Use a Loofah
Loofahs are made from fibrous material found in gourd-like tropical fruits. The spongy texture is perfect for exfoliating dry skin to keep it smooth and sleek. Loofahs soften when wet and harden up again when they dry. Just remember to replace your loofah regularly, since loofahs commonly harbor bacteria after a few weeks of use.
Contents
Steps
Using a Loofah
- Obtain a loofah. Loofahs are usually the color of pale straw, with a slightly herbaceous scent. They come in many shapes and sizes, and are often sold as either cylinders or sliced discs. The texture of a loofah is rough when dry, but once you add hot water it becomes soft and supple.
- Loofahs are available at most stores that sell body care accessories, including drugstores.
- Loofahs are different from plastic bath poufs; the two items are used for the same purpose, but loofahs are made from a plant-based material and are said to be better for the skin.
- Wet the loofah in the shower or bath. Warmer water will cause the loofah to get softer more quickly. If you want the loofah to retain some texture and scrubbing ability, just wet it slightly before proceeding.
- Apply soap to the loofah. Many people use body wash, which easily seeps into the surface of the loofah, but rubbing bar soap over its surface works as well. A little soap goes a long way; you only need a dime-sized amount or so.
- Scrub your body with the loofah. Starting at your decolletage (the expanse of skin between your neck and chest), gently but firmly rub the loofah against your skin in circular motions. Work your way down to your ankles. Don't forget to scrub your arms and hands as well.
- Additionally, you can use the loofah on the heels and soles of your feet. Be careful if standing in a slippery shower.
- The circular motion will help remove dead skin cells and is gentler on your skin than scrubbing up and down.
- Rinse your body with cool water. This will close your pores and make you feel awake and refreshed. If trying to lull yourself to sleep with a shower or bath, use warm water instead.
Caring for a Loofah
- Rinse your loofah after each use. Use hot, clean water, making sure all the soap is gone. Soap left in the loofah could begin to smell.
- Dry the loofah completely between uses. Put it in a place with good circulation so it can dry completely. Since many bathroom stay humid, you might want to dry the loofah in a different room. Drying it out will prevent bacteria from growing out of control inside the loofah.
- Sanitize the loofah once a week. You can run it through a hot wash cycle with your towels, run it through the dishwasher, or boil it in hot water for several minutes to kill any bacteria that might be growing. No matter what method you use, do it at least once a week to make sure the loofah stays healthy for use.
- Dermatologists have recently found that loofahs tend to harbor more bacteria than previously thought. That's why it's important to sanitize your loofah often.
- The same holds true for plastic bath poufs. Even though they aren't made from natural materials, they can still harbor bacteria.
- Replace your loofah every three weeks. After this much time the loofah will be starting to fall apart from use and runs through the washer or boiling water. If you haven't been sanitizing your loofah, it's no longer safe for use after three weeks. Either way, time to get a new loofah.
- Many people have recently switched to using washcloths, since they're easier to run through the washer and they last much longer than loofahs.
- If you decide to stick with loofahs, make sure you dry them properly after each use and replace them frequently to keep your body healthy.
Tips
- Make sure you moisturize after exfoliating.
- If you decide to do your face as well, you may not want to use the same loofah.
Warnings
- Be gentle, but firm while using a loofah to exfoliate. Too gentle and you won't be removing any dead skin; too rough and you'll give yourself a rash or cause flakes.
- Rinsing and drying your loofah is very important. DO NOT SKIP THOSE STEPS.
Related Articles
- Clean a Loofah or Natural Sponge
- Soften a Hard Loofah
