Cold showers should have a place in your daily routine. Period. Although our bodies naturally crave a hot shower in the morning, you should swap out a nice steamy shower experience with the one you dread to take when you’re the last person to get up in the morning. Why on earth would you do that, you ask? Dialling down the heat for as little as 30 seconds to 2 minutes, whilst the water is still on full blast, will give your body so many benefits – a cold rinse calms any stresses the body may have experienced from constant hot water, especially the scalp, which is why many professional hair experts wash hair with cool water, plus it gives a natural sheen to hair.
Super hot water showers should really be kept at bay anyway, as they irritate and dry out our skin. If you suffer from winter dryness, taking a cold shower will help give you softer skin as a rush of cold water will close pores, giving a smoother, tighter appearance.
Taking ice cold showers will invigorate your body. Changes in your breathing will help to regulate heart rate, increasing the metabolism and working to maintain a stable temperature, which in turn, burns more calories. Cold showers also boost your mood, activating the body’s sympathetic nervous system which increases neurotransmitters such as endorphins and norepinephrine which give you that feel-good mood, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
Cold showers might not be a good idea if you’re already cold, since the cooler temperature isn’t going to help warm you up, but overall, what’s so great about taking cold showers is the fact that, unlike hot water, it’s great for the skin and doesn’t dry out the sebum layer, a naturally lubricated barrier that provides protection for your skin and hair. Ran out of your favourite glycolic toner? Just splash on some ice cold water!
