Chapter 11: One Thing For Certain and Two Things Fasho Your Personal Hygiene Matters Sister Girl!

*Disclaimer: Your Personal Hygiene Routine doesn’t only have to be filled with expensive products. It can also be done on a budget! Therefore, I have provided some great suggestions below for everyone’s budget. You can build the personal hygiene routine that works best for you and won’t break your wallet! 

If your mama or aunty didn’t give you the GEMS I am about to drop, go ahead and share with a fellow black woman because they may not have received them either!

Personal hygiene is a vast topic that could take multiple posts to write about and if you’re looking for a more in-depth conversation, let me know!

I will gladly make this a series on IHateAdulthood for the ladies who want to know more!

But, for those looking for a brief and straight-to-the-point discussion on creating a personal hygiene routine, this post is for you!

Sister to Sister, I am going to get you straight in the next few minutes about why one thing for certain and two things fasho your personal hygiene matters forever more!

I’m going to break it down for you into categories! Therefore, it is a little easier to digest.

As women depending on what you see is most important on your list will determine what you will tackle first each day. But, when I arise from my bed at 8, 10, or 11am, it is my dental hygiene at best!

I love taking the time to brush my teeth and make sure my breath doesn’t stink! Twice a day is the best way! 

You can choose from brands like Colgate, Crest, Hello, Sensodyne (if your teeth are a little sensitive and there’s nothing wrong with that), and Arm and Hammer w/ Baking Soda! 

If you’re looking to support a fellow Black woman or man, you can try Feels Good to Smile to Me, The Shea Shack, or Dirt Don’t Hurt Me! 

All of these brands come with many benefits and will get the job you’re hoping to accomplish done! 

But don’t just stop at toothpaste. Try a good tongue scrapper too! They are excellent, and researchers have stated that they reduce bad breath, remove bacteria, and improve your sense of taste (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). 

And, while you’re at your local Walmart stocking up on those items, don’t forget to purchase some floss and make your next dental appointment. 

Seeing the dentist routinely can lead to a brighter smile and an excellent dental health hygiene routine! And as Independent Grown Women, we only want the best for our health!

Now that we’ve got the teeth covered let’s move to the body! Listen, I know finding products is hard to come by. We will start to like a new product, and then the ingredients will change, and we will have to start our search all over again! 

But, some products I live by have helped me weather the storm of the hot sun, the summer to fall transition, and the chilly Winter we have up in the North! 

But I have spent some time down South too, so I know these products will also work! 

#1. You should always find a good product to wash your body!

Some of my favorites for bar soap are Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar, African Black Soap, and my good old handy Irish Spring! 

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with some Irish Spring!

 But, if you prefer body wash, you can try Method Body Wash, Necessaries Body Wash, Body Wash by Dr. Teals (Hands down my FAV), and Caress!  

Whether you use bar soap or body wash, it will do the job! Just be careful and always read the instructions included to know where to use on the body and where not! 

I don’t think I have to go into extra details, but please read all the warning labels! I know we are not always taught the proper ways to handle every area, so make sure you read and double-check before using any products you know where! 

And, don’t forget a good exfoliate; these can be helpful! Here are a few suggestions I have heard that are great. Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Sugar Scrub, Neccasiare Body Scrub, and SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Scrub!

#2: Wash Your Hands 

Now that Ms. Corona has decided she will stay, washing your hands as much as possible is extra important!

Even before she was around, ladies, it was a necessity, but now even more than before!

Get a good soap, hand sanitizer, or wipe to ensure those hands are extra clean, and you get every spot! 

Keep some on your desk at work, in your purse or backpack (whichever you choose), and even on your keychain, so your hands stay super fresh! 

#3: Your Feet Matter Too! 

Ladies, I know it’s Summer, and we like to show off our toes! But, even in the Winter, foot hygiene matters too! 

Keep up with your pedicures at the nail salon, or do one at home! 

Take care of your cuticles, ensure your nails are the shape you like, scrub those heels, and clip those toenails! 

But, even more than that, ensure you wash your feet at least once daily! Change those socks every day! And finally, check regularly for any cuts or sores! Your feet get you far in life, so treat them like a royal would!

#4: Underarm Hygiene 

I know sometimes it’s hard to find a good deodorant because there are so many kinds, and often it is difficult to find one that will complete the job!

• Excessive Sweat
• Body Odor 
• Suitable for Sensitive Skin 

So here are a few that I like and use in rotation to get the job done as quickly as possible. For example, Dove, Secret, Schmidt’s, Native (I’ve heard it is excellent), and BAN (my all-time favorite). 

Apply as necessary! Make sure you clean or wipe your underarms before you apply! You can exfoliate your armpits too! And I am not here to tell you what you should do with your body hair, but if you like to shave, keep up with your regular shaving! It can help with odor!

And, finally, one trick my mama taught me for dark marks is lemon! Use a piece of lemon at night before bed. And, in the morning, wash your armpits off before applying your deodorant! It doesn’t only help with dark armpits from shaving a lot, but it is also a more natural way to remove some of the odors you may not like. 

#5. The Category is GIVING FACE

Ladies, your face matters as much as the rest of your body. But, when you leave the house, don’t forget to give it a good wash!

Many readily available products can help with sensitive skin, acne, dry skin, combination skin, and even dark marks! My favorites include Cetaphil, Proactiv, Philosophy, Clinique, FENTY Beauty, Keys Soulcare, and Olay!

Ladies, let me know in the comments of some other good Black-owned face products I can try! I am on the market to find some to add to my daily hygiene routine ASAP! 

And, if you are a black woman who owns a face care brand, let’s connect! I’d love to share some info on our website for a fellow Black woman who is killing the game! 

While washing your face is truly important, don’t forget to moisturize and tone! And a good face mask can go a long way. Just choose the best one for your skin and wallet!

Exfoliation matters too! I love Philosophy, Cerave, and of course, Pixi Cosmetics! 

Finally, don’t forget those lips. Moisturization can go a long way! You can also use a good lip scrub (Sugar, Burt’s Bees, FENTY Beauty, and KNC Beauty)! 

After you’ve washed your face at least twice a day, and given it some good tender care and love, don’t forget to grab yourself some BlackGirl Sunscreen because we Black Girls need SPF as well!

#6. Let’s Not Forget Our Noses and Ears!

Ladies, don’t forget to regularly clean both! Be careful with using those q-tips! 

#7: Get Some Good Sleep! 

Sleep is the most important thing you can do for yourself! Please don’t be like me, going to bed at 1am and up by 7am! 

Give yourself at least 8 hours, get a good amount of water in your system, and relax!

The best thing you can do after a long day of work or school is wind down for bed! Create a good routine, listen to calming music or read a book! 

Spray your pillow with a pleasing scent, and try a humidifier if you have bad allergies like me! 

Good Rest Keeps you working toward your goals and knocking off items on your to-do list daily!

#8: And last but not least, Wash your clothes regularly!

Find a suitable detergent, a good softener, and a good routine! Clean those clothes, especially after being outside all day!

Don’t sit on your bed in dirty clothes! Let your clothes air out before hanging or folding them back up again! 

Use a clothes sanitizer. I love Lysol’s! It helps keep the germs away! 

Please also wash your new clothes before you wear them. It can help your hygiene routine as well!

You may be wondering why I have not discussed hair during this personal hygiene routine post, but that’s because we will soon be talking about it all on its own!

Hair in our community is essential! Therefore, it needs its own post! So check back soon. We will be talking about all things hair care and more!

Thanks for listening or reading my TED TALK on Independent Grown Woman Hygiene!

I will see you next week for our new post!

Shoutout to all the ladies who voted for this topic over on Instagram! I hope you will join, so you can choose the next subject we will explore!

Peace and Prosperity as Always, 

Jadis DeShong-Venay 

References:

Cleveland Clinic. (2021, June 11). Does Tongue Scraping Actually Work. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-tongue-scraping-actually-work-and-should-i-be-doing-it/