Hot or cold shower? The sensible answer

Hot or cold shower? Warm is the best temperature for actually washing. Finish cold if you like it, but very hot water is what leaves skin feeling tight and dry.

Cold showers are fine. They are not magic. Hot showers are not a reward. The sensible answer is in the middle.

Quick answer

• Wash in warm water, not hot.
• A cold finish is optional and mostly a wake-up.
• If your skin is red when you get out, it was too hot.
• Pick the one you will actually stick to.

Is a hot shower bad for your skin?

Not bad, just harder on it. Very hot water strips more from your skin than warm water does, which is why you can feel tight and dry afterwards.

The occasional hot shower after a cold day is not a problem. Every shower at full heat is where you notice it.

Winter is when most people turn it up. It is also when skin tends to feel driest anyway, so it is worth keeping the dial in check.

What cold showers honestly do

They wake you up. Most people who take them say they feel more alert afterwards, and that is a perfectly good reason to do it.

You will see plenty of bigger claims online. We are a shower gel brand, not a lab, so we are not going to repeat them. If you like cold showers, have them. If you hate them, you are not missing out on anything you need.

Some people use cold water after training because it feels good when they are overheated. That is a fine reason. Claims about recovery are not ours to make, so if that is what you are after, ask someone qualified.

The best shower temperature for washing

Warm. Comfortable on your wrist, not something you have to step into slowly. Warm water helps shower gel lather and rinses it off properly without the downsides of a scalding shower.

A simple test: if you get out red, turn it down next time.

Want both? Warm wash, cold finish

Do the washing in warm water. When you have rinsed, turn it to cold for a short blast at the end. It is entirely optional. Some people like the wake-up. Nobody needs it.

If you are new to cold, start with your legs and arms, then your back, then the rest. A few seconds is enough to get the wake-up. There is no prize for staying under longer.

Whatever temperature you go for, use a shower gel that rinses clean. GUYSTUFF Original shower gel is pH 5.5 and made without SLS, with a Dark Honey and Tobacco scent.

FAQ

Is lukewarm water best for showering?

Warm to lukewarm is the sensible range. Hot enough to be comfortable, not so hot your skin goes red.

Are cold showers good for you?

They wake you up, which is the honest part. For anything health-related, ask a GP rather than the internet.

Should you shower in hot water after the gym?

Warm is better. Very hot water keeps you sweating after you get out.

Is a hot shower good before bed?

A warm one is a perfectly good way to wind down. Keep it warm rather than scalding, for the same reasons as any other time.

Why does my skin feel tight after a shower?

Usually water that is too hot, or a shower that went on too long. Turn it down and keep it shorter. If it does not settle, ask a pharmacist or GP.

Warm to wash, cold if you fancy it. For the washing part, have a look at GUYSTUFF Original.