Shower head for hard water

[Summerbean]

We live in a hard water area and currently on holiday in soft water area, amazed as always what a difference it makes to my fine hair.
Are shower filter heads any good or is having a water softener the only way to go?

Just bumping this for you OP - hope you get some good advice soon.

I've just been on holiday with soft water and my skin and hair felt so nice! I bought a shower head filter a few years ago but wasn't very impressed with it. I'm interested in a whole house water softener but it feels a bit too complicated!

I use the Water2 filters for drinking and showers. I’ve noticed a difference in skin and hair over the year I’ve had them.

I have a water softener. Harveys IIRC, the sort that uses large blocks of salt. It has made a massive difference to my skin, and to our housekeeping. It's vastly better than the hard water of the South East - but it is nothing like the soft water of the North East. When I shower in London I can feel my skin tightening in dryness as I towel off, and I need to moisturise all over at once. When I shower in my artificially softened water at home my skin is much more comfortable and I don't feel the urgency to moisturise. I still do, but not as often or as urgently. When I shower in the naturally soft water of the NE my skin feels normal and comfortable and I often do not moisturise at all, especially after several days of washing in naturally soft water.

Your plumbing will be heavily coated with limescale inside. Artificially softened water will gradually dissolve the limescale, so your water will still contain some limescale at first, even with a water softener. There is an immediate difference but takes a few months to reach maximum softness. Be warned: if you have very old plumbing the limescale may be sealing off worn joints. Once the softened water has dissolved the limescale you may develop leaks. We installed our water softener in a house built in the 70s, and have had no problems with it.