Guide to Showering and Bathing

Good hygiene is an important part of protecting your health, so it is quite important to establish a solid, consistent shower or bath routine.

• Multitask to Save Time

If you want to cut a few minutes out of your morning routine, don't be afraid to split your grooming up. Brushing, flossing, shaving, and even cutting your nails can all be done in the shower without any interruptions.

 It’s important to make sure you clean your entire body in the shower. Here’s how:

• Watch the Temperature

While a hot, steamy shower is indeed satisfying, it can also have consequences. Overly hot water can take away the skin's natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation later on, so stick to warm water for best results. If you really want to get more out of it, you can also rinse with ice water at the end of the shower: the temperature will increase circulation and help close the hair follicles to reduce frizz.

• Do a quick rinse to wet your skin before applying any soap

Using a loofah, washcloth, or just your hands, apply bar soap or bodywash to your body. Start at your neck and shoulders, and work your way down the length of your body. Don’t forget to wash your legs and get between your toes with soap and water.
Rinse off any soapy residue with a little more water to make sure you’re not drying out your skin with scaly soap remnants.

Switch to lukewarm or cool water for the final rinse of your hair and your body. This will help seal conditioner into your hair follicles, encourage blood flow throughout your body, and give you a refreshing jump start as you step out of the shower.

• Moisturize Right After

1. Make sure to towel-dry just a bit before applying any moisturizer to your body. You’ll want to use moisturizing cream right out of the shower for best results because it seals hydration into your skin.
2. Whether you choose to shower or bathe, there are some habits to avoid when washing your body.
3. Don't use water that's too hot. Soaking your skin in hot water may feel relaxing, but doing so often can damage your skin and make it more prone to dryness.
4. Don't over-exfoliate your skin. You don't need to scrub your skin hard or repeatedly to get dirt and oil off its surface. Over-exfoliating leaves your skin vulnerable to damage and dryness.
5. Don't skip washing your face. It's okay to get your face wet in the shower, but it may be too sensitive for body wash. The best way to thoroughly cleanse your face is to use products specifically designed for it. In addition to showers and baths, you should also wash your face regularly.
6. Don't forget to replace your loofah. Any loofah, towel or scrubbing sponge should be kept clean and dry when not in use in the shower or bath. Bacteria can grow in these bath time accessories if they are not properly dried and stored.