Gaby
Most people take a shower at least once a day without giving much thought to the order of this hygiene routine. However, it turns out that many of us are getting it wrong.
Researchers from the American company Original Source, which develops natural cleansing products, have outlined the correct order for body care. According to the experts, this is important because 86 percent of people mix it up.
This confusion primarily arises because few people read the information on the packaging of their shower gel. Meanwhile, it clearly states that you should wash your hair first. After that, you should apply conditioner, which, of course, needs to be rinsed out.
Only after you finish with your hair can you move on to washing your body.
Why do researchers consider this detail significant?
By following this sequence, you remove all the residue from the conditioner in your hair before applying shower gel to your body. “Otherwise, there’s a risk of skin irritation caused by the buildup of various products,” the experts warn.
In a recent study, they surveyed 2,000 Britons about their showering habits. The results showed that 44 percent of respondents apply shower gel before shampoo and conditioner. Seven percent apply shower gel first, then conditioner, and then shampoo. Eight percent start with conditioner, then use shampoo, and finally shower gel. Meanwhile, five percent choose conditioner first, then shower gel, and then shampoo. Ultimately, 22 percent begin their shower with shampoo, followed by shower gel and conditioner.
Those who follow the correct order make up only 14 percent of the survey participants.
Alice Plimmer, the lead author of the study, noted, “Showering is much more than just a desire to get clean. If you want to start your morning off right, it’s crucial to turn your shower into a full-fledged rejuvenation process, free from any distractions.”
What about the duration of showering?
This survey was conducted shortly after researchers from the University of Surrey published a study on the average duration of showers taken by Britons.
The participants were unwittingly made up of university students, as reported by the Daily Mail. Over 39 weeks, researchers secretly monitored water usage in 290 campus shower stalls using special sensors. The results showed that the average duration of water usage was 6.7 minutes, with 50 percent of students falling within the range of 3.3 to 8.8 minutes.
However, the researchers believe that the overall duration among the general population in the UK is likely longer. They suggest that students shower faster than many others. According to preliminary data from the research team, the average duration of water usage in the shower is 10.8 minutes.
