8 Best Shower Drain Hair Catchers to Prevent Clogging Plugholes
Written by Charlene Latreuille
Updated on
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We all know the feeling. While having a nice warm shower, suddenly, you feel a gross water pool rising beneath your feet.
Pulling the hair out of the drain yourself is incredibly unpleasant, and getting a plumber to do it for you can be costly.
You can’t prevent your hair from falling, but you can certainly prevent it from clogging your drain. After all, that’s the role of a shower drain hair catcher, no?
And the even better news?
We made a list of the best shower drain hair catchers for you to choose from.
1. TubShroom Hair Catcher/Strainer/Snare
TubShroom is the big boss of drain protection. They know how to make a shower plug that’s both durable and practical.
As you can see from where I placed it, the TubShroom Ultra Revolutionary Drain Protector is my top choice.
For starters, the award-winning design makes hair wrap around the cylinder-shaped middle without affecting water flow.
I must also mention the stainless steel construction that makes the strainer last longer than others. Besides, this hair catcher works with both human and animal hair.
As if that’s not enough, this product comes with extra adapters to fit small and large drains. TubShroom honestly thought of everything, didn’t they?
Thanks to its full stainless steel build, you can just unplug the strainer and wipe it. Done! It couldn’t be simpler to clean.
One note: the packaging that this hair catcher for bathtub comes in is tough to open, so brace yourself.
Pros:
- Award-winning design
- Comes with adapters for the perfect fit
- Stainless steel construction
- Easy to clean
- Works with human and animal hair
Cons:
- Tough to open the packaging
2. Uxoz Drain Hair Catcher
The Uxoz Drain Hair Catcher is the best hair catcher for shower drain for people, almost exactly like the TubShroom Ultra Revolutionary, but more affordable.
The first thing you’ll notice about this product is its tripod top-fixed design that ensures collecting hair around the middle cylinder.
It also prevents any slippage, thanks to being more extensive than the pipe.
Also, the hexagonal honeycomb hole design is an innovative way of allowing water to pass smoothly.
Check this out: the stainless steel material is popular among high-quality drain protectors because it resists rust, lasts long, and is hassle-free to clean.
In fact, this product, in particular, doesn’t have to be cleaned after every use. This is excellent for the lazy days you don’t even feel like wiping a shower drain hair catcher.
Also, the radiant look makes this hair catcher an elegant upgrade to your bathroom.
Finally, don’t fret over not finding the right size for your drain. This drain hair catcher comes with 4 rubber-sealing rings of different sizes to use anywhere you’d like.
That makes it the best shower drain hair catcher in terms of adaptability.
That being said, it’s great that it doesn’t need cleaning up after every use, but you still have to wipe it frequently.
Pros:
- Stainless steel construction
- Tripod top fixed design
- Hexagonal honeycomb hole design
- 4 rubber-sealing rings of different sizes
- No need to clean every time
Cons:
- Doesn’t need cleaning up after every use but still needs it too often
3. TubShroom the Revolutionary Tub Drain Protector
Once again, TubShroom does what it knows how to do best in the world of drain protection.
Should our first pick be too expensive for you, we recommend its more affordable sister, the TubShroom Revolutionary Tub Drain Protector.
For starters, the unique mushroom design is excellent in collecting hair without blocking the water.
Needless to say, the silicone flexibility of this product makes everything, including cleaning up with water towels, smoother, more manageable, and more sanitary.
Besides the creativity and well-thought-out design, this product fits inside standard-sized drains of 1.5″ and 1.75″, so it will more likely than not work snugly in your bathtub.
Moreover, the hair catcher comes in 6 different colors to fit any setting type you place it in. I recommend the gray color if you don’t want it to stand out, and the green for a little bit of fun.
So, what’s the catch? Longer-haired people may need to clean it more often.
Pros:
- Different color options
- Fits standard sizes
- Award-winning design
- Silicone construction
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Longer-haired people need to clean it more
4. OXO Good Grips Silicone Drain Protector
Anyone with a pop-up shower drain knows how hard it is to find a hair shower drain catcher that fits. OXO has heard your prayers.
It presents the pop-up-friendly product and the best hair drain catcher for all kinds of drains: the OXO Good Grips Silicone Drain Protector.
The unique dome shape enables it to accommodate both flat and pop-ups.
Plus, the dome shape also plays an excellent role in keeping the drain hair catcher in place, thanks to the weighty, rust-resistant, long-lasting stainless steel top.
The silicone construction is also flexible and easy to work with, while the silicone rim prevents slippage against fast-moving water.
Besides, this product is straightforward to clean. I would recommend wiping it with vinegar and paper towels once a day.
To top it off, the gray color of the product blends perfectly with the bathroom environment.
There is a downside: while this hair catcher does prevent hair from clogging the drain, the pressure can become low if it’s not cleaned correctly.
Pros:
- Durable
- Suitable for different kinds of drains
- Stainless steel and silicone construction
- Weighted dome shape keeps it stable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Water flow isn’t perfect
5. LEKEYE Hair Catcher/Strainer
The LEKEYE Shower Drain Hair Catcher is for all flat drain cover lovers that want simplicity in installation and efficient drain protection.
One of the most approved features that you can find in a hair catcher is creativity in a simple design.
It has elliptical holes, which balance catching the water while letting the water go through. The intermediate semi-circle design makes water drainage go even smoother.
You’ll love the stainless steel construction because it is entirely rust-proof and will last; besides, stainless steel couldn’t be easier to clean.
The silicone ring keeps hair from going into the drain and bugs from getting out of it.
Also, there is no complication in the installation since the product is literally a flat cover.
That being said, while the stainless steel hair catcher itself doesn’t need much cleaning up, the silicone ring needs it more frequently.
Pros:
- Stainless steel and silicone construction
- Elliptical holes
- Durable
- Intermediate semi-circle design
- Easy to clean and install
Cons:
- Silicone ring needs constant cleaning up
6. OXO Good Grips Bathtub Drain Protector
OXO is at it again with the quality shower drain catchers. This time, it presents the OXO Good Grips Drain Protector.
It’s very similar to the LEKEYE Shower Drain Hair Catcher, except that it’s much more affordable to get.
This budget-friendly product has an innovative hole design that acts as a gatekeeper; it lets the water pass through, but not the hair.
This shower drain hair catcher boasts a stainless steel construction too that makes it rust-proof and durable, which is what we love to hear precisely.
To top it off, stainless steel makes cleaning the hair catcher effortless. You won’t think or work too much to install this drain screen, either.
If there is one thing that I would change about this shower drain hair catcher, it would be the silicone rim’s minor slippiness.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Stainless steel construction
- Durable
- Easy to install and clean
- Efficient hole pattern
Cons:
- Silicone isn’t fully non-slip
7. Umbra Starfish Drain Cover/Hair Catcher
What if I told that you could have a product for your drain that catches hair while adding some life to your bathroom decor? The Umbra Starfish Drain Cover does precisely that.
I had to start with the playful starfish design because it’s just so cute, and a little bit of fun never hurt anyone.
What’s more, the starfish design is a creative way to use 5 suction cups to ensure that the drain hair catcher will never slip or move, no matter how fast the water moves.
The high-quality silicone construction adds a lot of maneuverability and flexibility to the hair catcher.
Moreover, since this product is just a drain cover, it couldn’t be easier to install; just stick it on top, and you’re good to go.
Also, it is straightforward to clean, thanks to its simple, no-nonsense design.
With the playful design, this hair catcher comes in blue, black, or white color options; this is clearly the best shower drain hair catcher for a family bathroom.
There’s just one thing that I don’t like about the Umbra Starfish Drain Cover, which is that it turns yellow after months of use.
Pros:
- Different color options
- 5 suction cups
- Silicone construction
- Playful starfish design
- Easy to clean and install
Cons:
- Turns yellow after months of use
8. Holikme 2 Pack Silicone Drain Protector
Sometimes you want one product that does it all, and other times you want to buy packs of twos and threes of different sizes, as long as they’re affordable.
Holikme understood that need and came up with the highly inexpensive Holikme 2-Pack Shower Drain Protectors.
Surprisingly enough, this affordable product comes in a high-quality silicone material that is safe for kids and pets and isn’t tiresome to clean afterward.
So, while silicone comes second after stainless steel, its functionality and affordability are impressive.
These strainers have small and dense holes to catch human or pet hair and tiny food residues. Nothing will have a chance to clog these drains ever again.
Also, the center-raised design is highly efficient because it ensures proper drainage while still blocking hair and debris.
Plus, this pack comes with 12 detachable suckers, 4 for standby, to provide unparalleled slip-resistance that not even integrated suckers can provide.
Last but not least, the selection of colors that this bucket-friendly pack comes in is nice because it helps you make the most out of these hair strainers while enjoying it.
The one possibly negative thing you have to know is that you’ll have to install the suction cups yourself. Let’s face it: pop-up drains and drain protectors like these don’t work well together.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Different color options
- 14 detachable suckers
- Raised design for optimal drainage
Cons:
- You install suction cups yourself
- Not suitable for pop-up drains
How to Pick a Drain Hair Catcher
Type
While all hair catchers have one mission, the way they do it categorizes them into two: shower drain screens and in-drain hair catchers.
Shower drain screens are the ones you place over the drain itself, and they will prevent hair from slipping inside the drain.
On the other hand, you’ll need to remove the drain cover to make way for in-drain catchers because they catch it inside the shower drain.
Material
The material of shower drain hair catchers affects how much they’ll help you. They usually come in three options: silicone, stainless steel, and plastic.
Silicone is pretty popular because of its flexibility. It’s also easy to clean, and many silicone hair catchers are dishwasher-safe.
Stainless steel resists rust, which is great in something you’ll place in the shower. It lasts long and is the most sanitary material.
Plastic catchers are a no-no. They appeal to people because they’re the cheapest. However, the low price point comes with flimsiness and a very short lifespan.
It gets worse; they’re the least sanitary, as they catch mold. Yuck! I’d rather deal with the hair. Thanks.
Size
Size does matter for in-drain hair catchers. They will fit your shower drain perfectly if they’re standard-sized.
Otherwise, you’ll have to check the dimensions beforehand because a catcher that doesn’t fit won’t work.
Hole Size
News flash: size matters in strainer hole sizes too. If that of a catcher is too narrow, it’ll backfire because it will be unable to drain the water properly.
This leads to the same problem of finding yourself standing in a pool of water.
Also, if the holes are too wide, the hair will pass through them and block the water flow, taking us back to square one.
Basically, get a hair catcher that has holes that aren’t too wide or narrow.
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to the catcher’s ability to do its job right.
Some drain hair catchers have innovative hole designs that are more efficient than the traditional system, such as hexagonal honeycomb holes. Suction cups help catchers stay in place.
Color
Color is definitely not the first thing you consider when you’re about to buy a hair catcher for drain protection. That being said, it does help if a product looks appealing or not out-of-place.
Some people love their strainers to be colorful and bright, maybe to match specific decors. On the other hand, others prefer them to be neutral to fit in any environment.
If color matters to you, consider skipping strainers that change color with time.
How Do I Stop My Hair From Going Down the Shower Drain?
One way to do it is to use a shower drain hair catcher; you can check out our list for the best ones or get a product that you know and trust.
What matters is that it’s the most effective way to prevent your hair from getting into the tub drain.
Another way would be to comb or brush your hair before you get into the shower; this habit will reduce shower hair fall, which means less hair would reach the tub drain in the first place.
Is It OK for Hair to Go Down the Shower Drain?
Hair falling down the shower drain is problematic because it happens regularly.
It all builds up and collects all the soap and oil that drip from our bodies. The accumulation of this greasy soapy mess leads to severe drain clogging.
A word of caution: drain clogging leads to an awful series of events such as the infamous plumbing stink, showers and tubs draining slowly, gurgling sounds, and faltering water pressure.
So, as you can see, hair falling down the shower drain is terrible.
What Breaks Down Hair in a Drain?
Here’s the deal: if you have no time or budget for a hair catcher for shower drain protection, consider natural alternatives.
The most common and successful solution is mixing baking soda and vinegar. Another popular fix is baking soda and salt.
The best part about breaking down hair naturally is that you won’t be exposed to dangerous chemicals.
Liquid drain cleaners can cause burns or even threaten your life. Even water pipes aren’t safe from them, as they can soften and corrode them.
Nobody wants to harm themselves or damage their pipes for a clogged drain.
How Do You Clean a Hair Catcher in a Shower Drain?
It differs from one hair catcher to another. Some can simply be wiped with wet paper towels, while others are machine-washable.
What matters is that you clean your hair catchers once a day because not doing so can backfire.
A hair catcher is a product that is meant to prevent mold, so don’t encourage it by not cleaning it, regardless of the material.
Final Thoughts
By now, you should know that hair catchers are essential because they catch the hair without blocking the water flow. So, we got a list of the best ones, and we’ll go through the highlights one more time.
The best hair strainer is, without a doubt, the TubShroom Ultra Revolutionary Bathtub Drain Protector.
It’s innovative with an award-winning design. Besides, the stainless steel construction is superior to others, thanks to its durability and rust resistance.
If you’re looking for a product really close to our top pick but more affordable, get the Uxoz Drain Hair Catcher. It is a creatively designed shower drain hair catcher equipped for different sizes.
The TubShroom Revolutionary Tub Drain Protector fits standard sizes, comes in different colors, and has a practical silicone construction.
The variety of color options is a big plus, so if you love colors, get this one.
TubShroom Hair Catcher/Strainer/Snare
About the Author
Charlene LatreuilleCharlene Latreuille has been blogging for over 10 years and has a background in digital marketing.
Specializing in women's hair health, she blends scientific insight with practical advice, crafting easy-to-follow guides.