Were you as shocked (and disgusted) as I was when celebrities proudly vocalized their gross habit of not bathing daily? Yuck! Those entertainers with children even confirmed that they don’t bathe their children daily, either. Double yuck.
At first, I thought it might have something to do with water conservation, but nope. They’re just being repulsive.
Between natural sweat, dirty air, a pandemic, lotions, and sunscreen, it seems to me that bathing daily is essential. There’s just so much crap we should be washing off our bodies either before crawling into bed, which is when I like to shower, or beginning our day.
I see bathing daily as a cleansing ritual—spiritually and mentally. That may be a cultural thing. Most of us with ethnic roots just know that baths and showers are a part of overall self care and a way to destress and self-soothe. That’s how we were raised.
But what about over-showering?
The funky celebrities who don’t bathe daily like to excuse their behavior by saying that over-showering actually damages the skin. They’re not wrong.
Excessive periods of time in hot water is damaging to the skin. I even once had a guest blogger who wrote about winter skincare and advised to avoid hot showers.
However, dermatologists say to bathe or shower in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes. That is my daily bathing ritual, and in that amount of time, I can do all I need to do to cleanse, relax, and readjust my mindset.
So, while you should avoid over-showering, I don’t think it’s necessary to jump to the other extreme by avoiding it all together. I say bathing daily is as important as brushing your teeth, and it’s especially imperative to ritualize it.
How to make bathing daily a cleansing ritual.
One of the reasons I purchased my home is that the former owner upgraded the bathrooms in such a way that they are like mini spas. My daily shower is quite the spa experience. I think that’s the key to transforming daily bathing into a cleansing ritual. You have to create the right atmosphere.
Hardware and Design
Bathtubs, shower heads, and faucets make all the difference. I don’t have bathtubs (but I have an amazing hot tub outside, so that’s okay); I have shower stalls. In my stalls are shower panels so I can vary my water setting and control the cleanse.
Bathing Tools
The right cleansing tools will greatly impact your experience and make bathing daily feel so good. I have the usual natural loofah, but I really love my exfoliating shower towel the most.
Gels and Soaps
There are so many shower gels and soaps out there. Investigate them all to find the right ones for you. If you have sensitive skin, please read the ingredients before purchasing. You may want to opt for something that’s more clean and organic.
I’m fortunate to not suffer from skin sensitivity, and I can favor cleansers that simply smell wonderful. I am a big fan of Bath and Body Works.
Ambiance
The ambiance you create around your daily bathing ritual should be specific to your needs. Here’s what works for me:
- I make it meditative. Normally, I either play meditation, spa, or sound bath music that I find on Spotify or I play my own prerecorded affirmations. I use the ThinkUp app for that.
- I keep the light low. Luckily for me, there is a single, flush mount ceiling light above my shower stall. The rest of the bathroom lights remain off.
- I remain focused. This is my me time. It’s a time to remove the day from flesh. When I run my exfoliating towel over my body, I visualize the removal of negativity as it runs down the drain.
Bathing daily is not a chore.
If bathing daily was not considered a chore, like washing the dishes or vacuuming, I think people would take it more seriously. It should be a cleansing ritual, a part of your self care. Avoid over-showering or over-bathing by limiting your ritual to 10 minutes and not using hot water.
Speaking of chores, scrub your bathrooms regularly. You won’t feel so clean if your bathrooms are dirty. I recommend using vinegar, which is especially effective on hard water stains.