Soap : How to give you the perfect shower
To begin with, doing it every day, something that is not always advisable; to continue, spending much more water than necessary. This is the bestShea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shea Butter Soap, 8 Ounce (Pack of 2)
Most of us shower daily, putting the autopilot and without thinking how we are cleaning our body. And of course we do not consider that we can be doing it wrong. How can one shower badly? To begin with, doing it every day, something that is not always advisable; to continue, spending much more water than necessary.
In a complete article in The Week, the anthropologist Leslie Turnbull has seen fit to collect all the known tips to improve our ablutions.
These are the 10 steps you must follow to experience the perfect shower:
1. Decide how much you have to shower
It seems that not every day is a dirty shower, but there is nothing true in this statement. The daily shower is a good habit if we live in a particularly warm and humid area, do sports every day or perform physical work. But there is no reason to shower every winter day if we work in an office and do not give up a drop of sweat.
Water and bath gels cause damage to our skin and scalp, drying them and preventing the generation of naturally secreted substances to protect us from infections. It is good to shower every other day, but a higher frequency is unnecessary.
2. Regulates the temperature
Especially in winter it is very tempting to shower with hot water, but it is not a good idea for our body. Too hot water removes the natural fat from our skin, leaving it dry and vulnerable. The ideal is to shower with warm water. And how warm is it? Between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius. This will also allow you to save energy, so it's good for you and your pocket.
3. Wash your face
The shower is the perfect place to wash your face, especially if you use some kind of special cleaner. The warm water will open your pores and facilitate cleaning. Yes, apply your cleanser with dry hands before going in the shower. Once inside, let the product act a minute or two before clarifying.
4. Start from top to bottom
According to Turnbull, it is best to start by washing our heads and cleaning the rest of our body parts from top to bottom. Now, it is not necessary (or convenient) to wash your hair daily. Ideally, unless for any reason you have dirtied especially, is to wash it every three days.
Be careful when applying your shampoo. There is no need to rub your hair too much, because if it is delicate you can damage it. Use the fingertips, not the nails, to apply the shampoo, massaging the scalp to promote circulation. Then, clarify gently. Do not forget to take advantage of the shampoo to wash your ears too.
5. Soaps your body
Once you have finished with your head it is time to clean the rest of your body with the help of a sponge. Turnbull recommends using Salux, a type of elongated sponge well known in Japan, but the process is the same with any tool.
Rub your entire body with a soapy sponge (there's no reason to put a ton of gel), from neck to ankles, through all areas, except your genitals. After this, clarify.
6. Wash your private parts
The external genitalia, both of men and women, must also be cleaned, but we must be more careful. The ideal, says Turnbull, is that we wash our private parts by hand and, believe it or not, unless you have sweated a lot, it is better to avoid soap. Why? Urologists and gynecologists warn that it can be dangerous for soap to penetrate the inside of the urethra or vagina, so it is best to avoid it as much as possible.
7. Shave
The shower is a perfect place to shave or shave. If you do it almost at the end of your shower the hair will be wet and your pores will be open, and the process will be easier and more hurried. Remember to dry your blade after each use. And consider installing a mirror in the shower, so that your shaving is easier and, above all, safer.
8. If you want to urinate, do it
A lot of people are disgusted, others find it a great idea that can not be missed in a good shower. What do doctors say about this? The truth is that there is no hygienic reason not to piss in the shower. The urine is eliminated as well as in the toilet and much less water is spent. Also, unless you have an infection, the urine is sterile. And, put to get fussy, your toilet is usually much dirtier and tends to have many more bacteria.
9. The feet
Since we go up and down do not forget to wash your feet (especially if you have pissed). Many people believe that the soapy water that passes through the shower tray is enough to clean them, but it is not true. The feet require a rub like the rest of your body, to remove all dirt, bacteria and dead skin.
10. The final touch
Once you have finished, do not forget to rinse your sponge, drain it and leave it to dry. Otherwise it will accumulate dirt and bacteria. Use a towel to dry, but do not rub excessively: treat your skin gently. If you have dry skin this is the time to give yourself a body lotion or a cream, because the pores are still open and there is no longer dead skin.