You probably don’t think twice about what you do in the shower. After all, you just wash up and get clean, right? Wrong! There are actually a bunch of shower habits that are big no-nos.
Some of the stuff you’re doing in the shower could be bad for your health, hygiene, or even your home’s plumbing. Yikes! Using the wrong products, rinsing the wrong way, and making clumsy mistakes are all shower sins.
This list will expose the 11 biggest things you should NEVER do in the shower. From hair washing errors to weird body grooming moves, these shower don’ts will probably surprise you.
1. Don’t Shave With Dull Razors
Using an old, dull razor is one of the biggest shower no-nos. The dulled blades tug and cut your skin instead of smoothly slicing through hair. This leads to painful nicks, razor burn, and ingrown hairs.
Change razor cartridges frequently – experts recommend every 5-10 shaves for best results. Let hot water soften hair first before shaving. And never “dry” shave without using shaving cream or gel.
2. Don’t Rinse Hair In Hot Water
Rinsing your head under piping hot shower water can lead to damaged hair and scalp irritation over time. The high heat strips natural oils and proteins, leaving strands dry and prone to breakage. Stick to a warm or cool rinse to avoid dehydrating your delicate locks.
3. Don’t Pluck Stray Facial Hairs
Seeing a few rogue chin or facial hairs might tempt you to quickly pluck them in the shower mirror’s reflection. However, the hot steamy air softens skin and opens pores, making plucking much more painful and likely to cause irritation or ingrown hairs. Instead, pluck any stray hairs once your skin has cooled after showering.
4. Don’t Shampoo First
If you shampoo your hair before soaping up your body, you’re doing it wrong. The shampoo rinses off shampoo and strips cleansing oils from skin. Instead, cleanse your body first with soap/body wash, then shampoo hair second so those nourishing oils remain on your skin.
5. Don’t Scrub Aggressively
Enthusiastic, vigorous scrubbing may feel like a good way to get extra clean, but it’s actually extremely drying and damaging to skin. Use a soft loofah or just your hands and let the warm water do most of the work. Harsh over-scrubbing strips essential moisture and oils, leading to irritation.
6. Don’t Brush Your Teeth
It may seem efficient to brush your teeth while showering, but this is actually unsanitary. When you spit out that toothpaste, it can release harsh chemicals that mix with the shower water, creating airborne particles you then inhale.
Plus, the warm shower makes an ideal humid environment for bacteria growth in your toothbrush bristles. It’s cleaner to brush at the sink.
7. Don’t Lather Up With Bar Soap
While inexpensive bar soaps get you clean, their ingredients are often very harsh and moisture-stripping. As you age, bar soaps are worth more than body washes since they rinse away your skin’s natural oils and hydration. Stick to gentler liquid or creamy cleansers instead.
8. Don’t Air-Dry With a Towel
Aggressively rubbing your entire body down with a towel after showering is a bad move. It can disrupt the protective skin barrier and microbiomes by removing too much moisture. Pat dry gently, then apply moisturizer immediately to damp skin to lock in hydration.
9. Don’t Squeeze Blackheads
The heat and steam from a shower can cause pores to open up, making blackheads and clogged pores appear larger and tempting to squeeze. Don’t! This can damage and scar skin. Use a salicylic acid scrub and let blackheads clear up on their own over time instead.
10. Don’t Clip Your Nails
Trimming toenails or fingernails while showering is a slippery hazard that can easily lead to painful nicks and cuts if you lose your grip. Plus, the clippings can clog up drains over time. It’s much safer to do your mani/pedi grooming over a towel outside the shower.
11. Don’t Go Overboard With Products
Using too many shower products like scrubs, exfoliating mitts, shampoos, and washes can strip even more moisture. Stick to just a few essentials like a gentle body wash and basic shampoo/conditioner to keep your skin and hair balanced.
Conclusion
Your daily shower should be a relaxing, refreshing ritual – not a hazardous experience! By avoiding these 11 major don’ts, you’ll keep your body clean, healthy, and pampered instead of dried-out or damaged.
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