25 Crucial Things You Shouldn’t Do In The Shower

Posted by , Updated on March 24, 2024

The average person spends about 60 hours a year in the shower. With so much time in the shower, it makes sense to do it right. Unfortunately, simple mistakes are made all the time. From how to wash your hair to when to use a facial mask, you won’t believe the things you might be doing wrong. These crucial things are not only important for staying clean but keeping you protected from infection and disease. Ready to have the record set straight? Here are 25 Crucial Things You Shouldn’t Do In The Shower.

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25

Don't shower every day. Scientists say showering too often dehydrates skin, irritates skin, washes away good bacteria, and could increase risk of skin infection.

Shower_headSource: https://www.today.com/health/daily-shower-may-be-bad-your-skin-docs-suggest-soak-2D79325796
24

Don't scrub your scalp with your fingernails as it causes dandruff. Instead, scrub with your fingertips.

shampooSource: https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1bo0p3/lpt_when_washing_hair_scrub_scalp_with_finger/
23

Don't wait too long to shower after a workout. The perspiration on your skin will cause heavy bacteria to grow which can lead to skin rashes and breakouts.

workoutSource: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/shower-after-workout
22

Don't use oily products in the shower. It makes the floor too slippery, and you could slip and fall.

oilSource: http://www.businessinsider.com/things-you-need-to-stop-doing-in-the-shower-2016-10?r=UK&IR=T
21

Don't leave a loofah or sponge in the shower. Make sure to rinse it out and let it dry properly, otherwise it'll be a haven for nasty bacteria to grow.

loofahSource: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/loofah-clean-healthy_n_5613734.html
20

Don't shave your legs in the shower before a pedicure. Bacterial infections have been linked to nail salons, and cutting your skin before going only leaves you more vulnerable.

shaving legsSource: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/nail-care/tips/5-things-you-should-not-do-before-going-to-a-nail-salon3.htm
19

Unless you have very fine hair or an oily scalp, you don't need to wash your hair with shampoo every day.

shampooingSource: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/how-often-wash-hair#2
18

Don't use hot water all the way through a shower. Instead, at the end, turn the water to cold for thirty seconds, back to hot for thirty seconds, and end on cold water. It'll wake you up, make you feel more energized, improve the immune system, and fight stress.

hot showerSource: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/the-shower-secret-that-can-really-wake-you-up-a6812741.html
17

Don't wash your face in the shower. Hot water is bad for your face and can cause damage. Rather, wash your face at the sink with lukewarm to cold water.

face showerSource: http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/10/why-you-shouldnt-wash-your-face-in-the-shower-5673278/
16

Don't use shampoo on semi-dry hair. You need to make sure to thoroughly rinse your hair with water to effectively use shampoo.

head and shouldersSource: http://stylecaster.com/beauty/how-to-wash-your-hair/
15

Don't forget to wash and scrub your feet. The soapy water at your feet won't clean it. You have to massage and rub it in for it to work properly.

foam feetSource: https://content.dollarshaveclub.com/soapy-runoff-enough-keep-feet-clean
14

Don't wrap your wet hair in a towel. Wet hair after a shower is vulnerable and can lead to damaged and frizzy strands if put in a towel right away.

head wrapSource: https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/7-bad-beauty-habits-you-need-break?ami_50=
13

Don't shower too long with hot water. Taking long hot showers might feel great, but it can dry out and damage your skin. Keep it under 10 minutes and use lukewarm water for most of your shower.

hot showerSource: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/myths/hot-showers-bad1.htm
12

Don't dry off your skin by rubbing with a towel. It can cause irritation and patches can spread. Pat drying your skin gently is just as effective and healthier.

towelSource: https://www.wikihow.com/Dry-Yourself-After-a-Shower
11

Don't put conditioner on your scalp or roots. It'll weigh down your hair, especially if its oily. Conditioner should really only be used on the ends.

conditionerSource: https://www.glamour.com/story/common-mistakes-washing-hair-shampoo-conditioner
10

Don't apply facial masks after showering. It's a controversial topic, but dermatologists claim putting a mask on after showers will be too drying. They recommend only putting on hydrating products after showers.

facial maskSource: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/showering-mistakes_n_4670672.html
9

Don't forget to clean or regularly replace your shower head. Many shower heads are health hazards which can spread pulmonary disease such as Legionnaires disease. In fact, researchers recently found that one-third of the showerheads they studied contained bacteria associated with pulminary disease!

shower headSource: https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/how-to-clean-a-shower-head-and-why-you-should/
8

Don't exfoliate your skin every day. Doing so can remove natural oils and lead to long term damage. Dermatologists recommend exfoliating two to three times a week, depending on the skin type.

exfoliationSource: https://www.glamour.com/story/whats-the-deal-with-exfoliatin
7

Stop using bar soap dishes. If you have to use a bar of soap, make sure to get a wire soap dish so it can drain properly. Otherwise, bacteria can grow on the soap.

bar soapSource: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/24/germs-bar-of-soap_n_6349934.html
6

Don't leave your razor in the shower. To ensure it stays clean and doesn't grow bacteria, leave it out to dry on a towel. Also, replace the blade regularly.

niveaSource: https://www.gq.com/story/stop-ruining-your-razor
5

Don't wash your face with body wash or soap. It might seem like a healthy option, but it may be doing more harm than good. Rather, just wash it in the sink with cold water or use a face wash.

swimSource: https://www.bustle.com/articles/168420-7-healthy-shower-habits-to-adopt-asap-because-its-never-too-late-to-ditch-the-bad
4

Don't forget to moisturize right after a shower. Dermatologists recommend trapping in moisture with a moisturizer right after you pat dry your skin.

moisturizingSource: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/basics/moisturize-body1.htm
3

Don't overuse your bath towel. Like most things, your wet bath towel can grow bacteria if it isn't properly dried out. Even if it is, microbiologist Philip Tierno recommends only reusing it three times.

bath towelSource: http://www.businessinsider.com/microbes-bacteria-bathroom-laundry-wash-your-bath-towels-2015-9
2

Don't leave your tub dirty. Tubs rarely dry entirely, allowing it to become pretty gross and full of bacteria like E.coli. Cleaning it on the regular will help prevent infection.

bathtubSource: https://www.bustle.com/articles/154808-7-gross-things-that-happen-when-you-dont-clean-your-shower-or-tub-enough
1

Don't shower in hard water. Hard water not only keeps you from getting clean, it can ruin your hair and dry out your skin. If you can, make sure to have a water softener and keep it full of salt.

hard waterSource: http://www.water-rightgroup.com/blog/showering-hard-water/


Photo: 25. Nicole-Koehler, Shower head, CC BY-SA 3.0, 24. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 23. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 21. via Karolina Mis via flickr. CC BY 2.0,  original source: https://www.cushyspa.com/how-to-do-a-facial-at-home-with-natural-products/, 20. Betsssssy, Mujer afeitando sus piernas, CC BY 2.0, 20. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 19. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 18. MaxPixel.com (Public Domain), 17. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 16. רנדום, Head & Shoulders shampoo bottle, CC BY-SA 3.0, 15. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 14. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 13. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 12. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 11. Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA, Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Strengthening Conditioner, CC BY 2.0, 10. Zenspa1 via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 9. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 8. OttawaAC, Exfoliation tools, CC BY-SA 3.0, 7. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 6. MaxPixel.com (Public Domain), 5. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 4. Aqua Mechanical via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 3. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 2. Jo Naylor via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 1. Hustvedt, Hard water and drop, CC BY-SA 3.0