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AIBU?

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AIBU to shower twice a day

113 replies

Bearpawk · 06/08/2024 19:34

Just chatted to a friend and she was quite astonished that I often shower 2x per day in summer.
She said she only showers every second day at the most since lockdown. Each to their own.
My reasoning:
I exercise in the morning a few days a week and get very sweaty - showering after that is a non negotiable. That's usually when I wash and dry my hair as it gets pretty wet with sweat.
Usually have a bowel movement in the mornings and don't feel clean with just paper (sorry tmi not a poo troll) so tend to shower most mornings regardless of exercise.
I walk to work every day and get a bit of a sweat on up the hill, my office has no ac so even though I wear natural fabrics, by the time I get home I can feel a bit 'clammy'.

I HATE getting in to bed dirty so I'll usually have a quick shower before getting into my pj's and settling down tor the night.
Showers are usually very quick - a rinse with a rub of the pits and bits. and I use natural soaps etc. so not too harsh on my skin.
Am I bonkers ?

OP posts:
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Bearpawk · 09/08/2024 23:30

I don't think she lost her smell, I think she got into a less frequent habit because she wasn't going out much. Then started getting out into the world again and couldn't be arsed with the same level of grooming. She's been having a rough time in her personal life tbh and probably has just been doing the bare minimum.

OP posts:
JoBoJoBo · 08/08/2024 19:03

kittybiscuits · 07/08/2024 07:39

It's minging to shower every other day, especially in this recent hot weather. Why did she change the frequency since covid? Did she lose her sense of smell?

Agree people who do not wash enough cannot smell their own bad body odour.

Mercedes45 · 08/08/2024 15:39

Hucklemuckle · 08/08/2024 10:18

@Mercedes45

Do you wash your bum before you wash your face in your shallow bath?
Because I wash my bum twice a day it's not really too bummy.

But yes, I get in and sort of kneel in the shallow bath. Wash my face then my pits then my bum and vulva then jump out. It's a super fast wash as I have a proper all over clean after my workout

FFS 🤣🤣

GreenIvyy · 08/08/2024 10:32

Fullyflavoured · 06/08/2024 20:05

I shower 15 times a day.

You dirtbag 😏

Hucklemuckle · 08/08/2024 10:18

@Mercedes45

Do you wash your bum before you wash your face in your shallow bath?
Because I wash my bum twice a day it's not really too bummy.

But yes, I get in and sort of kneel in the shallow bath. Wash my face then my pits then my bum and vulva then jump out. It's a super fast wash as I have a proper all over clean after my workout

Mercedes45 · 07/08/2024 21:41

Hucklemuckle · 07/08/2024 01:33

I have a shallow bath (like really shallow in the morning to wash my face bum and pits.

A shower and hair wash after my workout and then in summer if I'm sticky, a quick 2 min shower before bed.

In terms of the environment it's less about how often and more about how long.

People being all judgemental whilst taking a 45 min shower every two days are using far more water

Do you wash your bum before you wash your face in your shallow bath?

IsometimeswonderwhoIam · 07/08/2024 09:56

@Bearpawk we have a handheld bidet sprayer that is fed by the same cold water supply as the toilet. Less than £100 and brilliant!

KimberleyClark · 07/08/2024 09:37

Hucklemuckle · 07/08/2024 01:39

Most people don't wash their hair twice every day it generally doesn't need a double wash when you wash it daily.

And no one I know exfoliates their face and body DAILY???? don't even shave daily. Usually a couple of times a week.

I never exfoliate my face. It’s something I find completely unnecessary. Use a gentle foaming cleanser in the morning and that’s it. And only exfoliate my body in the summer if I’m using gradual tanning lotion.

Bearpawk · 07/08/2024 09:31

I'd absolutely love a bidet. I've seen a 'hack' where you can attach a hose tap thing to the outside of your loo for the same purposes but can't for the life of me find it again.

OP posts:
KnittedCardi · 07/08/2024 09:14

A bidet will solve all. Bloody love a bidet.

DirectionToPerfection · 07/08/2024 08:57

I'm not sure how a regular shower would take 20 mins unless you're spending ages just standing under the water. It should only take a couple of minutes to shampoo and rinse your hair, same for conditioning. While leaving the conditioner on your hair you wash your body, which again only takes a couple of minutes.

I also don't know how it's possible to lather up and rinse in 20 seconds, it would take that long for my shower to get to a normal temperature.

Takes me about 3 or 4 minutes if not washing my hair, and double that if I am.

Startingagainandagain · 07/08/2024 08:43

I usually shower twice a day as well.

I do a lot of sport and also gardening/DIY at the moment and I really need it to get rid of the sweat and mud!

I might shower only once a day if I just have a quiet day at home.

Lilliesandjasmine · 07/08/2024 08:40

What an odd thread. Why would anyone require validation on how often they wash.

LochKatrine · 07/08/2024 08:36

Bearpawk · 07/08/2024 08:30

This has crossed my mind too tbh. I understand that your microbiome is made up on bacteria on the outside of your body too. It's a toss up between being concerned about that, and feeling clammy

Don't worry, even with showering, you're not living in a sterile environment! It'll be fine.

Criteria16 · 07/08/2024 08:33

Not bonkers at all.
I shower once a day in the morning every day, and again in the evening/after exercising probably 5 days out of 7. The second shower is a really quick one, no hair or scrubs.
This is my normal, but I understand there are people who don't exercise as much as I do or prefer strip washing in between rarer showers/baths.

Bearpawk · 07/08/2024 08:30

rubeeeeel · 07/08/2024 07:39

I occasionally shower twice a day but - isn’t showering loads bad for decimating good bacteria?

This has crossed my mind too tbh. I understand that your microbiome is made up on bacteria on the outside of your body too. It's a toss up between being concerned about that, and feeling clammy

OP posts:
Bearpawk · 07/08/2024 08:23

I honestly don't know what I'd do in the shower for 20 minutes! A hair wash and condition takes 5 mins at a guess. But I'll time it today to check as I'm washing my hair this morning - maybe way off 😂
Takes me a while to get dry and moisturise and do teeth so I'm probably in the bathroom for 20 mins but not the actual shower.

OP posts:
Bearpawk · 07/08/2024 08:21

@femfemlicious no I don't have a proper scrub in my quick showers. I'd say about 20 seconds max - get wet, lather up, rinse it off.
Hair washing showers after exercise ( a few days a week are longer obviously). I exfoliate with a Korea Italy cloth about once a week maybe in a hair wash shower. Don't shave much at all as I have IPL so don't get stubbly any more.

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ILikeToChaseCats · 07/08/2024 08:11

Shower every morning. Takes about 20 mins though. Wash and condition hair and soap all over and rinse. Very warm just now and sometimes do get a bit sweaty during the day if gardening or out walking dog. I live alone though so usual don't shower a 2nd time but I have on ocassion if I just feel too sweaty. If I lived with someone I might feel the need to shower a second time before bed. Once in a blue moon I shower every 2nd day and feel pretty gross to be honest.
Used to get away with this more when I was younger but peri menopausal now and overweight so can't get away with it.
Hair is definately dry now (thanks menopause) but feels too dirty to not wash every day.

Try to shower before leaving house but occassionally will wait till after first dog walk. Try to avoid people though.

Don't really understand these super quick showers that everyone seems to be able to manage. I mean I take 20 mins and that is without shaving legs etc cos I live alone and can't be arsed now. Perhaps I am just very slow or very thorough.

merrymelodies · 07/08/2024 08:01

My DD showers for a looooong time. Or so it seems to me. I'm in, wash, rinse and then out.
If your second daily shower is quick, I don't see the problem.

femfemlicious · 07/08/2024 07:57

TheNextStep24 · 06/08/2024 23:04

I couldn't shower twice a day because I simply don't have time to!
When I shower, I wash all my body really thoroughly. I shave my legs and underarms. I exfoliate my body. I wash my face. Then I exfoliate my face. I wash my hair. Twice. Then I put on a deep conditioning hair mask and leave it for 5 mins before rinsing off. My shower lasts about 20 mins. Then I get dried and smother my legs and arms in body moisturiser. Then I use rich hand cream on my hands. Then I exfoliate my feet with an electric foot exfoliating thing. Then I put foot moisturiser all over my feet. Then I put serum on my face. Once that's soaked in, I put face oil on my face. Then I brush my long hair out and put hair serum through it. Then I lightly blow dry my hair.
That's my shower ritual. It takes an hour.
I couldn't possibly do this twice a day.

WOW😳! do you do this ecverytime you shower?. Do you have children,

aSpanielintheworks · 07/08/2024 07:48

Normal shower and hair wash every morning. It serves as a purpose of waking me up - coffee, dog walk, shower!
Quick shower early evening/teatime if the weather has been baking hot or if I've had suncream on in the day.

HenryCavillsPerfectTeeth · 07/08/2024 07:48

Twice a day is normal for my body because I am bigger. I need to have a shower morning and evening to make sure I don't smell especially in hot weather. Occasionally will have one in the afternoon if I've been out and am starting to sweat.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 07/08/2024 07:47

She wasn't astonished, she pretended to be interested.

Crispsandwineandcheese · 07/08/2024 07:47

TheNextStep24 · 06/08/2024 23:04

I couldn't shower twice a day because I simply don't have time to!
When I shower, I wash all my body really thoroughly. I shave my legs and underarms. I exfoliate my body. I wash my face. Then I exfoliate my face. I wash my hair. Twice. Then I put on a deep conditioning hair mask and leave it for 5 mins before rinsing off. My shower lasts about 20 mins. Then I get dried and smother my legs and arms in body moisturiser. Then I use rich hand cream on my hands. Then I exfoliate my feet with an electric foot exfoliating thing. Then I put foot moisturiser all over my feet. Then I put serum on my face. Once that's soaked in, I put face oil on my face. Then I brush my long hair out and put hair serum through it. Then I lightly blow dry my hair.
That's my shower ritual. It takes an hour.
I couldn't possibly do this twice a day.

I presume you don’t have young children?

🤣

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