How to Shower Properly: Step-by-Step Guide

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Showering seems simple enough, but the way you shower can make a big difference for your skin, hair, and overall hygiene. There’s actually a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to shower the right way, plus tips on what mistakes to avoid.

1. Shower With the Right Frequency
2. Set the Water Temperature
3. Keep Showers Short
4. Wash Your Body In the Right Order
5. Wash Hair Wisely
6. Wash Your Body Thoroughly
7. After-Shower Care

Step 1: Shower With the Right Frequency

Daily showers aren’t always necessary and will strip your skin of natural oils.

While your mom most likely told you that showering every day was life-or-death growing up, that might not be the case for your life now. How often you shower is dependent on your activity levels. If you work out every day, you should be showering every day. If not, a shower two or three times a week should suffice.

If you get grimy in the day and feel like you need a second shower in the evening, only target the problem areas. Or try changing up your routine so you’re showering at night instead of in the morning. Multiple showers in a day should be rare. You can always wipe yourself down with a wet rag and some mild soap for sensitive skin to get clean without going through the full shower routine.

Step 2: Set the Water Temperature

Showering with hot water can be just as detrimental as showering too frequently. Scalding hot water and the steam it produces dries your skin, strips away the good oils that keep skin hydrated, and can damage your skin. 

While it can be a hard pill to swallow, it’s best to turn that temperature dial down to lukewarm or cold. There are even a number of benefits to showering with cold water, like:

• Improving circulation

• Boosting the immune system

• Increasing the metabolism

• Aiding workout recovery

Step 3: Keep Showers Short

Long showers aren’t good for your body.

Short showers keep the water from dehydrating your skin and harsh cleansers from sitting on your skin for too long (you can avoid the latter entirely with natural soap). A shower between five and ten minutes is best, especially for people with skin conditions that cause dry skin.

Step 4: Wash Your Body In the Right Order

The best way to take a shower is by washing from your head to your toes. 

Starting from the top down allows soaps and cleansers to drip down and cleanse the whole body. Additionally, chemicals in shampoo and conditioners can clog the pores on your face, back, and shoulders. By starting with your hair and cleansing after, you can completely remove the residue of your hair products and avoid cross-contamination. This prevents breakouts on your face and upper body.

If you shave in the shower, it should be the last thing you do. The water will soften the hair follicles, and shaving after cleansing prevents dirt and bacteria from clogging your pores and causing ingrown hairs and breakouts. In support of cooler, shorter showers, shaving at the end of a long and hot shower can cause inflammation and irritation as the pores swell due to prolonged exposure to heat.

Step 5: Wash Hair Wisely

If you have hair on the top of your head, you likely wash it too often. While the frequency with which you need to wash your hair differs from person to person, you don’t typically need to wash your hair every time you shower. When your hair is oily or gearing up to be, that is when you should clean it.

If you suffer from dandruff or flakiness, you may need to wash your hair more often with a nature-based anti-dandruff shampoo. This can give you relief from the itchiness and dryness you feel on your scalp and stop the embarrassing shoulder snow.

While knowing how to wash your hair right is essential, using the right products is just as important. So much of showering is about removing dirt, build-up, and bacteria while keeping your skin moisturized and hydrated. Proper product choice applies to your scalp and hair, too. Choosing a shampoo for dry scalps and a coordinating conditioner can help keep your hair and scalp clean and hydrated.

Step 6: Wash Your Body Thoroughly

Unlike your hair, you should wash your body every time you take a shower. While you should focus on particularly dirty areas, namely your armpits, groin area, and feet, you should wash your whole body and not just let the soap drip down your legs and call it a day.

Much like your hair products, it’s essential to use gentle cleansers and soaps that keep your skin hydrated. Natural pine tar soap for dry skin can help. It can also soothe other skin conditions (psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, or eczema) and make you smell great. A shower should be just as good for the soul as it is for the body, and a good soap can help make that happen. Using a washcloth or loofah can also help by exfoliating the skin.

Step 7: After-Shower Care

Your after-shower routine is just as crucial as the shower routine itself. It can help support all the work you’ve put into caring for your skin while in the shower.

Don’t rub your body with a towel when you get out, but rather pat yourself dry. This technique is far more gentle on the skin and doesn’t leave you irritated and red. If you dry your hair, use a microfiber towel or a T-shirt. These fabrics are gentler on the hair, preventing it from getting damaged and frizzy.

Apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of showering to lock in hydration, preferably right after drying off. This protects the moisture barrier on your skin, which is most vulnerable to lost hydration immediately after you shower. Using a skin hydrating product twice daily and always after showering is essential to maintaining your skin health and capping off the perfect shower routine.

Frequently Asked Questions About Showering

What Are Common Showering Mistakes to Avoid?

These are the five most common mistakes people make when showering:

• Over-showering: Strips natural oils and dries out skin.

• Hot water: Feels good, but damages your skin barrier.

• Skipping moisturizer: Your skin loses water quickly after a shower.

• Using harsh cleansers: Stick to natural, hydrating soaps.

• Not washing your feet: Letting water run over them isn’t enough.

Is It Bad to Shower Twice a Day?

Yes, unless necessary (like after workouts). Too many showers dry out skin.

How Long Should I Stay In the Shower?

5–10 minutes is ideal for most people.

Should I Use Body Wash or Bar Soap?

Both are fine if they’re gentle and moisturizing. Natural bar soaps (like pine tar soap) can be especially soothing.

Do I Really Need to Moisturize After Every Shower?

Yes. It helps protect your skin’s moisture barrier.