Showering right: Expert tips for the ultimate shower experience
Beauty expert Nadia Barilli Maag has been working in the beauty industry for 40 years and shares her ultimate shower tips that can be easily integrated into everyday life.
Dear Nadia, do you recommend your clients shower with cold or warm water in the morning?
For a fresh kick in the morning, I recommend showering with cold water. You'll be wide awake immediately and feel energized.
Does showering with cold water have other benefits?
Regular cold showers can have a positive effect on mood and the immune system, and it tightens the skin all over the body. Especially for people prone to swollen feet, I recommend showering their feet with cold water once a day. This stimulates blood circulation and reduces congestion.
In summer, many people seek coolness under a cold shower. Is that a good idea?
In summer, I actually advise against cold showers because cold water makes the body heat up. You know the phenomenon on hot days or after exercise. You sweat and reach for a cold drink. But a cold drink does exactly the opposite: the body starts to sweat even more. So in summer, it's better to drink warm tea or take a lukewarm shower.
How many shower cycles do you recommend per day?
Basically, showering once a day for as short a time as possible is enough to protect the skin's acid mantle. It's best to shower with lukewarm water, because hot water dries out the skin faster. For frequent showerers, Naban Skincare for Men's shower gel is therefore exactly the right choice, as it contains aloe vera, which protects the skin from drying out.
Will you share your secret shower tip with us?
Contrast showering is no longer a secret tip, but it is still very beneficial. It strengthens the immune system, boosts circulation, and makes you fit for the whole day. I recommend contrast showering in the morning or in the evening, two to three times a week. Repeat the contrast shower cycle itself two to three times in a row.
How does contrast showering work?
- Hold your feet under lukewarm water.
- Turn the showerhead to cold and start at your right foot. Then slowly guide the showerhead over your leg towards your thigh. Once you reach the top, guide the showerhead back down to your foot. Repeat the same with your left leg.
- Hold your arms and hands under warm water.
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Then the cold water cycle follows here as well. Start with your right hand and guide the showerhead towards your shoulder and then back down to your hands. Then it's the left side's turn.
Photo credits:
Unsplash: Darren Richardson
Skinjoy, www.skinjoy.ch
