This morning I read a glowing review of the Jonathan Beauty Water shower filter in Business Week. The Jonathan shower filter was tested by journalist Dan Neil.

Neil explained how the Jonathan filter was born after Bravo TV host Jonathan Antin discovered that his “hair never looked so bangin” when he washed his hair with chlorine-free spring water.

The Business Week writer also had a great experience with chlorine-free shower water:

The first thing I notice is the water smells better — and it’s not as if Altadena city water is so bad to begin with. The chemical tang of chlorine is largely eliminated, and I can open my eyes in the stream. The other nice thing about filtered water is that it makes soap work better. A tablespoon of shampoo blooms into a sudsy white mushroom on top of my head. After a minute or two of scrubbing, I rinse off, squeaky clean . . . My skin was softer and my hair felt, um, silkier, which is saying something for a guy who has been known to brush his teeth with Dial soap.

Then, at the end of the review, Neil reveals that what’s “even more worth” the price is the Aquasana AQ-4100, which is the same filter without the co-branded Jonathan name. The Jonathan Beauty filter goes for about $95. You can buy the AQ4100 filter here for just $67.99 – and it’s the exact same filter as the more expensive Jonathan! Actually, the Aquasana shower filter is even better than the Jonathan Beauty Water shower filter because of its lower price and the lower cost of replacement filter cartridges. what are you waiting for? Now you can “bangin” hair like Jonathan Antin for 30% less than what everybody else is paying!

Want to learn more about shower water filters? See our Shower Filter Buying Guide.

Chemicals in shower water like chlorine and chloramines not only dry out your hair and skin but also increase your cancer risk. You know you need to eliminate these dangerous contaminants, but do you know what kind of shower filter to buy? Which is the best shower filter?

See our new, comprehensive Shower Filter Buying Guide to learn everything you need to know to buy shower filter and compare shower filters.

Earlier this evening I was reading about water quality issues and came across this list of 10 Benefits of Using a Shower Filter at All About Water, a comprehensive, interesting source of information about water treatment alternatives, bottled water quality, and water filtration products, including a listing of several general water facts.

1. Using a shower filter is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce harmful exposure to chlorine and other chemicals.

Studies show that chlorinated water is linked to increased risk of cancer. Chlorine combines with other molecules to form carcinogens. These dangerous chemicals may be inhaled or absorbed by the skin.

2. Showering in filtered water results in greater respiratory health by reducing the risk of asthma and bronchitis from chlorine inhalation.

Showering in chlorinated water can actually cause an asthma attack!

3. Showering in chlorine-free, filtered water decreases the risks of bladder and breast cancer.

One scientific study found that women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue, compared to women without breast cancer.

4. Children, who are particularly at risk of the harmful effects of chlorine inhalation, benefit especially from the removal of chlorine from showering water.

Small, developing lungs are more prone to damage by lung irritants like chlorine.

5. As chlorine is a leading cause of fatigue, showering in filtered, chlorine-free water results in higher energy levels and overall greater health.

Have you ever frolicked under a sparkling water fall? It’s a very energizing experience! Showering in clean, chemical-free water can be just as invigorating.

6. Removing chlorine from showering water results in better air quality throughout the house.

“Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated chloroform in nearly every home because of the chlorine in the water,” said Dr. Lance Wallace of the EPA. “Chloroform levels increase up to 100 times during a ten-minute shower in residential water.”

7. Without the drying effects of chlorine, skin becomes softer, healthier, and younger looking.

You’ll feel a difference in your skin and hair after the first time you shower in filtered water.

8. Removing chlorine from showering water reduces the presence of skin rashes and the appearance of wrinkles.

Chlorine is classified as a pesticide by the EPA. It is a toxin used to kill germs in water, but it also damages human cells and tissue.

9. Because the hair is able to preserve its natural moisturizing oils, it becomes softer and healthier when chlorine is removed from showering water.

Have you noticed how your hair gets all dry and brittle after you go for a swim in a chlorinated pool? Chlorinated shower water dries out the hair, too. Dr. Oz told his audience that investing in a shower filter is the best thing you can do for your hair!

10. When the body is able to retain its natural moisturizers, the need for costly lotions and moisturizers is greatly reduced.

It’s still a good idea to use moisturizers (epsecially during the winter), but once you install your shower water filter, you’ll find that moisturizers work better and last longer – and you won’t have to apply them as frequently. Your skin will retain its natural moisture more efficiently when it’s not constantly dried out by chlorine exposure.

Shop our shower water filters now and start enjoying these wonderful health and beauty benefits!

As more people realize that filtered tap water is healthier and much cheaper than bottled water, the home water filter industry continues to grow. The Wall Street Journal published an article about the industry on Wednesday, and it mentioned the fact that the Aquasana shower filter is now a best-seller nationwide. Shower filters are important because chlorinated water can produce carcinogens which can be inhaled in a steamy shower. By removing chlorine and other contaminants from water, shower filters also produce softer skin and hair.

“The economic downturn has whetted consumers’ appetite for tap water,” explains the article. “According to a Gallup poll released last year, pollution of drinking water is Americans’ No. 1 environmental concern. Many express worries about the risk of diseases, including cancer, that can be associated with contaminants such as arsenic, chlorine and pharmaceuticals sometimes found in drinking water.”

The EPA claims that tap water is safe, but the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found evidence which suggests otherwise. The EWG discovered 202 unregulated chemicals in tap water samples, including pharmaceuticals, hormone disruptors, perchlorate (a rocket fuel ingredient) and MTBE (a gasoline additive). The EPA does not even test for these chemicals. Jane Houlihan of the EWG explains, “In almost every case, the utilities comply with federal standards, but that doesn’t ensure that the water is safe to drink.”

Invest in a whole house water filter to purify your drinking water and shower water.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my skin was really dry. We’ve had some uncharacteristically cold weather around Atlanta this year. Cold, dry air + artificial heat = dry skin.

I took two steps to clear up my dry skin problem: I started drinking more filtered water (including a full glass after breakfast), and I started taking one of my girlfriend’s fish oil supplements with that glass of water. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that contribute to skin health.

And, as Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com recently explained, clean water is essential for skin health, too: “Far too many consumers are chronically dehydrated, and as a result they suffer systemic dehydration of their skin, which makes it look older, more wrinkled and less smooth. Drinking adequate water is crucial for supporting your skin health, but you’ve got to drink clean water to accomplish this, not tap water.

“The cleanest water, of course, is natural spring water. If you’re lucky enough to live near a spring, bottle up your drinking water from it (test it for contamination first, of course), and consume that. Don’t buy bottled water as it creates a mountain of waste (plastic bottles). Furthermore, the Bisphenol-A in the plastic bottles has been proven so toxic that it was recently banned from baby bottles in Canada.

“So what’s the next best choice for your drinking water? Bottle your own. Get yourself an Aquasana water filter, which is, in my view, the No. 1 consumer water filter on the market today.”

Great info, Mike! We here at Ambrosia Water Filters agree that the Aquasana water filter is the best value for home water filters.

Shower water filters also help dry skin by removing chlorine and other irritating chemicals from water. If you’ve ever spent a few hours in a chlorinated swimming pool, then you know how badly chlorine can dry out the skin!

Other tips for skin health in the winter:

Use warm water instead of hot water in the shower. Hot water tends to dry out the skin. As soon as you get out of the shower, apply natural skin lotion; this will seal in the moisture.

You may want to consider getting a humidifier, too. Humidifiers restore moisture to dry air. If you get a humidifier, be sure to use filtered water or distilled water. If you use regular tap water, the humidifier will produce a mist that contains tap water contaminants.

“In most U.S. households, pouring a glass of tap water means exposing families to hundreds of distinct chemicals and pollutants, many of them completely unregulated,” reports Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President of the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

A new study from the EWG found that 53.6 million Americans have hundreds of pollutants in their tap water. Tap water is not pollutant-free just because it meets federal standards!

The tap water pollutants in the study came from many sources: 97 agricultural pollutants including pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and manure; 205 industrial chemicals; 86 contaminants from waste water treatment plants; and 42 byproducts of water treatment processes. Most water treatment facilities use chlorine to kill germs, but the chlorine combines with other substances to form carcinogenic chemicals. Chlorination byproducts vaporize into the air during a hot shower, where they can be inhaled by the longs, and that’s one reason why shower water filters are quickly becoming standard; shower filters also produce water that’s easier on the hair and skin.

Chemicals that are not even regulated by the federal government were found in the water supply of 132 million Americans. These chemicals include perchlorate (a component of rocket fuel), acetone, freon, radon, and the weed killer metolachlor.

“The nation’s tap water has been compromised by weak federal safeguards and pitiful protection of drinking water supplies,” said Houlihan. “Utilities do the best job that they can treating a big problem with limited resources, but we must do better.

“It is not uncommon for people to drink tap water laced with 20 or 30 chemical contaminants. This water may be legal, but it raises serious health concerns. People expect better water than that, and they deserve it.”

You deserve safe drinking water. Invest in a home water filter today.

According to the study, the municipalities with the most contaminated tap water include Pensacola, FL; Riverside, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Riverside County, CA; Reno, NV; Houston, TX; Omaha, NE; North Las Vegas, NV; San Diego, CA; and Jacksonville, FL.

One of the most common questions I get from customers is: “What kind of water filter do you have at home?”

Excellent question! Thanks for asking. I have an Aquasana AQ4000 countertop water filter at home, and I highly recommend it to anybody who has a public water supply.

The AQ4000 filter is a simple, no-frills water filter that gets the job done. It eliminates chlorine, lead, VOCs, THMs, MTBE, TCE, atrizine, benzene, and other dangerous, synthetic chemicals. The most popular Aquasana water filter also removes chlorine-resistant parasites like cryptosporidium and giardida.

I also like the fact that this filter leaves natural minerals in the water. Some water purifiers remove trace minerals, which makes the water more acidic in the body. In my opinion, it’s best to drink natural water without contaminants. I don’t like the idea of drinking unnatural water.

The AQ4000 water filter is also very easy to install and use. I’m not a handy man by any means, but it only took me a few minutes to install the filter. Other filters I’ve tested have been a little leaky after installation, but there were no leaks or drips with this one. Replacing the filters is even easier – no tools required – they slide out and snap into place with ease. Besides the filter cartridge replacements, the AQ4000 is totally maintenance-free.

You cannot find a better water filter for under $100. That’s why this filter has won the Consumer Digest Best Buy Award for six years in a row. If you’re shopping for a good water filter on a budget, consider this one first. You will notice a big difference in the taste and quality of your water.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, professor of surgery at Columbia University and frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, recently appeared on the show to talk about the importance of shower water filters.

“The best thing you can do for your hair costs less than 9 cents a day. Get a charcoal filter and put it on your shower head,” said Dr. Oz.

Dr. Oz recommends charcoal shower filters (carbon shower filters) as the best way to maintain healthy hair because they remove chlorine from the water. Chlorine dries out the hair and makes it brittle. A shower water filter will give you softer, cleaner hair and skin.

“You’ve got to treat [your hair] like a fine silk blouse that got wet,” Dr. Oz cautions. “If you’re blow-drying your blouse that got a little wet, or if you’re combing it backward over and over again, or if you’re too rough with it, it begins to fray. Your hair has to be dealt with extraordinarily gently.”

No tools are needed to install a shower water filter. You can enjoy the benefits of healthy shower water within minutes of receiving your new filter!

The Aquasana AQ4100 shower filter removes not only chlorine but also dangerous carcinogenic chemicals like THMs. THMs are chlorine byproducts, and most shower filters do not remove these chemicals. THMs become airborne whenever you turn on contaminated water, and you actually inhale them. To reduce your risk of cancer, make sure that your shower filter removes chlorine byproducts and other synthetic chemicals as well as chlorine.

Also see Why I Installed A Shower Filter to Remove Chlorine.

In my last post, I blogged about the dangers of chlorine byproducts. These chemicals are also known as Disenfection Byproducts, or DBPs, and they’re 10,000 times more toxic than chlorine itself. Of all the common tap water toxins, DBPs are arguably the most dangerous.

Nearly all water treatment plants use chlorine to kill germs, and when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, it forms DBPs like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). DBPs have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems.

Specifically, chlorination byproducts have been linked to bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, childhood leukemia, and other cancers.

Acccrding to the National Resources Defense Council, there is no known safe level of THMs and HAAs, but these chemicals have been found at levels of high concern in the following cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC.

DBPs are even more dangerous when they’re absorbed through the skin. That’s why it’s so important to have a shower water filter in addition to a drinking water filter.

And don’t think for a second that chlorinated swimming pools are safe! THMs in chlorinated pools have been linked to cancer as well as spontaneous abortion, birth defects, and stillbirths.

According to New Scientist, additional common tap water toxins include prescription medications and other chemicals such as:

Altenolol – a beta-blocker used to treat heart disease
Atrazine – an herbicide that has been banned in Europe
Carbamazepine – a mood-stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder
Estrone – an estrogen hormone implicated in gender change among fish
Gemfibrozil – an anti-cholesterol drug
Lead – can cause severe development delays and learning disorders
Meprobamate – a tranquilizer
Naproxen – an anti-inflammatory and painkiller
Phenytoin – an anticonvulsant
Sulfamethoxazole – an antibiotic
Trimethoprim – an antibiotic

To avoid these chemicals in your drinking water and your shower, you must install home water filters.

When I first got into the water filter business about a year ago, I had no idea that showering could be so dangerous. I’ve certainly learned a lot since then. A typical shower exposes you to ten times the amount of chlorine that you’d get from drinking unfiltered water all day! In the shower, you not only absorb chlorine and other toxins through the skin, but you also inhale them as vaporized molecules.

What’s so bad about chlorine?

Municipal water authorities add chlorine to our water to kill germs. As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chlorine is a pesticide.

Why do our elected officials add a dangerous chemical pesticide to our water? Well, it’s the cheapest way to kill germs. Americans have been essentially pouring bleach into their water since the 1800s. It’s not safe, and it’s not even the most effective way to kill germs – but it’s cheap.

Chlorine destroys life, and when we consume chlorine, it destroys some of our life, too – by damaging cells and tissue. If you’ve ever spent a lot of time in a chlorinated swimming pool, you know that chlorine can quickly dry out your skin and hair. Chlorine can also trigger asthma attacks and eczema.

But that’s not the worst part. When chlorine combines with steam and common organic molecules, it produces dangerous chlorine byproducts like chloroform and trichloroethylene (TCE). These chemicals are known carcinogens; they can cause cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, heart disease, and other serious health problems.

Breast cancer, which affects one in eight women in America, has also been linked to chlorine. One study carried out in Hartford, Conneticut found that “women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines [chlorination byproducts] in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer.”

“Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine,” according to the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality.

But remember: We’re exposed to chlorine not only by drinking it, but also through skin absorption and inhalation. In fact, you’re even exposed to chlorine when someone else showers in your home.

Dr. Lance Wallace of the EPA explains, “Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated chloroform in nearly every home because of the chlorine in the water. Chloroform levels increase up to 100 times during a ten-minute shower in residential water.”

Up to 2/3 of our exposure to chlorine comes from showering. Hot water opens up the pores, allowing chlorine and other toxins to easily bypass the skin barrier. And the steam we inhable in the shower can contain up to 50 times the level of chemicals in tap water. When we inhale chlorine gas (chloroform), it goes directly into the blood stream. When we drink chlorinated water, at least the kidneys have a chance to filter out some of the toxins.

Dr. Robert Carlson of the University of Minnesota said that “chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times!”

In a telling sign, most poultry farmers use dechlorinated water because solid research has shown that it produces healthier chickens. Sadly, most Americans continue to drink and shower in chlorinated water every day, despite the ominous research. But, hey, at least those chickens are healthy, right?

If you want to decrease your risk of cancer and be as healthy as a spring chick, invest in a shower water filter today.

(A drinking water filter would be a good idea, too, if you don’t already have one.)