Hey, guys!
It’s Samantha!
From washing too often to forgetting your feet, here are all of the things you’re
doing wrong in the shower!
14.
Too Hot
Although we all enjoy a nice hot shower in the morning, it might not be doing your skin
much good.
The skin is composed of three layers, the top being the epidermis.
This surface layer is filled with keratin, which assists with moisture retention.
Your body produces oil naturally to help keep your skin from drying out.
But, when you take a hot shower, it affects the protective measures your skin has taken.
First of all, the heat causes the oils to become softer… similar to melting butter…
ew, right?
So, even without soap, you’ve disturbed the safeguard your body provided.
But, adding some foamy body wash to the mix makes things even worse.
This can strip the oils and leave your skin dry and itchy.
Plus, when it’s winter, and you take a hot shower to combat the chilly air… you’re
making things even worse!
After you terminate all of your skin’s moisture in the steamy shower and go out into the cold,
the dry air gets rid of more oils.
So next time you and your significant other are enjoying a shower together, don’t be
too irritated when they’re hogging the hot water… you’ll be the only one with soft,
moisturized skin.
13.
After Exercise
Many of us exercise in the morning before work, and sometimes we’re running a little
late.
You have to pull yourself out of bed, jump on the treadmill, and, sooner than you know
it, you’re out of time!
So, you skip the shower and apply some extra deodorant.
It might not seem like a bad idea… but, it is!
Of course, we all know that working out can cause body odor.
So, if you don’t shower after pumping all that iron… well, you’re probably going
to smell.
When sweat mixes with the microorganisms on our bodies, it creates that B.O. scent that
everyone knows and nobody likes.
Plus, if you don’t shower after exercising, the sweat that’s left on your skin causes
bacteria to build up.
It not only makes you stink, but it can also eventually lead to infections.
The areas where this bacteria grows the most are the feet, underarms, and groin.
So, make sure you’re scrubbing these parts even more than the others.
Skipping that post-workout shower can also cause worse acne.
When your sweat mixes with yeast and bacteria on your skin, it can cause your follicles
to become inflamed, resulting in lesions similar to pimples.
Not washing off after exercise can also cause brown spots, a smelly scalp, rashes, and salty
skin.
So, make sure to take the extra ten minutes and jump in the shower!
12.
Cold Water
You already know that you shouldn’t be taking hot showers.
Maybe you thought lukewarm water would be okay… well, you’d be wrong!
You’re not entirely incorrect, but, washing off in cold water actually has quite a few
benefits.
First of all, it makes you more alert.
Your heart rate will increase with the shock of the water’s temperature, and it will
cause a rush of blood along with a shot of energy.
Cold showers also help with your hair and skin.
Just like hot water opens your pores, cold water tightens your pores, which helps seal
in moisture.
Plus, it makes your hair look shinier, stronger, and healthier overall because it flattens
your hair follicles, causing them to hold more tightly to your scalp.
In addition to your skin, cool water can also improve your immunity and circulation by encouraging
blood flow to the organs.
Taking cold showers can also help with weight loss by activating our brown fat, the fat
that keeps us warm.
They also notedly assist with relieving muscle soreness, stress, and depression.
So, feel free to keep the knob on cold when you hop in for your morning shower.
It might be really uncomfortable, but you’ll feel and look better in the long run!
11.
Foot Scrub
Something that people don’t pay too much attention to in the shower is their feet.
However, if you aren’t taking the time to wash those toes, then you’re doing it all
wrong.
Cleansing your feet is a task you should be taking on every day.
Why?
Well, because your feet sweat more than other parts of your body.
We already talked about how this can cause more bacteria to build up; so, cleaning your
feet is essential to good hygiene.
You should wash them with a gentle cleanser since other soaps can eliminate moisture.
Then, make sure you dry them off thoroughly, especially between your toes.
Afterward, make sure you lather on a foot cream, so your feet stay soft!
10.
Shaving Wrong
Although most of us believe we have this down pat, the majority of the population isn’t
shaving the way they’re supposed to.
So, listen to these tips, and you’ll get the perfect shave.
First, make sure your skin is clean beforehand.
Use a gentle cleanser to remove any bacteria on the surface of your skin.
Second, you should exfoliate.
You can use a sugar scrub or other exfoliator for this; it will soften your skin and removes
dead cells, which will make shaving easier.
Third, apply moisturizing shaving cream to your skin before you start; this makes the
razor glide smoothly, which will help you avoid nicking yourself.
Last but not least, shave with the grain of your hair, not against it!
This is something that most people get wrong because they’re trying to get the closest
shave possible.
However, shaving against your natural growth direction can cause irritation.
You won’t get as close of a shave the safer way, but your legs will look better without
the razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Don’t forget to dry off afterward and apply a gentle moisturizer to keep your skin looking
gorgeous!
9.
Wrapping Hair
Something else us girls do after taking a shower can make our hair look unhealthy.
What is it, you ask?
The answer is wrapping your long locks up in a towel to dry.
When you pile your hair on top of your head after shampooing and conditioning, it can
make your hair look frizzy and damaged.
This is because wet hair is more prone to breaking and stretching.
So, the best thing to do is part your hair into sections, get the excess water off each
one by gently squeezing with a clean towel, and use detangling spray and a wide-tooth
comb for any knots.
8.
Too Long
Just like taking a hot shower can dry out your skin, taking a shower that’s too long
can cause the same issues.
Even though you might feel good standing in the warm water, relaxing, and watching your
fingertips turn into prunes, the negative outweighs the positive.
Your skin will be soft while you’re in there, but after the oils have been washed away for
forty-five minutes… you’re not staying moisturized for long.
Apparently, a good shower time is five to ten minutes.
Shorter is better for your skin’s health.
So, yes, unfortunately, cold, fast showers are the way to go for healthier skin.
7.
Nasty Towel
You’re nice and clean.
You’ve spent five to ten minutes taking a nice, cool shower.
Your legs are exfoliated and feeling smooth… and you’re gonna dry off with a dirty, old
towel?
That doesn’t make much sense, does it?
Of course not!
Your towel could be harboring various germs, dirt, dead skin cells, and residue from hair
and skin products.
So, make sure to inspect the towel that you’re using to dry off your clean body because these
things can lead to acne and irritation.
If you use the same post-shower towel every day, then switch it out about once every week.
6.
Conditioner
Most of us are used to conditioning all parts of our hair and scalp.
I mean, you want to make sure everything is moisturized, right?
The answer is “not necessarily.”
Your scalp produces oil; so, the roots of your hair don’t usually need extra moisture.
Many people recommend that you only apply conditioner from the bottom to the end of
your hair.
However, this suggestion doesn’t apply to everyone.
In some cases, you might not be producing enough natural oil; this means a conditioner
would be essential.
But, if your scalp has enough oil, then adding more moisture can result in a greasy look
and feel.
So, pay attention to your head, and you’ll know what to do!
5.
Leaving Loofah
One of the things you should always avoid doing is leaving your wet loofah to hang in
your steamy shower after you’re done washing off.
You probably already know this, but warm, moist areas are breeding grounds for bacteria…
it’s weird that so many people seem to forget this when it comes to their loofahs.
Plus, the dead skin cells left over from your scrubbing cause the microorganisms to be even
more likely!
Many people recommend getting rid of the cleansing poof altogether.
However, some of us can’t live without the excellent scrub a loofah provides.
So, if you’re going to keep it around, then make sure it’s dry.
Also, throw it out and replace it every few weeks, especially if you smell anything funky.
You don’t want to go into the shower to get clean and end up with a fungal infection!
4.
Wrong Products
One of the most common things that people aren’t doing right in the shower is using
the wrong products.
The first thing you probably haven’t given much thought about is what shampoo you’re
using.
We usually run to the store, grab whatever shampoo smells the best, and bring it home
to lather up our locks.
However, your cleanser of choice might be doing more harm than good.
A lot of hair-care products contain fragrances, oils, and parabens that can irritate your
scalp, cause acne, and damage your hair.
In addition to shampoo, you should keep an eye on the ingredients in your body wash.
Although many body wash brands are meant to help fight against acne and irritation, they
actually might be causing it.
They could contain several detergents that ultimately dry out your skin.
So, if you notice that your body wash creates an excess amount of foam… or if you just
take a look at the ingredients and see something that isn’t helping your skin, then switch
it out!
Opt for a soap-free cleanser, and you’ll notice the difference in no time.
3.
Moisturize
If you aren’t giving yourself a good lather of lotion after you get out of the shower,
then you’re doing it wrong!
When you apply a moisturizer to your skin after you’ve patted yourself off a little,
some of the water becomes captured.
This keeps it from drying out.
If you wait too long to apply your moisturizer, then it won’t have the same effect.
However, lotion isn’t necessarily the way to go.
According to Dr. Kenneth Mark, a dermatologist and surgeon for Mohs skin cancer, the best
way to moisturize post-shower is with an ointment.
Since these are oil-based, they help increase your skin’s natural moisture and create
a guard against external elements.
A lot of people are against using ointments because they feel greasy… this is understandable.
So, the next best option is a cream; they are hydrating, just less so than an ointment.
They won’t make you feel oily either.
Lotions are the last recommended moisturizers.
This is because they are more liquidy and don’t lock in water as well.
The most significant note here though?
Moisturize once you step out of the shower!
2.
Not Exfoliating
Something else a lot of people don’t pay attention to is exfoliation.
You might already exfoliate your face, but you should be doing this to your entire body.
Dead cells pile up on the outer layer of our skin, and you should be regularly getting
them off.
There are two different types of exfoliants, including chemical and physical.
The chemical ones are designed to break down your skin’s top layer gently.
The physical kind includes things like sugar scrubs.
The gritty texture helps to rub off the built-up dead skin.
However, make sure that you aren’t doing this too often because it can irritate and
damage your skin.
1.
Too Many
This is one of the things that nearly everybody does wrong; they’re getting in the shower
far too often.
Just like using hot water and taking long showers can dry out your skin, so can washing
off too many times.
Almost everyone takes one shower daily, but some people take two or three showers per
day depending on their jobs and how sweaty they get.
However, the recommended amount of showers you should be taking is just three per week.
But, don’t forget that just because you aren’t taking as many full showers doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t continue washing your feet and the other, stinkier parts of your
body every day.
Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll definitely see improvements in your skin and health overall!
Today’s comment comes from Katherine on our “The Truth About Ellen DeGeneres”
video!
Thanks for the comment, Katherine!
Don’t forget to leave a comment below and you may be featured in our future video!