tight
Less hydrated
More easily irritated after showering
For people who already have dry or sensitive skin, reducing exposure to chlorine and chloramine is often one of several changes they make as part of their overall skincare routine.
The Bottom Line
Chlorine and chloramine both serve the same purpose: helping water authorities control bacteria and other microorganisms throughout the water distribution network.
The difference is that chloramine lasts much longer, making it increasingly common across Australia—but also significantly more difficult to remove.
After spending years in the water filtration industry, I’ve learned that most people pay close attention to the shampoos, conditioners and skincare products they use, yet rarely think about the water they expose themselves to every single day.
Understanding what’s in your shower water is the first step towards making informed decisions about your hair, scalp and skin. Once you know the difference between chlorine and chloramine, you’ll better understand why the quality of your shower water can play an important role in your daily routine.
