How to shower properly

Learning how to shower properly takes about five minutes and nobody teaches it. Keep the water warm, not hot, give yourself three to ten minutes, wash top to bottom, rinse well and pat dry. That is the whole job. The rest is detail.

Quick answer

• Warm water, not scalding.
• Three to ten minutes is plenty.
• Work from top to bottom so you are not washing clean skin with dirty water.
• Rinse longer than you think you need to.
• Pat dry. Rubbing is for towels in films.

Water temperature: warm, not hot

Very hot water feels good and is hard on skin. It strips away more than you want it to and leaves you tight and dry afterwards. Aim for warm. If your skin is red when you get out, it was too hot.

Finishing with a short blast of cool water is optional. Some people like the wake-up. Nobody needs it.

How long should a shower be?

Three to ten minutes covers most people. Less if you are in a hurry, more if you have been at the gym or on a building site. Past that you are mostly using hot water as a hobby.

The order that works

1. Wet everything first. Hair, shoulders, back, the lot. It takes the first layer of grime off before soap gets involved.
2. Hair next. Shampoo, rinse, then move on. That way the suds do not run over skin you have already washed.
3. Then body, top to bottom. Neck, shoulders, chest, arms, back as far as you can reach, stomach, legs, feet. Take your time on the places that get sweaty: underarms, groin, feet.
4. Rinse properly. Run the water over every place you used soap. Leftover lather is what makes skin itchy later.

How much shower gel do you need?

Less than you think. A coin-sized amount lathers up a good deal, especially with a scrub or a flannel. If you are using a pump bottle, one or two pumps is normally enough. More does not clean better, it just empties the bottle faster.

Using a body scrub

A silicone scrub helps lift dirt and builds a better lather from the same amount of gel. Use it on shoulders, back, chest and legs. Go gently on anything sensitive. Rinse it after every shower and hang it up. Silicone dries quickly, which is the point of it.

Once or twice a week is a sensible rhythm for most people. Your skin will tell you if you overdo it.

Drying off

Pat, do not drag. Get into the folds: under the arms, between the toes, behind the knees. Skin that stays damp in the folds is where irritation tends to start. If you want to put moisturiser on, do it while you are still slightly damp.

After the gym or a hard day

Do not leave it. Sweat on skin under gym kit is the fastest route to a bad smell and an itchy back. Get in the shower as soon as you can, wash properly and put clean kit on. If you cannot shower straight away, change out of damp clothes first.

Picking a shower gel

You want one that cleans without leaving your skin feeling stripped. Look at the label: GUYSTUFF Original shower gel, for example, has a pH of 5.5 and no SLS, with a Dark Honey and Tobacco scent. Whatever you use, a pump bottle makes it easy to take the right amount, and a smaller bottle is handy for the gym bag.

FAQ

How often should a man shower?

Most people are fine with once a day. After heavy sweating or work that leaves you dirty, shower again. If you have a skin condition, ask a pharmacist or your GP.

Should you wash your hair every time?

Not necessarily. Plenty of people wash hair every second or third shower. It depends on your hair, your job and how much you sweat.

Is it better to shower in the morning or at night?

Whichever you will actually do. A morning shower wakes you up. A night shower gets the day off you before bed. Both are fine.

Do you need to wash your feet and groin every day?

Yes. They are the places that sweat most. Wash them, rinse them and dry them properly.

That is all there is to it. If you want something solid to start with, have a look at GUYSTUFF Original.