How often, and how hot
Once a day is the standard, and it is enough for nearly everyone. Showering twice a day with a hard scrub each time does not make you cleaner. It removes the oils that keep skin comfortable and leaves you dry, itchy and flaking by February. If you train in the morning and want a second shower at night, make one of them a quick rinse with soap on the essentials only. Keep the water at a temperature you could step into without flinching. A bathroom mirror fogged solid is a sign the water is too hot.
The order of operations
- Wet your hair and shampoo the scalp first, working with your fingertips and not your nails, then let the suds rinse down your body.
- Condition the lengths of your hair if you use conditioner, and leave it in while you wash.
- Wash your face with your facial cleanser, not the body soap.
- Soap the underarms, the groin, the backside and the feet thoroughly, including between the toes.
- Give the rest of the body a quick pass, then rinse from the top down so that no conditioner residue is left on your back.
Working from the top down is not fussiness. Conditioner left on the shoulders and back is a common cause of breakouts there.
What to wash with
A mild, fragrance-free body wash or a plain bar is all you need. Antibacterial soap offers no benefit for ordinary use. Your hands do a perfectly good job; if you prefer a washcloth, use a fresh one every day or two, because a damp cloth hanging in a warm shower grows exactly what you are trying to wash off. A loofah or mesh sponge is worse on that count and should be replaced every few weeks. Most men do not need to shampoo daily. Every second or third day suits most hair, and daily is reasonable only if your scalp is oily or you sweat heavily.
The two minutes afterward
Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing, and dry between the toes properly, since trapped moisture there is how athlete's foot begins. Apply a fragrance-free body lotion to arms, legs and anywhere prone to dryness while the skin is still faintly damp. Put on antiperspirant once the underarms are fully dry.
Tip Hang your towel spread out on a bar, not bunched on a hook, and wash it after three or four uses. A towel that smells musty is putting that smell back on you.
