a guide to summer hygiene. ᥫ᭡
warmer weather is finally making an appearance and that means summer is even closer! let’s be real, a lot of us want to live and breathe “hot girl summer” but the heat? the sweat? yeah, that can make being an it-girl in the summer hard. it’s prime time for us all to be worrying about whether or not we smell good when we’re out and about under the summer sun, so allow me to be your big sis and hand down my best summer hygiene tips and tricks so that you can guarantee you’ll be smelling fresh as flowers all summer long!
let’s begin …
୨ৎ — body odor 101
we all absolutely dread bad smelling body odor, and some of us (me included) fear it. so let’s talk about how that not-so-nice smell can come about on our bodies.
sweat itself is odorless! it’s the bacteria on our skin that can make the sweat smell! we all have normal flora (natural bacteria) that live within our bodies and on our skin, which like the name suggests, is completely normal for our bodies to have! but sometimes that mix of bacteria and sweat can cause some pretty foul smells.
it’s also important to know that there are other factors that can be associated with body odor! hormones, diet, certain medications/vitamins/supplements, and obviously your hygiene habits can impact how you smell!
we also have two different sweat glands: eccrine glands & apocrine glands!
eccrine glands — they secrete sweat directly onto the skin to provide a cooling effect on our bodies
apocrine glands — most commonly found glands in the armpit area as well as the groin area ; this is where the body odor can stem from! due to the hair that grows in those two specific areas, bacteria can mix better with the sweat our bodies produce
important to note: your body hair is nothing to be ashamed of! whether you’re a woman, nonbinary, a man, or however you identify, your body hair is natural and it’s all completely up to you, and you alone, to decide whether or not you shave, trim, wax, or keep your body hair! having body hair does not mean you have poor hygiene!
୨ৎ — it all starts in the shower
it’s already a very obvious given that showering every single day is a must when it comes to achieving good and proper hygiene, so please make sure you’re hopping into the shower daily my loves! especially if you spent the entire day sweating, which will most likely happen during the warmer seasons!
like we discussed in the previous section, body odor is a mix of the sweat we produce and the bacteria that is living on the skin. so, if you are more prone to sweating or you were grinding at the gym or you went for a walk in the heat, do not forget to shower!
double cleansing the body
just as we double cleanse our face and hair, we should also double cleanse the body! i’ve mentioned this in a previous post with hygiene tips, but it’s good to do an initial cleanse to remove all the sweat, grime, and dirt from the day and then follow up with another cleanse to ensure that you’re body is squeaky clean and smelling fresh!
1st cleanse: can be an unscented or a scented soap/body wash, does not have to be an antibacterial wash (but it can be if you so choose), can be a bar soap or gel/liquid body wash
2nd cleanse: i recommend this 2nd cleanse to be something scented, but it doesn’t have to be! having at least one body wash/soap be scented can just amplify that clean and fresh smell of your body!
soap is soap. body wash is body wash. simply put: either way, you will be clean! you don’t have to go out and buy medical-grade soaps to clean your body. Dove is a great and affordable option! they have a great selection of bar soaps and body washes that will leave you smelling good and feeling clean!
loofas are not your friend
i’ve also talked about this in another post, but loofas harbor so much bacteria! and, again, bacteria + sweat = bad b.o.
African net sponges have been a god-send for me! they last for years, are machine washable, stretchy (making it easier to wash those hard to reach areas), and dry completely which makes it harder for bacteria to develop because bacteria thrive in moist/wet environments! which is why loofas are a no-go! standard wash cloths are also a great option, so long as you’re replacing it after every shower!
୨ৎ — post-shower rituals
what happens after your shower also plays a huge role into your hygiene! good and proper hygiene doesn’t stop in the shower!
dry all the cracks & crevices thoroughly
for my angels with coochies, please make sure you are completely dry down there! and make sure your underarms and any other cracks (and yes, i also mean the backdoor crack) and crevices are 100% dry!
put on deodorant immediately after your shower
as soon as your underarms are bone dry, put on deodorant! specifically an antiperspirant one! if you shower at night, it’s absolutely key to put on deodorant after your nightly shower because you could be sweating a lot more than you might think while you sleep! that antiperspirant is going to help keep your underarms smelling good and also help prevent that buildup of bacteria mixing with your sweat and creating a not-so-sweet smell.
cool off with a fan
if you take warmer/hot showers like me, i seriously recommend sitting in front of a fan after your shower or getting a fan (that fits in your bathroom) to help you cool off after your shower.
you probably just took the most amazing shower ever and you feel so nice and clean, but it’s hot as hell in your bathroom? get a fan! as you’re drying off the rest of your body and going through the rest of your post-shower routine, do you really want to do all of that in a hot and steamy room? getting sweaty all over again?
୨ৎ — every day & on-the-go tips
put deodorant in your purse/bag
if you’re a heavy sweater, bring deodorant with you and reapply it as you go about your day! you’ll never know when you might need it, especially if you’re spending all day outside in the summer!
carry body wipes with you
again, if you’re out all day and you’re needing a little freshening up, body wipes will be your best friend! these are especially good if you need to wipe down your underarms and then you can reapply deodorant so that you’re not layering a good smell over something that may not smell so good!
pack extra clothes
if you’re outside somewhere whether it’s a festival, amusement park, or even the park and you know you won’t be heading home for a while, pack an extra set of clothes! if you have the room in your bag, pack a new pair of underwear, shirt, pants, & even socks!
travel sized perfumes and/or body mists
i feel like people already know this, but seriously put a travel sized bottle of perfume/body spray in your bag! it’s always a good idea to reapply a good fragrance!
change your bed sheets weekly
again, this is another tip that’s pretty much a given, but during the warmer seasons it’s even more important to change your bed sheets regularly!
final notes —
the warmer seasons are just around the corner! i know a lot of us feel like we blossom and flourish in the spring/summer! me, personally, i feel the most beautiful freshly showered and ready for the day ahead! so think of your hygiene routine as a part of your beauty routine!
with lots of love, faustina 🌷














