Showering is never rocket science; you step in, turn the water on, lather, rinse, and you’ll be clean in no time. And with its own hot and steamy sauna-like benefits, showering probably is the most inexpensive at-home spa service you can give yourself. Showering may not necessarily have its own instruction manual, but it doesn’t mean that you’re doing it right either. From overusing a washcloth to washing your hair, there could be a number of mistakes that you’re doing while lathering up. Read on to find out which mini mishaps you might have been doing all along and the ways on how to fix them.
1. You never replace your loofah or washcloth.
Truth be told, both can be a breeding ground for bacteria and you run the risk of getting those into your skin if you repeatedly use the same washcloth of loofah over and over again. Washcloths can be used around 3-4 times before you throw them into the laundry. To ensure that they’re clean, wash it with hot water. Doing so can also help in ridding it of the musty smell that you can get from the build up of body oils and soap.
2. You exfoliate everyday
Exfoliation strips your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and easily irritated. Just do a gentle scrub a few days a week instead of doing it every day.
3. You wash your hair without combing it first.
Combing your hair before hitting the water can reduce tangles and breakage. Use a wide-toothed comb especially if your hair is prone to tangles.
4. You brush your teeth while showering.
You are multi-tasking this way, but the thing is, you’re not probably giving your teeth the right amount of attention that it needs. Dentists recommend at least two minutes of brushing if that’s possible.
5. You shave your legs first
People tend to rush especially when it comes to shaving. But in order to get real smooth legs, wait at least 15 minutes for the hot water to soften the hair and open up its follicles.
6. You wash your hair every day.
The truth is, the more often you wash your hair, the oilier it gets since your scalp will start producing more oil to compensate. If you’re the type who doesn’t get icky easily, shampooing is recommended to be done every other day. This way, you’re giving your natural oils time to penetrate your hair to the ends, leaving it shinier and healthier.
7. You shower in hot water
Showering in water that’s too hot for comfort may lead to the exacerbation of skin conditions like eczema and dry, flaky skin.
8. Being too rough with the towel
Intense towelling especially in your hair can lead to more breakage as it can damage your hair follicles. The solution? Just pat whenever possible and avoid wrapping your wet hair up in a towel.
