Shower after the gym: what to actually do

The best time to shower after the gym is once you have stopped sweating, which for most sessions is a few minutes after you finish. Warm water, wash the sweaty bits properly, dry your feet, put clean kit on. That is the whole routine.

Most of us train properly and then rush the bit after. Here is how to do it right without making it a project.

Quick answer

• Cool down for a few minutes until you stop sweating.
• Warm water, not hot. Cold is fine if you like it.
• Wash underarms, chest, back, groin and feet first.
• Rinse well, pat dry, get between your toes.
• Clean kit on. Never back into what you trained in.

How soon should you shower after the gym?

As soon as you have stopped sweating. Get straight in while you are still pouring and you will be sweating again by the time you are dressed. Give it a few minutes, have some water, then go.

What you do not want is the opposite: an hour in damp kit, a drive home, then a sit on the sofa. Sweat sitting on skin under wet fabric is how you end up smelling of the gym all evening.

Hot or cold shower after a workout?

Warm is the sensible default. Very hot water feels good after a hard session, but it leaves skin tight and dry, and it keeps you sweating once you are out.

Cold showers after training are popular. Some people swear by the wake-up. We are not going to tell you they do anything for your muscles, because we would be guessing. Have whichever one you will actually stand in.

What to wash after a workout

Start where the sweat is. Underarms, chest, back, groin and feet do most of the work in a session, so they get most of the attention.

1. Wet everything. A minute of water on its own shifts a lot of the sweat.
2. Hair if it needs it. A rinse is often enough after a light session. Shampoo if you were properly drenched.
3. Body, top to bottom. A small amount of shower gel is plenty. A silicone scrub helps on your shoulders and upper back, the bits most people miss.
4. Rinse longer than you think. Leftover lather is not doing you any favours.
5. Dry properly. Pat, do not drag. Feet and between the toes last, then straight into sliders if the floor is shared.

Then clean kit. Pulling yesterday's t-shirt back on undoes most of the last ten minutes.

How to freshen up after the gym without a shower

Sometimes there is no time, or the gym showers are not somewhere you want to be. You can still do most of the job.

• Get out of damp kit first. That is the single biggest thing.
• Wipe down with a damp flannel or towel, focusing on underarms, chest and back.
• Dry off, put deodorant on and change into clean, dry clothes.
• Wash your hands. You have been touching shared equipment for an hour.
• Shower properly as soon as you get home.

What to pack in your gym bag

Pack it once, keep it packed, and you never have to think about it again.

• A towel, ideally a quick-dry one.
• Sliders for shared showers.
• A wash bag with a travel-size shower gel and deodorant.
• Clean underwear and socks.
• A separate bag for wet kit, so it does not soak everything else.

Size matters here. A full bottle is heavy and gets knocked about. Our 100ml GUYSTUFF Original shower gel is the same Dark Honey and Tobacco formula as the 300ml, sized for a gym bag. If you use a silicone scrub, it dries quickly, so it will not sit damp in the bag.

FAQ

Is it bad not to shower after the gym?

Once is not the end of the world. Making a habit of sitting in sweaty kit is how you end up smelling and uncomfortable. If a rash or irritation will not settle, ask a pharmacist or GP.

Should you wash your hair after every workout?

Not necessarily. A rinse with water is usually enough after a light session. Shampoo when you have been properly sweating.

Do you need to shower if you did not sweat much?

Not straight away. Change out of your kit and shower at your normal time. If you were sweating, shower.

How often should you wash your gym towel?

After every session or two. A damp towel shut in a bag starts to smell fast. Hang it up to dry as soon as you get home.

That is the routine. If your gym bag needs a shower gel that fits, have a look at GUYSTUFF Original.