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It’s not so much about morning or night -

The debate of morning vs. night showers holds merit on each side, as morning showers can wake you up and night showers at the right temperature can help you sleep better, but as far as dermatologists are concerned, it’s more about how you shower than anything else.

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Don’t shower too often -

How often you should shower depends on your activity level, but if you’re not active you can cut back to as little as three times a week. Just don’t cut back so much that you smell or risk skin infections.

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Keep it short -

Water exposure can lead to dry skin and hair, as it opens the skin barrier and decreases the skin’s ability to hold on to water. Lauren Ploch, a board-certified dermatologist with the American Academy of Dermatology, recommends five-minute showers for people with very dry skin, reports Today.

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No standing around -

As a way to monitor yourself and how long you’re spending in the shower, you can set a playlist of two to three songs, or, Ploch suggests, “Keep showers active. Don’t stand under water for minutes at a time.”

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No scorching hot temperatures -

The ideal temperature is lukewarm, so that your pores open enough to be cleaned but aren't scraped of their natural oils and moisture. Plus, it'll be good for your energy bill!

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Brush your hair before getting it wet -

If you're going to wet your hair, give it a good brushing beforehand so that it doesn’t get tangled further in the shower, and this way you’ll avoid unnecessary breakage.

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Avoid washing your hair too much -

Since hair is made of dead cells, it doesn’t need as much washing as the rest of our skin. How often you should wash depends on your hair type—if you have drier hair, wash less.

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But don’t neglect the scalp -

Often people will avoid the scalp so as not to dry out the skin, but you should be washing your scalp at least once a week to avoid a buildup of oils, which results in dandruff and redness. Plus, a scalp massage will cause extra blood flow, which can help stimulate hair growth.

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Don’t leave conditioner in for extra time -

It might feel like you’re getting more bang for your buck, but by the time you get to it after shampooing, your hair is swollen and the conditioner can’t further penetrate your hair. Typically conditioner works immediately to smooth and protect the cuticle.

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Avoid the scalp when conditioning -

Opposite to shampooing, you should work conditioner through the length of your hair and try to avoid the scalp since it produces its own natural oil. Not only can it cause the hair to appear flat and limp later, but it can cause an oily buildup on your scalp.

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Avoid traditional soap -

It sounds strange, but traditional soap can strip the good oils from your skin. Even if you feel squeaky clean when you’re leaving the shower, that tightness in your skin is actually a signal that it’s dried out.

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Opt for gentle cleansers and body washes -

Instead of soap, you should opt for gentle, soap-free, fragrance-free cleansers and body washes to limit the use of detergents and glycerin, which can irritate and dry out your skin. Oftentimes these washes will add moisture to your skin as well.

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“Antibacterial” isn’t always good -

Bacteria has a bad rep for obvious reasons, but it’s not always in our best interest to be reducing bacteria all the time. Antibacterial cleansers tend to be more drying for the skin as well.

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Use loofahs with caution -

While they give you a luxurious lather, loofahs can harbor bacteria, mold, yeast, and many other gross things. It goes without saying that you should never share them, and you should allow them to dry completely every day and replace them monthly.

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Try other loofah alternatives -

Trying soaping yourself only with your hands, a sponge, or a cotton washcloth—so long as you don’t leave the damp cloth in the shower.

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Go top to bottom -

This order of washing helps you out by letting the soap work its way down over your body in a non abrasive way.

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The three P’s -

When it comes to washing, Chad Prather, a clinical assistant professor in the dermatology department at Louisiana State University, told The Washington Post that he encourages people to focus on the three P’s: “pits, privates and piggies.” That’s because your armpits, groin and rear area, and feet are the only parts of your body that emit bad odors.

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Wash after conditioner -

Particularly if you are acne prone or have sensitive skin, dermatologists suggest washing your face, chest, and back after washing the conditioner out of your hair so you remove any pore-clogging residue.

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Try not to over-exfoliate -

Exfoliating is beneficial as it removes dead skin cells and promotes new cell growth, but it’s important not to overdo it, especially since your skin performs those functions on its own. Do it just once or twice a week, and remember that shaving counts as exfoliating.

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Don’t scrub breakouts -

If you have body acne, one of the worst things you can do is excessively exfoliate that area—despite how much better you feel about it mentally. Opt for chemical exfoliants (acids like beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid) that come in cleansers.

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Use pumice stones safely -

Pumice stones are a light yet abrasive stone used to remove dry, dead skin, most often used on calluses. If you’re not careful, you can remove too much skin and cause bleeding or increase your risk of infection. The stone should be wet first, and your skin should have softened a little in the shower before rubbing it gently on the heels of your feet, for example—not your face. It should also be cleaned after every use!

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Wash your face at the sink -

Washing your face with warm water opens the pores so that the product can work its magic, but it’s best followed up immediately with a splash of cold water to close the pores and restrict bacteria from entering. This process might be easier over the sink for those avoiding the cold water splash over their whole body.

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Save shaving for last -

If you’re shaving, you want to do it near the end of a short shower so that the hairs are damp and soft but not too swollen from too much heat and steam. The swelling hair often leads to ingrowns when the shaved hairs dry and shrink below the skin surface.

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Close with a blast of cold -

At the end of your shower, crank that temperature lever all the way to cold. The sudden flash of cold water closes your skin and hair pores naturally, protecting it from dirt and sealing in moisture. It also improves your circulation, strengthens your immune system, and it's a surefire way to wake you up!

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Pat dry -

Instead of rubbing at your skin with your towel, which can leave your skin irritated, pat yourself dry with a towel until you're lightly damp. That water left on the skin will be sealed in with your moisturizer.

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Consider getting a bathrobe -

“It’s also important what you use to dry your skin," says Gohara. She likes to use a bathrobe instead of a traditional towel, since it absorbs the water without you having to rub skin to get rid of the excess water.

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Thoroughly dry certain parts -

Without too much rubbing, thoroughly dry areas of the body where there are skin folds, in the groin area, under arms, and between toes to reduce things like rash and infection risk.

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Three-minute window to moisturize -

The prime time for working in those creams is within three minutes of stepping out of the shower as it helps create a barrier to prevent “transepidermal water loss” and keep the skin plump.

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Choose creams over lotions -

Lotions have a higher alcohol content and can be more drying than creams. Dermatologists also recommend choosing fragrance-free creams to seal all that good shower moisture in.

Sources: (Today) (Teen Vogue) (The Washington Post) (Refinery29) (Well+Good) 

See also: Cold showers: Should we believe the hype?

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