Picki Niki launches in the UK

PICKI NIKI has launched in the UK, bringing its K-beauty inspired filtered showerhead concept to British bathrooms. Designed in Germany and developed with Korean filtration technology, the brand has been created around the idea of “water wellness”, positioning the shower as the first step in a skin and hair routine.

The launch responds to growing consumer interest in beauty solutions that go beyond topical skincare and haircare. With many UK households living in hard water areas, including London, Southampton and Cambridge, PICKI NIKI has been developed to help minimise the effects of chlorine and hard water minerals on the skin, scalp and hair.

The filtered showerhead uses a dual-filtration system designed for warm, fast-flowing shower conditions. Stage one is a high-density melt-blown PP sediment pre-filter in the handle, which captures particulate matter including rust particles, metal flakes and pipe debris. Stage two is a Vitamin C gel cartridge in the showerhead, where ascorbic acid reacts with free chlorine via redox chemistry, converting it to chloride.

According to the brand’s independent lab testing, the system helped reduce chlorine from 0.19 mg/L to non-detectable levels under test conditions of 2.52 L/min at 22°C. Ascorbic acid forms weak chelate complexes with calcium and magnesium ions, helping reduce mineral build-up on skin and hair surfaces. It does not soften water.

The showerhead has also been designed with a 200 precision micro-hole spray plate to create a soft but powerful stream, supporting a more sensorial, spa-like shower experience. It is available in Tea Tree, Baby Powder and Unscented options.

PICKI NIKI is dermatologically tested and positioned as suitable for the whole family, including sensitive skin types and children and it is made with skin and hair friendly materials and ingredients, and can be installed in under two minutes.

The launch is led by founder Niki Namkyoung Lee, who developed the brand after relocating from Seoul to Berlin in 2019 and noticing changes in her own skin and hair. Coming from South Korea’s soft-water environment and with a background in K-beauty product development, Lee identified European hard water and chlorinated shower water as a hidden factor affecting skin and hair before topical products were applied.

“When I moved to Berlin and later visited London, I noticed the difference within weeks,” said Niki Namkyoung Lee, founder of PICKI NIKI. “Berlin’s mineral load is medium-hard; London’s chalk-aquifer water is among the hardest in major European capitals. Every shower left my skin tight and my hair brittle. I tried every cream, every mask, every routine. Then I tested the water.”

She added: “The problem wasn’t my skin and hair care. It was what came out of the tap. So I looked at filters. Every other filter we tested was drinking-water tech repackaged: cold water, slow flow, long contact.”

PICKI NIKI has already built a customer base of more than 10,000 users and holds more than 1,000 five-star reviews, with a 4.9 average rating on Okendo. The brand has also been recognised with the 2025 IndyBest Best Overall Filtered Shower Head award and a Marie Claire UK top-three ranking.

PICKI NIKI Filtered Showerhead is priced at £89 and is available at pickiniki.com.