Basic Hygiene

Let's be real. Hygiene is so important for so many different reasons. Looking good, staying clean all day, feeling fresh, and just staying healthy. There are so many ways we could go in depth with this simple word, but lets start at the basics.

Number one: soap and water will never do you dirty, literally. There are so many different kinds of soap out there, so choosing the one that works best for you is a tough choice. Personally, I use a plain, unscented bar of soap, as I have more sensitive skin, but if your skin does not react to scented items, then go for that lavender, or coconut soap, that will keep you smelling fresh and summery. Liquid soaps tend to have a stronger, or more lasting scent than bar soaps, while the latter might have a subtler, essential oil fragrance. And don't forget to put deodorant on day and night girls! Your perfume isn't going to keep the sweat and smell away... trust me. Something you should never forget, is always double cleanse in the shower. You may get that layer of dirt off with one go, but to feel fresher, and to stay clean all day, you should definitely scrub twice. This has many benefits. Your first cleanse may get off all your sunscreen, (which you should be wearing daily) sweat, and dirt, but the second cleanse will unclog pores, remove odor causing bacteria, and help exfoliate. Side note, you should be using a shower scrunchy, and NOT a wash cloth. A wash cloth will not get all of the dirt and odor out of your skin. Trust me, and go buy a shower scrunchy, it will be worth your money. Also, make sure you double cleanse your face at night as well. This has the same principle. That makeup wipe, or micellar water might get your visible makeup off, but a foaming face soap or acne cleanser will do so much more afterwards. Again, figure out what works best for you, not what may be popular. Do your research! Hopefully I will be diving deeper into this topic in the future.

Okay girls, SHAVING. Yes, lets just get it over with and talk about everything you need to know about this touchy subject. Firstly, you need to switch out your shaver about every two to three weeks, and for,*coughs* down there you need to switch it out every one to two weeks. Yes, you should have two different shavers, and yes, shaving down there has many benefits. Yes, many people are against doing so, and no, you should not listen to them. When shaving, you should first go in the direction of the hairs (this would be down), and then go against the direction your hairs are growing (up). When shaving down there make sure to go down, side to side, and then (if your an overachiever), up. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ladies, use shaving cream or gel, soap, coconut oil, or SOMETHING. Do not shave only with water unless you absolutely have to, and even then I advise against it. Another thing, you should exfoliate in some way before you shave. You can use a sugar and honey scrub, a scrub from the store, or a exfoliating glove, but you need to do so before shaving to give your razor a smooth surface, and  at least twice a week, or every other day. If you do decide to use an exfoliating glove I recommend the CheekyGlo exfoliating mitt, as it is higher quality, and won't damage your skin.

Alright, we need to discuss hair. Now I'm not going to go on about any fancy hair oils or leave in conditioners. I wanna talk about what it really takes to have healthy and clean hair. You firstly should figure out whether you have oily hair, dry and/or frizzy hair, or regular hair. Once you have determined this, you can decide on your shampoo. For dry hair you should definitely get a moisturizing shampoo. Something with argan oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid will do great. Here are some names and links to shampoos for dry hair: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo, Redken All Soft Shampoo, and Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. For oily hair, its a little less straight forward, but here are some options to get you started: Biolage Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo, L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure, and Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Shampoo. A couple other tips for oily hair; avoid heavy conditioners, use volumizing dry shampoo between washes to ensure freshness. and double cleanse after a clarifying shampoo with something lighter. Tips for all hair types include washing your hair with lukewarm to cold water. Hot water can strip your hair of natural oils (yes, keep those in there even with oily hair), while a cooler temperature will lock in moisture and close pores. This will help your scalp maintain its natural pH.  I recommend washing and rinsing shampoo with lukewarm water, and then finishing by rinsing out your conditioner with cold water. You should go easy on your hair when its wet. For air drying, your best options, after getting excess water out of your hair with a towel, are to put your hair in braids or a claw clip (for medium to long hair). If you wash your hair at night, going to sleep with braids, a loose bun, or heatless curls are your best options. Never go to sleep with your hair soaking wet. If you can, avoid using a hair dryer too often, as that can lead to damage. Same with other heat options, like a flat iron or curler. If you want to, you can use a hair dryer for your roots only, to dry your hair faster and keep your clean hair fresh for longer. When your hair is wet, refrain from using a brush, as doing so can lead to damage.

            Hygiene is so important for many different reasons. It’s not all about looking good. It’s about feeling your best, and honoring your body, which as it says in the Bible: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV. Take good care of yourself, God designed you perfect, and beautiful, and He wants you to love who He made you to be.

That's all for today fam, but don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, and check out our other blog posts! Love God, love yourself, be kind, and never forget, you are never alone. Love you guys! :)