The pandemic’s prolonged isolation period has upset many of us. One thing that we might have been neglecting that can help uplift us is our grooming routines. Grooming is good for both our physical and mental well-being. It is tied to proper hygiene, which helps us to keep harmful germs away from our bodies. Having grooming as part of our routine – and having a routine in general – is beneficial to our mental health. Routine helps ground us by giving us some certainty during these uncertain times.
Hair
Sweating makes your hair grow faster. When our bodies release sweat, our hair follicles are unclogged, allowing more room for hair growth. If you’ve ever noticed that your hair grows faster during the summer, this is why. Of course, this isn’t to say that you should quit exercising or doing activities that make you sweat – sweating is one way our bodies flush out toxins. This is just to let you know that you should expect your hair to grow faster if you sweat frequently.
If you want to do a good job with your haircut, you must use the right kind of scissors. Using kitchen shears is cute in a domestic sort of way, but they might not give you the cut you’re looking for. Before you attempt to follow YouTube tutorials for home haircuts, look for professional-grade scissors used by barbers.
Body hair is your choice. If you decide to retain body hair in certain areas, just ensure that you clean those areas and the hair regularly. Use reusable razors instead of plastic disposable ones. How often you should change the blades depends on how frequently you shave. Your best bet is to change it every 5-10 shaves.
Nails
Keeping short nails is ideal not just for hygiene but also for typing, texting, cooking, and playing the piano. However, if you prefer to keep your nails long, make sure to clean underneath them whenever you wash your hands.
However, the only thing that will make your home mani-pedis less therapeutic is you not regularly sanitizing your tools. Disinfect nail clippers, pushers, and metal files with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Emery boards aren’t meant for sharing as their paper composition means that sanitizing them with water or alcohol may damage them.
Skin
Male or female, everyone should exfoliate. It’s an important part of your skincare routine that keeps acne and clogged pores at bay and reveals smoother, baby-soft skin underneath. There are two kinds of exfoliation: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation involves the use of loofahs or scrubs to remove the physical layer of dead skin. Chemical exfoliation uses products such as AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) to break down bonds in the skin that cause acne and give the appearance of aging.
The thought of sloughing off dead skin cells can be exciting, but remember to exfoliate in moderation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Exfoliate only once or twice a week, and don’t do physical and chemical exfoliating on the same day. Exfoliating is also best done as part of your night routine because it makes our skin more vulnerable to environmental stressors and UV rays. You should always wear sunscreen during the day, but it’s essential to protect your face the morning after you’ve exfoliated.
Maskne or mask acne is a reality in our COVID-era world. It’s caused by clogged pores and germs which accumulate around our nose and mouth due to mask-wearing. It may also result from pre-existing skin conditions such as rosacea and folliculitis that were aggravated by mask-wearing. Treat mask acne the same way you would treat general acne. Don’t prick or touch the breakouts and wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer to minimize pore blockage.
It doesn’t matter how good your skincare routine is – if your skin still comes into contact with dirty things, breakouts might still be unavoidable. If you’re into yoga or pilates, make sure to clean and disinfect your exercise mat. The packaging or brand’s website should have instructions listed. You can also use yoga mat disinfectant sprays or make a home remedy using a mix of mild soap and water.
Prolonged isolation and social distancing might be a good excuse to lay off on some of your more high-maintenance grooming routines. But it’s best to maintain a moderate grooming routine to help lift the spirits during these uncertain times. Grooming is also tied to hygiene, which helps us to avoid contracting viruses.
