Bec Oakes
It's an age-old debate: Is it better to shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night?
Some may argue that a morning rinse is the perfect way to freshen you up ready for the day ahead, while others feel they have to shower before bed to avoid taking the day's dirt and grime onto their sheets.
Regardless, we're all adamant that our way is the right way.
Now, experts have weighed in on which is actually the best time to have a shower and one definitely reigns supreme.
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Firstly, dermatologists recommend spending about 5 to 10 minutes a day in the shower. They say while the time you take to shower comes down to personal preference, there are a number of health and beauty benefits to showering at night instead of in the morning.
To start, an evening shower can help you get a better night's sleep. In fact, scientists have found that showering before you go to bed can help you fall asleep 10 minutes quicker.
Experts recommend showering using warm water about 90 minutes before bed. The warm water will slightly lower your body's core temperature and send a signal to your body telling it that it's time to go to sleep.
And, if your muscles feel sore after a long day at work, taking a warm shower can help relieve the pain. The warm water helps soothe muscle tension, preventing leg cramp and promoting a better night’s sleep.
It's also better for both your skin and hair.
If you wash your hair in the evening, you will have more time to let it naturally air dry, which helps lock in moisture, keeping it shiny and healthy for longer.
And, during the day, you body and hair collects bacteria and irritants which can cause a whole load of skin problems like acne.
If you go to bed without showering, all these impurities get transferred to you pillowcase and then your skin.
Because our skin regenerates whilst we sleep, going to bed with freshly washed skin means the new skin cells will be healthy rather than clogged up.
Plus, if you suffer from seasonal allergies like hayfever, taking a nightly shower stops as many allergens from ending up on your bedding, potentially easing the symptoms.
It can even help you smell better. While you may think a morning shower is the best way to freshen up before you face the day, taking a cool shower at night can actually prevent body odour, reducing night sweats that leave you feeling gross when you wake up.
So, morning bathers, maybe it's time to shake up your shower routine?