Shower drain blocked with hair — how to clear it

Hair blockages in shower drains are extremely common and almost always reachable by hand or with a simple tool. Hair binds with soap scum and accumulates just below the drain cover, forming a solid plug.

Remove the drain cover — most unscrew with a flat or cross-head screwdriver, or lift off. Put on rubber gloves.

Shine a torch into the drain. You will usually see a matted hair plug within 50–100mm of the opening. Use your fingers, a bent wire coat hanger, or a proprietary drain hair removal tool (£3–£5) to hook and pull the blockage out. It will be unpleasant — but this clears 90% of shower drain blockages.

Once the visible hair is removed, pour a kettle of warm water down the drain to flush any remaining debris, followed by an enzyme drain cleaner if you have one (enzyme products break down hair and soap rather than using harsh chemicals).

Refit the drain cover. Test with the shower running — it should drain freely within a few seconds of shutting off.

Prevention: fit a shower drain hair catcher — a simple stainless steel mesh cover that sits over or in the drain opening (£3–£8). Empty it after every shower. This single step virtually eliminates shower drain blockages.