We Tested 3 Popular Shower Drain Hair Catchers—Here’s Our Top Pick
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There are many cleaning tasks I don’t mind doing—in fact, I’m one of those people who mostly enjoys the routine. But there’s one chore I really, really don’t like tackling… And that’s snaking the drain. Which is a problem, because we’re a family of shedders. As in, we shed after every single shower. So if we’re not careful, our tub will get clogged constantly, which is why I’ve been dedicated to testing shower drain hair catchers for years. They help prevent buildup in your pipes and generally make maintaining your bathroom a bit easier. (In other words, you can keep that snake under the sink where it belongs!)
I’ve tested what feels like every drain cover out there. And the honest truth is that most will do the job, but they all have their pros and cons, and there are some stand out above the rest. Ahead, I’m going to share my researched findings of my three favorite bathtub hair catchers and how they held up over time. For background, I had each of the following products in my shower for five months or longer, so I can speak to their long-term performance and upkeep. It’s also worth noting that each of the below performed admirably, and the only reason I replaced them was because I moved apartments, or because certain models happen to naturally need swapping out after awhile.
With that in mind, keep reading to get all the intel, including the pick I consider the best drain hair catcher on the market.
01
Best Overall
Aluvor Bathtub Drain Hair Catcher
Amazon
$14.99
Presenting: My absolute favorite shower hair catcher! This model does it all. The best feature is that it effectively collects your hair, but it does so around the rim, so you don’t necessarily see all the strands every time you step into the shower. The popup design allows for water to easily drain much faster than other products, and you don’t have to do anything difficult to install it. Cleaning is as simple as wiping it off with a paper towel. Of course, how often you clean it depends on your particular family. (For us, it’s probably every 2 to 3 days. We’re super shedders!)
It’s hard to describe a drain cover as stylish, but this does blend in well with my tub hardware, and it isn’t an eyesore by any means. I’ve been using it for over six months, and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. I’d predict it will last another six months or longer before needing to be replaced.
02
Best Budget
Gotega Silicone Drain Hair Catchers
Amazon
$9.99
If you have multiple showers being used in your home, this pack of shower hair catchers is an awesome bang for your buck. I had these for over a year, swapping them every few months when they started fading or enough grime built up. They do a solid job of catching your hair, and it’s fun to step into your tub and see a pop of color. The main drawback for me is that because these have a flat design, you do see the hair that’s piled up when you step into the shower, which isn’t always the most pleasant experience. I also found that the water didn’t drain quite as well as the Aluvor model with the popup feature. That said, I never had to open a container of Draino, which means these certainly kept my hair from clogging the tub.
They clean the same way as the Aluvor, but as I mentioned earlier, they do need replacing after a few months. I tried to soak them in hot water and dish soap to give them a longer lifespan, but that didn’t do much to get the grime out of the small holes and grooves. However, I still highly recommend these, especially for houses with several bathrooms. They’ll last you a long time.
03
Best Design
TubShroom Drain Protector and Hair Catcher
Amazon
$12.99
The Tub Shroom is probably the most famous shower drain hair catcher, thanks to its clever design. You remove the drain cover from your tub and then you stick this inside the drain, so it looks really seamless. No one would necessarily know that it’s a hair catcher, and you definitely won’t see the hair and grime on the day-to-day. However, because it’s actually inside the drain, I found that more hair got through, and I did have to use a clog remover solution on a few occasions. But if a sleek look is what you’re after, it’s a fair tradeoff.
Cleaning wasn’t difficult, but the experience of pulling it out of the drain icked me out a bit. (Something about staring into the abyss of the drain and just knowing there’s an ungodly amount of grossness in there gives me shivers…) But not everyone is as squeamish as me—and arguably, many people might find it worse to see the hair around the drain catcher—so if an embedded design is your top priority, this is a solid option.
In the end, all of the shower drain hair catcher products I tested successfully kept hair from clogging the tub. While my personal favorite is the Aluvor shower drain hair catcher, you can’t go wrong with any of the above! Especially given that these are all budget-friendly upgrades that make a huge difference in protecting you from getting the drain snake out. (My worst nightmare!)
Megan Stein
Megan is the Senior Director of Editorial and Content Marketing for DrewandJonathan.com. She has over a decade of experience in the home and lifestyle industry, with previous roles at The Pioneer Woman, Country Living, and People magazine. She loves to inspire readers with beautiful, approachable design ideas, as well tips on how to bring their visions to life. She’s also shopping obsessed, and is dedicated to discovering the best products to make life easier, whether it’s testing a top-rated vacuum or the finding the perfect rug to complete your room.
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