How Often Should You Actually Shower Around Training?

"Shower after every session" is solid advice — but is more showering always better? For hard-training grapplers, the honest answer is: wash when it counts, and don't punish your skin the rest of the time. I train most days, so I've had to find that balance myself. General information here, not medical advice, and not about any product we sell.

The one that's non-negotiable

Showering promptly after training is the high-value one. You've been in close contact, on shared mats, soaked in sweat — washing soon afterwards is the habit that matters most, as laid out in the post-training shower routine. If you only get one shower right, make it this one.

Where "more" stops helping

Beyond the post-training wash, piling on extra hot, soapy showers can dry out and irritate skin, working against your skin barrier. Thinking has shifted away from "scrub everything constantly" and towards washing effectively and protecting the skin you've got. Over-washing can leave skin tight, flaky and more easily irritated — the opposite of what you were going for, and a particular issue for anyone whose skin runs to the eczema-prone side.

A sensible default

• Always shower after training.
• On rest days, wash as your routine and body sensibly require — there's no prize for over-washing.
• Use lukewarm water and a normal wash rather than scalding water and harsh scrubbing.
• If your skin's getting tight, flaky or itchy, that's a signal to ease off the heat and harsh products, not to add more showers.

Signs you might be overdoing it

Skin that feels tight straight after a shower, persistent dry or flaky patches, itchiness that wasn't there before, or irritation that flares with very hot water — these are all hints you've crossed from "clean" into "stripped." None of it means washing less after training; it means turning down the temperature, simplifying your products, and moisturising dry areas. The goal is skin that's both clean and comfortable.

What "effective" washing actually means

"Wash effectively, not aggressively" is easy to say, so here's what it looks like in practice:

• Cover the contact zones properly — hands, feet, neck, face, anywhere kit trapped sweat — rather than a quick all-over rinse.
• Use the mechanical action of a normal soap and your hands or a soft flannel, not a brutal scrub with something abrasive.
• Keep the water lukewarm. Hot water feels great on tired muscles but strips skin faster.
• Dry thoroughly, especially between toes and in folds — the dry is as important as the wash.

Done this way, one good shower after training does more for both hygiene and skin health than three rushed, scalding ones.

Common questions

Should I shower twice a day if I train twice a day?

Showering after each session is reasonable — that's washing when it counts. Just keep those showers gentle: lukewarm water and a normal wash, rather than two scalding scrub-downs that leave your skin raw.

Is it bad to shower every day?

For most people, no — especially when you're training and sweating daily. The thing to watch isn't the frequency so much as how harsh each shower is. Gentle and frequent beats aggressive and frequent every time.

My skin's dry from constant washing — what now?

Keep the post-training wash, drop the water temperature, switch to a gentler product, and moisturise while skin's still slightly damp. If it doesn't settle, a pharmacist or GP can help — persistent dry, cracked skin is worth a proper look.

I feel gross if I don't shower the moment I wake up — is that bad?

A morning shower is fine if that's your routine; the point isn't to ration showers, it's to keep them gentle so daily washing doesn't strip your skin. Lukewarm water and a normal wash mean an everyday shower does no harm.

Do cold showers help my skin?

There's no need to force yourself under cold water for your skin's sake — lukewarm is the comfortable middle ground that cleans well without the drying effect of very hot water. Cold showers have their fans for other reasons, but they aren't a skin-health requirement.

Is it better to shower or bath after training?

A shower is usually the more practical choice straight after training — it rinses sweat and surface contact away rather than sitting you in it, and it's quicker. A warm (not scalding) bath now and then is fine for relaxing tired muscles, but if you've just rolled, shower first. Either way the principles are the same: lukewarm water, wash the contact zones properly, and dry off well.

Do I need to wash my hair every session?

If it's taken a lot of mat and sweat contact, giving it a wash makes sense; if you trained lightly and your hair was barely involved, a rinse may be enough. Let how sweaty it got decide, rather than a fixed rule.

When to see a doctor

If your skin is persistently dry, irritated or breaking down despite a gentle routine, a pharmacist or GP can help.

This article is general educational information and not medical advice, and it isn't about any Combat Sports Hygiene product. If you're worried about your skin, contact a GP or pharmacist.