Elements of Style — Do Guys Need to Shower Every Day?
Despite the social and cultural norms of thinking you do need to shower every day, there are no medical or health reasons supporting the idea. Over-bathing can strip natural oils from your skin, nails and hair and can often lead to skin damage. Plus, your skin’s bacteria are beneficial to your overall health. Of course, there are some factors that change this.
If you have a job that requires physical labor, live in super, hot and humid weather, or exercise frequently – yes, this includes golfing or anything that makes you sweat more than normal daily operations – don’t skip the shower.
Most guys shouldn’t shampoo their hair every day. Excessive shampooing strips your hair of good oils that help with shine and volume. Over-washing can cause your scalp to overproduce these oils resulting an greasy mane, or under produce oil causing dry skin (this might be why you think you have dandruff). Try washing three or four times a week with a quality shampoo instead. Cutting back might feel weird at first, but after a few weeks your hair will never be the same.
A time-saving trick when skipping the shower is to use a dry shampoo. It’s basically a long, hot shower for your hair, done in just 30 seconds – without the towel drying and hair styling. The powdered or spray-on product goes on white but disappears completely as it absorbs the grease and oil in your hair, leaving you with clean, fresh looking (and feeling) strands.
Cleansing your face every day is still extremely important and highly recommended. Just like cleaning your clubs, your skin needs a little TLC. When you sweat, bodily impurities are moved to the surface of your skin and your pores can get clogged. Remove this build up with a gentle face wash. Follow up your daily face cleanse with a lightweight moisturizer that includes SPF.
It’s still important to cleanse and deodorize every day, even if you’re skipping the shower (at least show some love to your chest, armpits and groin area). Boardroom recommends Jack Black’s All-Over-Wipes; perfect for a full-body refresher when showering isn’t an option. Keep ‘em handy to freshen up on your way to happy hour, dinner or a date, or before leaving the course. These extra thick cloths are formulated for face and body, and large enough to get you fresh from head-to-toe in a single use.
If you’re that sweaty, smelly guy (no shame here) who might be pushing it by not incorporating a full shower into your routine every day, then don’t skip. Just be sure to steer clear from harsh soaps or exfoliators (including loofas), as everyday use of these can overly dry your skin and cause an uncomfortable itch. Also, make sure to moisturize. Soap and water tend to strip our skin of natural moisturizers, so daily showering can heighten already dry and/or sensitive skin.
Think, “quality over quantity.” Invest in quality grooming products with lasting results; your hair and skin will thank you. Nonetheless, a hot shower is a sure confidence booster, so be your own judge and figure out the grooming routine that works best for you and your lifestyle.