7 Beauty Mistakes Your Making In The Shower

1. Shampoo first, conditioner second. Every. Single. Time If bathroom etiquette exists, this is probably rule number one. But if you want the kind of hair that is so bouncy you practically defy gravity, it’s time to mix it up. Not only is it a good idea to condition before using shampoo, I encourage you to deep condition (aka put conditioner on your dry hair and leave it there for 5-10 minutes) before you even step foot in the shower. For especially dry tips, this is the best way to get in that extra bit of moisture. Leave the shampoo for later.

2. Not using it to get the perfect manicure Some of us just aren’t artistically inclined. When I try to give myself a manicure (big emphasis on try), I end up looking like I wanted to give my entire hand a pink ombre. But that doesn’t stop me. Art is subjective, OK? I like to plan my DIY mani so that I can let it dry and then hop right in the shower and use a soothing scrub on my hands (like Bath & Body Works 60-Second Manicure Scrub) to get them soft and manicure-ready, and remove all the excess nail polish from my horrible paint job. By the time you’re done shampooing, you’ll basically be a

hand model. Or something. 3. Shaving too soon Even if you’re in a hurry—like getting ready for a date last minute or rushing out the door for work—shaving your body the second you step in the shower just isn’t a good idea. Your skin needs a little prep in order to avoid the terrors of razor burn or ingrown hairs. Your best bet is to firstly, wait until the end of your shower to start shaving. The hot water and steam soften your hair, making it less likely to tug and cause irritation. Then, use an exfoliator—even your daily face scrub will do—in order to get rid of dead skin, so you can

enjoy a smoother shave. 4. Using a loofah. Period. I’ll be upfront about it: loofahs aren’t really hygienic. I’m sorry if you have an emotional attachment to yours, but it’s time to find a new bath-time security blanket! Basically all the bacteria and dead skin you scrub off of your body just gets trapped in the loofah, and every time you use it you’re actually just spreading that gunk all over yourself again. It’s a vicious, vicious cycle and by tossing it—you really aren’t losing much.

5. Making the water as hot as possible Sure, in the winter, nothing is nicer than a hot shower after enduring a polar vortex or two. But there are some very real benefits of giving a cold shower a try. Medical Daily claims it can help with everything including circulation, muscle soreness, immunity, and even depression. The benefit I can speak of? Adding 5 minutes of cold water to then end of my shower made my hair and skin noticeably softer. If not for all those awesome health benefits, at least do it for the shiny hair!

6. Not taking your make up off beforehand If you get in the shower with a full face of make up, TERRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN. OK, not terrible, but not ideal. A lot of cleansers aren’t intended for make up removal, so even after washing your face you might still go to bed with residue, meaning you might up your chances of getting blemishes. Save yourself from a serious skin faux pas by removing that cat eye before you suds, or invest in a face wash with make up remover built in!

7. You’re using too much product If you go through body soap way faster than you should, you’re probably using way too much at a time. The more body wash you lather up, the more natural oil is extracted from your skin. So basically, the more harsh soap you’re using on your skin, the dryer it will be! And nobody wants skin that’s in a draught. Stick to bar soaps that contain moisturizing ingredients like aloe and shea butter, to keep rough skin at bay, while still keeping you clean!