How the last 30 seconds of your shower can transform your hair, skin and mindset

This might be a hard pill to swallow, particularly as we enter the depths of winter, but adding a 30 second cold shot to the end of your shower boasts amazing beauty benefits.
And it just so happens that the cooler months is when your skin and hair will reap the rewards the most.
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For those of us without central heating, we understand that a scalding hot shower might be the only 5-10 minutes a day where you can totally defrost.
But unlike super hot water which can irritate our skin, cold water will soften the flakey, dryness brought on by winter; leaving your skin looking tighter and smoother, as well as reducing puffiness and breakouts.
And if that’s not enough to get your hand on the cold nozzle, wait a minute, because we haven’t even gotten to the benefits for your hair yet.
Cold showers will flatten the hair follicles and in turn, increase their ability to grip onto the scalp.
This leads to shinier, stronger and healthier hair, and can be achieved simply by switching your shower to cold for the last 30 seconds before hopping out.
While 30 seconds in the middle of winter, under a freezing cold shower may feel like a lifetime, it’s about as long as it takes for all of the water to properly reach every part of your body. And before you say you’ll catch a cold, it’s actually also an effective way to boost your immunity and prevent illness as the result of boosted circulation. Perfect for flu season.
For those of us not game to jump into the ocean 12 months a year, this may be the next best thing. The rush of cold water is perfect for those who need help waking up in the morning, and cooling your core body temperature at night can actually help you fall asleep easier.
It’s also been proven to boost your mood, and even promote weight loss, as your body burns calories working harder to stabilise your core temperature.
Give it a try, you may even become addicted. Here’s how it’s done..
At the end of your shower, for 30 seconds, switch the water temperature to cold. Limb by limb (if easier) slowly centre yourself under the stream of cool water until you’ve saturated your hair, underarms and back. Try to distract yourself by focussing on your breathing and before you know it, the 30 seconds is up.
Main image credit: @olivecooke
Have you ever tried finishing your shower with a cold blast?
87 Member Comments
I love my showers and cant quite bring this cold blast thing into my shower routine. Occasionally I may do it if it's a hot day though.
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Just started doing this but it is Summer so am finding it easy
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It's meant to be really good for cellulite. I need to try this but I can never do it for the full 30 seconds. Now it's summer, I might try it out again. I guess it is the same concept of using a plunge pool.
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Beautyheaven articles often suggest using cold water for showers, but there is no way I'm going to use cold water in cold weather.
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I always finish up with cold water, it helps me to wake up in the mornings! :)
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Oh I do keep tryng this, but its just so cold
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I do cold for about 10 seconds! Haha 30 is just sooo long!
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No way, way too cold here for me to try that - part of the point of a shower is to warm up. I use shower oil at the end of my shower and since using it have neverhad any flaky or dry skin.
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It's hard to do in winter but well worth the effort for the change it does to your hair and skin.
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I always have the hottest showers. Don’t know if I’m brave enough to have it cold for 30 seconds but I’ll give it a go
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Not in the winter time , I can tolerate this in the summer only.
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I read this treatment on BH & had a go, now it winter I drop to cool, I find this do work for me with sensitive skin & helps a lot fingers cross & very happy Thanks BH :)
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I do this BUT ONLY on my head when I was my hair and in winter get out under to double heat light
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Great idea, but hard to do this time of year!
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I have heard this for years from everyone from beauty professionals, pharmacists to hair dressers and I can't stand it! I am forever cold and I have super hot showers to warm up my bones. Doing the 30 second cold blast at the end always makes me freezing cold and then I can't warm up again. Didn't see enough benefits to keep doing this long term.
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so darn cold in the bathroom, i do keep keep trying lol
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I can't do 3 seconds let alone 30.
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I tried the cold water part and didn’t go so well!
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ha ha I could not do this in winter, Only summer.
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I have tried this but.. in summer haha I cannot stand being cold. My winter hot steamy showers are like spa days for me. I cannot do that haha I'll just find other ways to support my health.
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I think we are trying to limit the water usage because of the drought?
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I am gonna try it. Not liking my hairs in this cold season.
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I used to do this for years and years but noticed no difference when I stopped.
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