These luxe handheld shower heads come in clever designs meant to make bath time a treat to look forward to.
EDITOR’S RAVE: KOHLER FLIPSIDE HAND SHOWER
$188, from KHK Asia in Singapore
DESIGN It is called Flipside for a reason – you rotate the 9.5cm-wide shower head to select from four spray settings. It’s the easiest in the lineup to adjust the angle of the spray.
SPRAY AWAY A family favourite. There is a setting for everyone. Hubby liked the concentric spray as it covers a larger area than our regular shower head. The kids couldn’t get enough of the gentle spray, which felt like a light drizzle. I like invigorating showers, so the strong jet that shot out of a single nozzle into a fan-shaped stream is perfect for me. If you like it milder, there’s a fan-shaped spray with soft misty droplets.
VERDICT 9. Easy to adjust, with a good range of spray settings.
 | GREAT FIND: GROHE SENA Price upon request, from Interior Affairs in Singapore DESIGN Shaped like a thick pipe, this feels more like a glow stick than a handheld shower head. But once I got used to the minimalist design and how light it was, I preferred this to a round hand shower. SPRAY AWAY Although there is only one spray setting and the water flows out like a mini waterfall, the jets are powerful. Invigorating! For a wider spray, I placed the shower head high up on the shower rail so the jet fanned out more. I was a convert after a few showers, and stopped missing my regular hand shower. VERDICT 8. Looks and feels good. |
GROHE RAINSHOWER CLASSIC
Price upon request, from Interior Affairs in Singapore
DESIGN The 13cm-wide handheld shower head gives ample coverage. The attention to detail impressed me – a thumb rest on the handle makes it easy to hold the heavy shower head. The solid build gives it a luxe feel. And all it takes is a push of a small tab on the shower face to switch between the spray settings.
SPRAY AWAY There are three spray settings to choose from, but my family ended up using only two. The jet was disappointing – I got a a weak dribble of water instead. I used either the Pure setting for a wide and moderately strong spray, or the Rain for a mild rain shower. But I missed having a powerful jet option.
VERDICT 7.5. A heavy but ergonomic hand shower for a mild to moderate shower.
ECOCAMEL JETSTORM ‘E’
$59, from www.ecocamel.com.sg, Nothing but Green and Handymancentre, both in Singapore
DESIGN Designed to create a powerful jet using up to 45 per cent less water, this handheld shower head has a hole on the handle to force air into the shower head to increase water pressure. It has a 9.5cm-wide shower face, and is lighter than the other hand showers tested.
SPRAY AWAY It emitted a raspy sound when in use, loud enough for my kids in the adjoining master bedroom to hear when I showered. The single-setting spray was moderately powerful, but some jets seemed to be weaker than others, creating an uneven spread of water.
VERDICT 6.5. For a robust, but noisy, shower.
All shops are in Singapore. This article was originally published in Simply Her May 2012. All images: Frenchescar Lim
All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine’s publication. We advise readers to check with the store for the latest availability and pricing information.