Live with a picky partner who wants a rainfall shower head while you prefer something smaller? Love your fixed shower head but wish you had something more versatile (like a hand held shower head!) for kids, pets, and cleaning? Getting the best Dual Shower Head is for everyone who wants choices in the shower. 

The drawback? Most manufacturers spend all of their R&D effort getting a 2-in-1 Shower Head inside the same package, sacrificing a lot of the features that you would find in a stand-alone shower head. 

That's why we're going to show you how to get around those limitation letdowns and build your own DIY Dual Shower Head using the most durable components. This is the best option for adding a handheld shower head to an existing fixed shower head or vice versa.

(If you're wanting to start from scratch with two brand new shower heads, we've made it easier than ever to get an All Metal Dual Shower Head with our 1-Spray and 3-Spray Dual Shower Head Sets!)

By the end of this article, you'll be able to build a double shower head system that not only will save you the cost of hiring a plumber, but will have the entire household singing in the shower!

Don't have time for the article? Check out this install video!

Building A DIY Dual Shower Head

Before I dive deep into what you'll need and what to look for, here's a list of the 3 core pieces to build your DIY Dual Shower Head: 

• Shower Diverter Valve
• Hand Held Shower Head
• Fixed Shower Head 

And below is a list of our top choices for building your own Double Shower Head with Handheld.

Like everything at The Shower Head Store, we only offer all-metal shower heads that are hand-picked by our industry experts. When figuring out how to add a handheld shower head to an existing shower head, it's important to ensure you have the best parts for the job.

These combinations have all been tested in-house to make sure they pass our rigorous standards and are compatible for installation. 

Dual Shower Head System Components

Shower Diverter Valve	Hand Held Shower Head Set	Fixed Shower Head

 

 

What Exactly Is A Dual Shower Head?

Commonly referred to as a Double Shower Head or 2 in 1 Shower Head, a Dual Shower Head is what you get when you pair two showerheads using a shower diverter valve.

If you don't have an existing shower head you want to incorporate into your double shower system, you can save yourself time and money with one of our dual shower heads.

Where most others are often limited in their design and functionality, we perfected both our handheld and fixed shower heads before bundling them together. Unlike the 2-way diverters found in many packaged dual shower heads, our 3-way solid brass diverter is built to last and clicks to let you know you've reached the right setting for your preferences. 

If, however, you do have either a fixed or a handheld shower head you want to continue using, we recommend building a DIY dual shower head.

In this article, we'll specifically be talking about Dual Shower Heads with external shower arm diverters which do not require any rough plumbing. While there are also plenty of other ways to build a DIY Dual Shower Head, we'll be showing you the most common and simplest way.

You won't have to drill holes in your wall or attach any funky suction cups. All you'll be using is your existing shower arm and the 3 components that we'll be discussing in detail.

Pitfalls of Pre-Packaged Dual Shower Heads

The pre-packaged dual shower heads you'll find at most big box stores and online retailers don't always give you that many options. Here are some of the biggest pitfalls of these pre-packaged deals:

• Limited Finish Options: Chrome seems to be the most abundant finish choice for dual shower heads. What if you need it in Brushed Nickel or Oil Rubbed Bronze? 
• Similar Shower Heads: The fixed shower head often looks like the hand held shower head without the hose. The benefit of a custom DIY dual shower head is to have two very different shower heads depending on what you need. 
• Equipped with a 2-way shower diverter. What if you want a 3-way shower diverter that runs both shower heads at the same time? When you learn how to add a handheld shower to an existing shower head using our guide, you can easily get this functionality.
• Material Quality: Most double shower head systems are not made with quality components. They're mostly plastic. Wouldn't it be nice to have something made from Metal and built to last? 

These are just some of the things that you'll encounter if you're trying to get that perfect Dual Shower Head from most manufacturers. But don't lose hope!

HammerHead Showers® All Metal Dual Shower Head Sets address every single one of these issues. Constructed from the highest quality brass and stainless steel, they come standard with a 3-way diverter and are available in multiple commercial-grade finishes that will never flake or rust. Both the fixed and the handheld shower heads are top-selling customer favorites, but magic happens when they come together! 

If you are adding a handheld or fixed shower head to your current setup, continue reading for our step-by-step guide to build your own DIY Dual Shower Head: 

How To Build Your Perfect DIY Dual Shower Head

There are 3 essential pieces to building your own Double Shower Head with Handheld. The external shower diverter valve, the fixed shower head, and the hand held shower head.

1. Start With The Base - The Shower Diverter Valve

Like most things in life, starting with the right base makes all the difference. In this case, that base is the shower arm diverter valve. We touched on it earlier; the shower diverter valve is the piece that will attach to your shower arm and bring both shower heads together into that 2-In-1 Double Shower Head System.

And, there are two different shower diverter valves types:

• Shower Arm Diverter WITHOUT Hand Shower Holder Mount
• Shower Arm Diverter WITH Hand Shower Holder Mount. 

Shower Diverter Valve Without Holder Mount

These diverters are primarily used for Dual Shower Heads, where the handheld shower head has a separate wall mount bracket.

This would mean that you attach your Fixed Shower Head to the front threads of the Diverter, attach the Hand Shower Hose to the bottom threads of the Diverters and then have your own separate wall mount for your Hand Shower.

That wall mount could be another Shower Arm, a slide bar with handheld holder or a wall mount bracket that is affixed with screws or an adhesive.

Here's a great diagram by Delta Faucet: 

Shower Diverter with Hand Shower Holder Mount

Then there's the shower diverter with the shower holder. The shower holder is the bracket hook that will actually hold your hand held shower head.

The benefit here is that you have everything you need to build your DIY Dual Shower Head in one cohesive piece - making installation much more straight forward.

What's the trade-off? The shower holder is universal in size. So, although they'll fit many hand showers, they won't fit them all. That's something that you'll need to test out first hand.

The Shower Head Store Recommendation: We used the shower diverter WITHOUT the built-in shower holder for this particular DIY dual shower head. We attached the included shower holder in the hand held shower head set to ensure a perfectly snug fit.

2-Way Shower versus 3-Way Shower Diverter Valve 

For the shower arm diverters without the holder mount, there are 2-Way and 3-Way Shower Diverters. The only difference is that the 2-way shower diverter can only run one shower head at a time, where the 3-way shower diverter can also run both shower heads at the same time. 

The Shower Head Stores Recommendation: We opt for the 3-way diverter over the 2-way diverter, as it gives the most options. Why not have the ability to run both shower heads at the same time? Exactly! 

All Metal 3-Way Shower Arm Diverter Valve For Dual Shower Heads

2. Choose A Hand Held Shower Head

 When you're exploring how to make a double shower head, getting the right hand held shower head is almost as important as starting with the proper shower diverter base. 

Avoid Hand Showers with Custom Shower Holders

Buying a hand held shower head with a custom holder just isn't worth it, if you're installing your entire Dual Shower Head all on the Shower Arm Diverter.

That's because you wouldn't be able to use these mounts, as your hand shower is going to mount onto a standard shower holder that is either attached or built-in to the diverter.

The two most popular shower heads with custom shower holders are the Moen Magnetix and Delta In2tion Shower Heads.

These both have those custom type of shower holder mounts, and just wouldn't be worth paying for if you're not actually going to end up using the custom mount.

Moen Magnetix	Delta In2ition

As long as you stick with a hand held shower head that mounts on the traditional shower holder bracket, you'll be in great shape! 

Standard Hand Held Shower Holder Bracket

Now that you know what to stay away from and what to look for, the options abound for a double shower head with handheld.

Here are some features to consider for your Hand Held Shower Head:

• Hose Length (Is a 60" hose sufficient, or will you need a longer one?)
• Pause Feature (Do you want the option to stop the flow of water on the hand shower when lathering up?)
• Water Filter (Is a water filter to remove impurities important to you?)
• Materials (Is plastic acceptable, or do you want to upgrade to a solid metal shower head?) 

Hang tight, at the end of the article we'll give you the best DIY Dual Shower Head combination with all the pieces you need. 

3. Find Your Fixed Shower Head

This is the easiest part of building the perfect DIY Dual Shower Head. Your fixed shower head will attach to the male threads on the front of the shower diverter and there really aren't any limitations here. 

Some features to consider for your Fixed Shower Head:

• Size (Do you want a small concentrated flow or a large Rainfall Shower Head?
• Spray Settings (Do you want a massage spray or would you prefer a simpler single function showerhead?)
• Water Filter (Is a water filter to remove impurities important to you?)
• Materials (Is plastic acceptable, or do you want to upgrade to a solid metal shower head?)

 The Shower Head Store's Pro Recommendation

This comes as a 3-piece set. Now available on The Shower Head Store, you can get this All Metal Dual Shower Head Combo in Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Brushed Gold, Matte Black, or Oil Rubbed Bronze. Here's what's included:

• Hand Held Shower Head Set
• 8 Inch Rainfall Shower Head
• 3-Way External Shower Arm Diverter

We prefer the quality build of this set, as it's made from All Metal. Plus, it provides a nice balance with the more concentrated Hand Held Shower Head and the wide, 8-inch Rainfall Shower Head. 

Build Your DIY Dual Shower Head

Now that you've learned how to add a handheld shower head to an existing shower and build your own DIY double shower head system, the sky's the limit when it comes to creating the custom shower of your dreams.

Use our recommended 3-piece dual shower head system, or design your own DIY dual shower head with your favorite fixed shower head, handheld shower head and shower diverter valve.

Already love your fixed shower head? Then simply upgrade with the dual shower head splitter and a handheld shower head. Or, start from scratch with all new pieces!

No matter how you build your DIY dual shower head system, The Shower Head Store is here to help! Contact us at any time to answer your shower head questions.