How the last 30 seconds of your shower can transform your hair, skin and mindset

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How the last 30 seconds of your shower can transform your hair, skin and mindset

This might be a hard pill to swallow, particularly as we enter the depths of winter, but adding a 30 second cold shot to the end of your shower boasts amazing beauty benefits.

And it just so happens that the cooler months is when your skin and hair will reap the rewards the most. 

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For those of us without central heating, we understand that a scalding hot shower might be the only 5-10 minutes a day where you can totally defrost. 

But unlike super hot water which can irritate our skin, cold water will soften the flakey, dryness brought on by winter; leaving your skin looking tighter and smoother, as well as reducing puffiness and breakouts. 

And if that’s not enough to get your hand on the cold nozzle, wait a minute, because we haven’t even gotten to the benefits for your hair yet. 

Cold showers will flatten the hair follicles and in turn, increase their ability to grip onto the scalp. 

This leads to shinier, stronger and healthier hair, and can be achieved simply by switching your shower to cold for the last 30 seconds before hopping out. 

While 30 seconds in the middle of winter, under a freezing cold shower may feel like a lifetime, it’s about as long as it takes for all of the water to properly reach every part of your body. And before you say you’ll catch a cold, it’s actually also an effective way to boost your immunity and prevent illness as the result of boosted circulation. Perfect for flu season.

For those of us not game to jump into the ocean 12 months a year, this may be the next best thing. The rush of cold water is perfect for those who need help waking up in the morning, and cooling your core body temperature at night can actually help you fall asleep easier.  

It’s also been proven to boost your mood, and even promote weight loss, as your body burns calories working harder to stabilise your core temperature. 

Give it a try, you may even become addicted. Here’s how it’s done..

At the end of your shower, for 30 seconds, switch the water temperature to cold. Limb by limb (if easier) slowly centre yourself under the stream of cool water until you’ve saturated your hair, underarms and back. Try to distract yourself by focussing on your breathing and before you know it, the 30 seconds is up. 

Main image credit: @olivecooke

Have you ever tried finishing your shower with a cold blast?



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Comments 89

  1. I read many years ago that this is good for the hair after washing, and I have always finished off my hair wash with a cold rinse. As for the rest of my body- no way!!

  2. I actually do this, when I think of it at least. You feel revitalised and while the shock is a bit difficult to take, the blood starts flowing so quickly and before you know it your body has adjusted and you actually get out the shower feeling warmer along with the other mentioned benefits.

  3. I have tried this but.. in summer haha I cannot stand being cold. My winter hot steamy showers are like spa days for me. I cannot do that haha I’ll just find other ways to support my health.

  4. I have heard this for years from everyone from beauty professionals, pharmacists to hair dressers and I can’t stand it! I am forever cold and I have super hot showers to warm up my bones. Doing the 30 second cold blast at the end always makes me freezing cold and then I can’t warm up again. Didn’t see enough benefits to keep doing this long term.

  5. No way, way too cold here for me to try that – part of the point of a shower is to warm up. I use shower oil at the end of my shower and since using it have neverhad any flaky or dry skin.

  6. It’s meant to be really good for cellulite. I need to try this but I can never do it for the full 30 seconds. Now it’s summer, I might try it out again. I guess it is the same concept of using a plunge pool.