The Right Way To Take A Shower, According To Science

It is an age-old debate to find out the right time to shower. Some people prefer to shower in the morning to wake up and get ready for the day. A study by Sleep Medicine Reviews (posted at Science Direct) also shows that taking a warm bath or shower before bedtime can help improve your sleep.

It is more important to focus on how you shower rather than when you shower, according to Mona Gohara M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, who told The Washington Post, "You could be showering in the morning, or you could be showering at night and using crappy products and ruining your skin." Many people believe that it is important to shower daily, but according to Healthline, it is okay to shower a few times a week in the winter because the air is dry and you don't sweat as much. Showering daily might be too drying for people with skin conditions like eczema. 

What about your hair? It seems that it is also better for your hair if you wash it with warm water, but rinse off with cold. Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-founder of Warren-Tricomi Salons, told Teen Vogue, "Cold water seals the cuticle, promoting shiny hair." You can always rinse your hair with the coldest water in the sink or with a detachable shower hose, so your body doesn't have to suffer. Plus, might not need to wash your hair as often as the rest of your body, because hair is made up of dead skin cells (via NBC News).

Many of us love the idea of a long, hot shower or bath with aromatherapy candles, but it might be doing your skin more harm than good. An important shower tip shared by LA-based dermatologist Ivy Lee is to shower for only about 10 minutes using lukewarm or room temperature water, if not colder, because it is less drying on your skin (via The Washington Post).

You should wash your face in the shower with a gentle exfoliating cleanser 2-3 times a week and a regular gentle cleanser the rest of the week. Well + Good loves the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract and Olay Gentle Cleanse Foaming Cleanser for your face. You can use a loofah, washcloth, or your bare hands to apply soap or body wash to shower, per Healthline. They recommend washing your entire body from neck to your feet and the area between your toes. Oprah Daily recommends dermatologist-approved CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash.

It is more eco-friendly to use a washcloth. A loofah should be replaced every month, as they are a breeding ground for bacteria (via Women's Health). It is essential to moisturize right after you shower. Elizabeth Tanzi M.D., co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, told Teen Vogue, "Apply lotion right away, even when you're still damp." She added it helps lock the water into the skin, and recommends using a thick moisturizer like Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream.