HigherDOSE Showerhead review: Luxury wellness upgrade or expensive gimmick?
Showerheads are easily the most intriguing red light therapy devices I’ve come across. So naturally, I wanted to test them out and find out whether red light therapy in combination with water can yield noticeable improvements.
HigherDOSE was the first to bring red light therapy into the shower. It claims that the filtration and light support skin radiance, circulation, and overall sense of calm.
After putting this device to the test, I realized it’s an ideal fit for anyone who struggles to keep up with their red light therapy routine. Since the showerhead integrates into your daily wash, almost no effort is required to keep using it.
For me, HigherDOSE Red Light Showerhead Filter elevated the shower experience instantly, thanks to the red light illuminating my shower and providing a calming effect. But is that enough to justify the $599 price point?
Continue reading for my full review of the HigherDOSE Red Light Showerhead Filter, covering my firsthand experience, the pros, and the cons.
| Product name | HigherDOSE Red Light Showerhead Filter |
| Price | $599 |
| Rating | 4/5 |
| Best for | People who find it hard to keep up with their red light therapy sessions |
| Main drawback | Premium price and questionable red light therapy efficacy in the shower |
| Specs | Multi-stage filtrationBuilt-in red light panelReplaceable filtersPremium metal finishWellness-focused design |
What is HigherDOSE Red Light Showerhead Filter?
It’s a shower filter that emits red light. The device consists of two pieces: a showerhead with a replaceable filter, and a detachable ring that emits both red (650nm) and near-infrared (850nm) wavelengths.
The filter is designed to help reduce common water contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, chloroform, and microplastics. Meanwhile, the red light has been researched for its potential to help support hair and skin health. Combining these two elements, the brand claims to boost glow, circulation, and skin and scalp health.
Currently, this is the only mainstream device that allows you to take your red light therapy sessions into the shower. The entire concept is built around pure convenience. Because you can complete your red light therapy during your daily wash, it requires almost zero extra effort—all you need to do is make sure the battery ring is charged about once a week.
However, I do find the concept of using red light therapy while showering a bit gimmicky. Most brands recommend using their devices on clean, completely dry skin for optimal light absorption, as water droplets may reflect and scatter the light. So it’s not known exactly how effective red light can be in a shower. Since there is no research on this, I suppose you won’t find out if you don’t try it for yourself.
The good news is that the device is versatile. You can detach the ring and use it outside the shower on various body parts, which in theory could potentially be more effective. The filter that is left behind will still remove contaminants from water so it’s not a complete waste even if you don’t end up enjoying red light therapy sessions in the shower.
In general, wellness shower products have been trending over the last few years, with showers becoming a space for relaxing and recharging. HigherDOSE caters to this audience by offering a fixture that supposedly rejuvenates your skin via red light therapy and water filtration.
Is HigherDOSE Showerhead easy to use and built to last?
Upon unboxing, I liked that the brand includes everything you need for installation, —wrench and plumber’s tape included. This saves a trip to the hardware store if you don't happen to have those lying around.
The setup itself was straightforward. The first step was charging the red light ring on the provided stand, which also comes in handy for red light sessions outside the shower. I also charged the remote, and after that was done, I paired it with the red light ring.
The installation consisted of removing my old showerhead and applying a small amount of plumber’s tape to the threads of the shower pipe. From there, I simply screwed on the HigherDOSE fixture, tightened it with the included wrench, and twisted on the charged light ring.
No plumbing experience is required—the whole process took about 10 minutes (excluding charging time). To turn the light on, you can either press the button directly on the ring or use the remote, which allows you to set a 5, 10, or 15-minute timer.
The ring is quite substantial in size. Because of this, the lighting experience is pleasant—it lights up the shower space well and creates a relaxing environment.
Material-wise, the showerhead feels sturdy and is built from quality materials, giving it a premium feel in person. When purchasing it, you can choose from three finishes—polished brass, polished chrome, and matte black—so it should blend into most interiors. I opted for polished chrome to match my existing bathroom fixtures.
Maintenance has been easy, too. I just cleaned it the same way I cleaned my previous showerhead.
The showerhead is wide enough to provide good coverage. I don’t have water pressure issues in my building, so while I can’t say definitively if this device helps improve low pressure, it does maintain a consistent flow.
My experience using HigherDOSE Showerhead daily
As an evening shower person, I really enjoyed having this addition in my shower. It’s definitely an upgrade from my old showerhead, which was admittedly overdue for a replacement anyway. I noticed that the red light helped prepare me for bedtime, leaving me feeling more relaxed than usual.
That said, I’m not sure I’d like this setup for a morning shower. I prefer to feel energized in the morning rather than relaxed, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re more of a morning shower person.
Overall, I found that using HigherDOSE Showerhead turned my daily wash into a wind-down ritual. Having the warm red light illuminate the bathroom was a pleasant touch at the end of the day.
The device wasn’t hard to integrate into my routine, either. No additional steps needed to be added, I just proceeded with my shower as usual. Nor has the novelty of it worn off over time because it created a sense of calm that seemed to be missing from my evening routine.
Since I was committed to testing this device out, charging it wasn’t really an issue for me. However, I can see how I might end up forgetting to charge it over the long term.
Interestingly, one thing I didn’t end up using was the remote. Every time you charge the red light ring, you have to pair it again, and honestly, even though it’s a trivial thing, I just couldn’t be bothered.
After using it for over two months, I noticed that my skin and hair had become slightly softer. I suspect this is mostly due to the filter. The area I live in has quite hard water, and minerals usually build up quickly on my shower doors and walls. Since using this device, that buildup has noticeably reduced, which might be thanks to the HigherDOSE filter. I’m genuinely not sure how effective the red light actually is on wet skin, but it provides a relaxing ambiance that I really enjoy having.
What you can expect using HigherDOSE Showerhead
Before testing this device, I tried my best to keep my expectations as low as possible. Anticipating a result can skew our perception or even create a placebo effect, and I wanted to ensure I was bringing you a genuine and somewhat objective review.
As I touched on earlier, the most substantial difference I observed over two months of use was a reduction in hard water minerals. This translated to noticeably less limescale buildup on my shower fixtures, glass, and walls. My hair and skin also felt a little softer than usual, though I’m not sure whether to attribute that to the red light or the filtered water.
While the water filter proved to be effective, I found that the red light is mostly beneficial for relaxation rather than noticeable skin or hair improvements. Detaching the ring and using it outside the shower may potentially improve its effectiveness, as red light therapy is recommended on clean, dry skin to prevent water droplets from interfering with light absorption.
In general, red light therapy is not a quick fix. It requires consistency and time to see potential progress, so the same probably applies to this showerhead. I might start seeing more improvements after using it for a longer period, but for now, I remain skeptical about the efficacy of using red light in the shower.
Ultimately, I have enjoyed this device primarily for cleaner water and the relaxing experience it provides.
Is HigherDOSE Showerhead worth it?
We aren’t going to pretend that this showerhead is not a premium investment. At $599, the HigherDOSE is roughly four times more expensive than other popular shower filters like Jolie, Canopy, or Hello Klean.
However, with those brands, you are only paying for a water filter. With HigherDOSE, you are paying for a water filter plus a red light device. If your only goal is to soften your water and get healthier hair, you can save your money and go with a standard filter. But if you were planning to invest in a red light device, the HigherDOSE combines two wellness tools into one.
With any shower filter, you also have to factor in maintenance. HigherDOSE recommends replacing the water filters every 75 days. A single replacement filter costs $45, but you can bring that down to $38 if you sign up for a subscription, or about $36 per filter if you buy a three-pack bundle. This means that on top of the initial investment, maintaining this showerhead will run you an additional $180 to $200 per year.
Ultimately, people who struggle to keep up with their red light therapy sessions might find the most value in this device. It fits effortlessly into your shower routine without needing to make time for it or take any additional steps.
Other red light therapy reviews:
- Best red light therapy pods: Options for recovery and relaxation
- Testing the Megelin LED face mask: Can it actually improve skin?
- iRESTORE Elite review: Expensive hype or real hair regrowth?
- Best red light therapy for weight loss: Top devices compared
Final verdict
Two months into using the HigherDOSE, I’ve noticed that my hair and skin have become softer. However, I’m not entirely sure whether to attribute these improvements to the red light or to the filtration of hard minerals. To me, it seems that the red light element was mostly for relaxation and aesthetics. I’m just not convinced the overall experience justifies the price tag.
That said, I could see this device being worth it for anyone finding it hard to keep up with their red light sessions and are looking for an added water filtration element. It may be less suitable for those who are on a stricter budget or are solely looking for a filtration system.
References:
- Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring
- Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. The Effectiveness of Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy on Hair Loss
