Buzz
Imagine catching a whiff of your underarms and realizing it's time for a shower. You might worry that your armpit hair is causing extra stink, but that's not necessarily true. In reality, having armpit hair can help combat odors by preventing sweat from reaching your skin, as body odor results from bacteria breaking down sweat. Thankfully, keeping your armpit hair clean is quite simple.
Steps to Follow
Using Soap and Water for Cleansing
Start by wetting your underarms with warm water. Ensuring your skin and armpit hair are moist makes it easier for the soap to lather. If you're showering, stand under running water. If you're bathing, splash water under your armpits.
- Opt for warm water to avoid drying out your skin.
Use a gentle soap or cleanser on your underarms. You can apply your regular soap or body wash to clean your armpit hair. Rub the soap into your armpit hair if using a bar, or apply a dollop of liquid cleanser onto your hand, washcloth, or loofah and then use it on your armpits.
- If you're dealing with strong body odor, consider using an antibacterial soap. However, limit its use to your underarms to avoid drying out your skin.
- In a pinch, shampoo can work as an alternative to soap for washing your armpit hair as it can cleanse the skin as well. But remember, body soap is more effective at cleaning your skin than shampoo.
Massage the soap into your armpit hair using your fingers or a tool. Gently massaging the soap helps remove sweat and deodorant buildup, leaving you feeling fresh. Use your fingers, a washcloth, or a loofah to massage your armpit hair for a few seconds.
- Some products may lather, creating suds, but not all do. Don't worry if your cleanser doesn't foam.
Rinse off the soap with warm water. Position your armpit under the shower stream to rinse if you're showering. For baths, splash water under your arms until the soap is gone. You can use your fingers to help rinse the soap out of your hair while rinsing.
- If you're unsure if your armpits are clean, give them a sniff to check for any lingering odor. You can wash them again if needed to tackle stubborn body odor.
Dry your underarms thoroughly post-shower. It's important to ensure your armpits are completely dry after bathing to prevent water from getting trapped in your armpit hair, which can lead to skin irritation. Use a clean towel to pat dry, focusing on the underarm area to ensure it's dry.
- If your armpit hair feels damp after towel drying, give it a few minutes to air dry. The drying time depends on hair thickness and texture but should take only a few minutes.
Maintaining Clean Armpits
Take a shower once daily. Showering at any time of the day is fine, based on your convenience. You can shower before bedtime for relaxation or in the morning for an energy boost. Ensure to use soap on areas prone to odor like armpits, groin, and feet.
- You don't necessarily need to use soap on your entire body unless you prefer to do so. Focus on soaping sweaty and moist areas such as armpits, groin, and feet. Overusing soap on these areas can lead to dry skin, so it's best to limit its usage.
If you have body odor or sweat excessively, wash your armpits twice daily. While once-daily washing is usually sufficient, you can wash twice if needed, especially after intense workouts. Consider using cleansing wipes for convenience or opt for a quick shower.
- Showering frequently can dry out your skin. If showering more than once daily, focus on soaping up targeted areas like armpits, groin, and feet in the extra shower.
Change into clean clothes after bathing or showering. Clothes can retain odors, particularly under the arms, after wearing. Always switch to fresh clothes post-shower to avoid lingering odors. Ensure to wash clothes with a mild detergent before reuse.
- Even changing your shirt without showering can help maintain cleanliness as shirts absorb sweat.
Opt for natural fabrics that absorb sweat and prevent it from lingering on your skin. Fabrics like cotton, wool, and silk are better at soaking up sweat compared to synthetics like polyester or rayon. This helps control body odor and sweat accumulation on armpit hair. Check clothing labels for natural fabric content.
Use a liquid, gel, or spray antiperspirant-deodorant for armpit hair. Solid antiperspirant-deodorants can leave white residue in hair, causing embarrassment. Try roll-on liquid, gel stick, or spray options for better sweat and odor control.
- Liquids, gels, and sprays offer improved odor protection for armpit hair since they can penetrate hair more effectively.
- Experiment with different antiperspirant-deodorant types to find what works best for you as everyone's reaction varies.
Tips
- To prevent ingrown hairs, consider exfoliating your underarms every week or two using a body scrub. This helps remove dead skin cells and reduces the chances of hair follicle blockage.
- If you're worried about body odor, adjust your diet by limiting strong-smelling foods, spicy foods, coffee, and alcohol, as these can exacerbate body odor.
- You can use regular soap or body wash to cleanse your armpit hair. There's no need for special soap or shampoo.
