This post is about the best shower routine to show yourself some love, post-shower skin care, and hair care. Some products mentioned are for dry hair and dry skin.
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Growing up, and even into my early twenties, I was never into skincare and hair care. I did basic hygiene, but not much beyond that.
However, this last year especially, I discovered that a shower routine and taking care of my body in that way can truly help my mental health. It’s become my favorite way to show myself much-needed self-love and can help me reconnect with myself.
I have depression and anxiety, and taking showers and taking the steps in my shower routine has genuinely helped my mental health, especially on my ‘bad’ days.
A shower routine and post-shower routine are a form of self-care and self-love.
It helps you to reconnect with your body, get comforting sensory input, and change your energy. Plus your body just feels good.
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Even on our worst days, we deserve to show ourselves love and respect by taking care of ourselves and our bodies.
Also, I will say that I do not follow this shower routine every single time I shower. I’m human, I sometimes don’t have the time or energy to do a full-blown routine. And that is okay.
I gave the steps and products I use to help spark ideas and inspiration for you to create your routines. Or some days, if you just can’t, or your mental health can only handle so much, pick and choose what you CAN handle.
You are worthy and deserving of self-care and self-love regardless of how that may look for you.
Different Playlists to Listen to while you Shower:
This 22 Greatest Self-Love Songs to Dance Your Heart Out To playlist is perfect for dancing, singing, and shaking your booty in the shower!
The Best Self-Love Country Songs That Every Cowgirl Needs to sing and dance and remember how resilient and amazing you are!
If you’re feeling more low-key, this ‘In My Feels’ Self-Love Playlist is perfect when you need to release, breathe, and heal during a cleansing shower.
Here is the speaker I use and to listen to music while I shower! I love it! It is a GREAT price, has great sound quality, is Bluetooth, and you can choose from so many amazing colors!
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For mindfulness, reconnection, and self-love during this shower routine, try and take your time where you can. It’s easy to rush through things and go into auto-pilot.
However, this is an opportunity to slow down, take some breaths, and ease your anxiety.
Close your eyes, enjoy the water, and slowly massage your scalp when you wash your hair, for example.
Take this opportunity to reset while taking care of your body and showing it some love.
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Shower Routine
1. Wash your hair with Shampoo
Admittedly, I have dry skin and hair, so I get dandruff easily. The only thing I’ve used for the last ten years is Head & Shoulders. Unfortunately, it does not help with the dryness of my hair, but it 100% helps with my dandruff so it is worth it for me.
For mindfulness and connection, take the time to slowly massage your scalp while you lather the shampoo into your hair. Take a deep breath, and enjoy the sensation. Don’t rush through this out of habit.
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2. Condition Your Hair
Put conditioner on the bottom half of your hair, not your scalp. Then, comb the conditioner through the ends of your hair either with a comb or your fingers.
Last but not least, twist your hair onto the top of your head. This will help the conditioner condition your hair for the remainder of your shower while you finish the rest of the steps in this shower routine.
3. Wash Your Face
I’ve been using this Hydro Boost Lightweight Hydrating face wash from Neutrogena. It is a moisturizing face wash, which helps with my dry skin. I’ve been using it for over two years, and it has never irritated my skin. Highly recommend!
Take your time to feel the face wash on your skin. Try out different pressures. Sometimes I like to apply a lot of pressure and feel the sensations. If I’m anxious, that can be overwhelming so I’ll do it softer. Experiment to see what your body needs at that moment. There is no need to rush, you can take a few extra seconds.
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4. Wash Your Body
I recommend using a loofah when washing your body. One is for the sensory input, but it also helps exfoliate your skin.
I also use a natural bar of soap, lather the loofah with it, and then wash my body that way. I use a soap that my cousin makes, but I’ll link this similar one. Find one that you love the scent of, and get yourself excited about using it. Plus, it feels great on your skin.
Again, take your time washing your body. Feel the loofah against your skin, the suds, and the bubbles from the body wash. Take an extra minute to breathe in the scent. Be proud of yourself for taking care of your body and showing it some love.
5. Exfoliate with Sugar Scrub
This step is especially for all of you with dry skin. This helps to get the dead skin off your body, helps absorb skin products better, and improves circulation, among others. My favorite sugar scrub is Tree Hut. They always have great scents, and it feels great on your skin.
Once a week, I will use a body brush to help distribute the sugar scrub on my skin to enhance the exfoliating process. Dry brushing, or using a body brush in the shower, can help with circulation, and lymphatic flow, and relieve stress.
I recommend only using the body brush a maximum of once a week. I found that if I use it too much, my skin can become more sensitive and irritated.
In addition, I recommend getting a sugar scrub with an enjoyable scent. It helps enjoy the experience and just makes you feel good.
Remember, take your time. Enjoy rubbing the sugar scrub into your skin, the sensations of the bristles from the brush on your legs, feet, hands, stomach, back, and arms.
6. *If You’re Shaving* Shave
Shaving after exfoliating your skin helps to have a better shave. I’ve enjoyed using these Billie razors with refills, they also have a few different cute colors to choose from.
For sensitive skin areas, for example, the ‘bikini’ area, I use conditioner to shave. I got that tip from some random Pinterest pin years ago, and I’m glad I did. It helps the skin to be less sensitive and irritated after shaving it. Highly recommend!
For my legs and armpits, I use this shave oil from Tree Hut. I have dry skin, as mentioned, so this helps a ton. It helps my skin be more moisturized after shaving. Otherwise, my skin is more easily irritated, sensitive, and susceptible to nicks and cuts.
7. Rinse Your Hair
Now that you’ve finished the rest of the shower routine, you rinse the conditioner out of your hair.
I’ve found that letting the conditioner stay on the hair as long as possible has made a positive impact on my dry hair. It helps the conditioner absorb into the hair. If I don’t give the conditioner time on my hair, the texture of my hair is dryer and rougher.
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Bonus Step 8: End Your Shower Routine with Cold Water
When my anxiety or depression is triggered, I try to incorporate cold water into my shower routine at some point. I usually do it at the end, but you can choose when.
I’ve found it has had a positive impact on my mental health. It can boost your mood and ease depression. It can also increase circulation, increase metabolism, and boost your immune system.
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Post-Shower Routine
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For Your Face
I do my face skin routine first because I don’t want any products for my body on my face.
First, I put toner on my face and neck using the Mario Badescu Facial Toner. I cannot praise it enough. I apply it using The Original Makeup Eraser. This toner has made a HUGE difference for my dry skin. I used to only do moisturizer on my face, but I found it only did so much. The toner makes my face feel amazing and has helped my face stay moisturized longer. It is the best toner, and was a serious game-changer!
After the toner has absorbed into the skin, apply a moisturizer. Here’s another moisturizer with SPF!
For mindfulness and connection, take your time to apply the moisturizer to your skin. Take some deep breaths even.
If I’m going out and about, I’ll only apply moisturizer. However, if you want extra treatment for your skin, you can apply a face oil. You can rub it in with your hands, or I use a Jade Roller. It helps the oil absorb into my skin and is a great sensory input. I apply a decent amount, so it stays on my skin for a little while, so I only do this if I know I’m staying home.
For Your Body
First, apply lotion to moisturize wherever you’d like. Hempz lotion is my absolute favorite lotion to use! They always smell amazing, and they never leave a weird residue on my skin after using them. I hate when lotions leave a residue, it drives me crazy. You cannot go wrong with Hempz lotion!
Tip: If my skin is irritated or sensitive, I will use Banana Boat Soothing After Sun Gel with Aloe instead of lotion. It helps soothe and moisturize your skin.
Don’t forget to take your time with this, as well. Applying lotion to your body helps with sensory input, shows your body some love, and helps you slow down and take a breath. I recommend incorporating putting lotion into your self-care and self-love routines, regardless of when you choose to do it.
After giving the lotion a few minutes to absorb (I recommend doing the hair routine while you wait, which is listed after this), apply a body oil over where you moisturize with lotion. This will help lock in the moisture and help your skin stay hydrated way longer. This was a genuine game-changer for me.
I loved putting on lotion, but because my skin is so dry I felt it only stayed hydrated for a short period, and I’d have to reapply lotion.
Body oil helped with this immensely! Body oil after lotion is a MUST!
At this point, your skin will be feeling amazing!
There is just something about having skin that smells good and feels amazing that just makes you feel good. This is a great way to show yourself love, that you’re worth the effort, and reconnect with yourself.
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For Your Hair
I’ll usually incorporate these into the face routine or body routine while I’m waiting for stuff to soak into my skin.
As mentioned, I have dry hair. Also, where I’m living right now uses water from a well, so it is heavy water with lots of minerals. Needless to say, that does not help my dry hair whatsoever. So I had to up my hair routine game.
First, apply some keratin oil to your hair and brush it through. I’ve been using the It’s a 10 Miracle Oil PLUS Keratin, and love it! This sincerely made a HUGE impact on my hair. It helps hydrate it and makes my hair feel more luscious and healthy. I love it, and was such an easy thing to add to my routine.
Here’s a Keratin Oil Option that is just the keratin oil.
Sometimes I only apply keratin oil and that’s enough. However, on those days when I need extra hydration, I will apply this hair oil from Bumble & Bumble. I love it, it feels good in my hair, is lightweight, and doesn’t leave a weird residue. Note, it is for dry to very dry hair.
It also doubles as a heat protectant, so I use it as my heat protectant whenever I’m applying heat to my hair.
There you have it, my tried and true shower routine and post-shower routine for mindfulness, connection, and self-love.
You and your body always deserve some much-needed love. How are you going to show yourself love?
What are your favorite products to use in your shower routine? How will you be more mindful during your next shower routine and post-shower routine? I’d love to hear!
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