Listen Now
I was a full-blown, hard-core drug addict by age fifteen, spending a huge portion of my life living the street life. I wrote this article because l know what it was like to be completely unaware of personal hygiene, or the practice of keeping your body clean. I did not realize the negative impact that bad hygiene could have on us.
Putting it to you bluntly, if your hair is dirty, your body smells, or your clothes are messy, it can cause problems and even keep you from good things happening in your life. It may seem unfair, but people often judge and make decisions about us based on our outward appearance. How we look and smell plays a major role in how people treat us and the results we get in life.
In most cases if the “good hygiene” box is not checked first, the boxes of jobs, housing, loans, and even personal relationships will not get checked off.
It wasn’t until after I was released from county jail to a program that l began to understand good hygiene techniques beyond soap and water and brushing my teeth. Since I put these keys of good hygiene into practice, I now feel so much more confident and accepted in society. It’s made a real difference in my life — and it can for you too!
My Go-to Hygiene Tips
Try to do these things as often as you can. You can find the low-cost hygiene items at any kind of dollar store.
If you are homeless and cannot do all of this every day, I understand because I was once homeless too. Some churches and community groups give out free hygiene kits. Also, look for places where showers are offered.
No matter what your situation, just start with what you can do, and add more steps as you are ready. You’ve got this!
Basic Four
- Wash Your Hands. Wash before eating and after using the bathroom.
- Wash Your Body. Try to shower every day. If you can’t, wash your face, underarms, and private area with soap and water using a cloth or wet wipes. Your face needs gentle care, so it is best to use a cleanser made for your face. Bar soap or body wash is best for the rest of your body. For underarms, shaving the hair with a disposable razor will help reduce bad smell.
- Brush Your Teeth. Brush your teeth with toothpaste at least two times a day. Floss your teeth and use mouthwash if you can.
- Keep Your Hair Clean. Wash your hair regularly. Comb or brush it and keep it neat. When possible, choose hair products that work best for your hair type by looking at the labels like “for dry hair” or “for oily hair.” Try different kinds until you are pleased with the results.
Additional Steps That Make a Huge Difference
- Use Deodorant. After you wash your underarms, put on deodorant to stay fresh.
- Take Extra Care During Your Period. Change pads, tampons, or menstrual cups often. Wash your private area more during this time. Wet wipes work great.
- Clean Your Nails. Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed and clean.
- Take Care of Your Skin. After washing, apply lotion to your skin. Face cream is different from body lotion. Also, use sunscreen to help protect your skin.
- Wear Clean Clothes. Put on clean clothes every day. Always wash underwear after one use.
- Carry Travel-Size Items. Keep small items like hand sanitizer, deodorant, lotion, wet wipes, and pads with you.
- Eat Healthy and Drink Water. This helps your whole body, even your skin, hair, and nails.
Final Thoughts
Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings about personal body care. If you’ve been hurt in the past, you may have avoided good hygiene to keep others away. But this is unfair to you because it keeps positive opportunities and healthy relationships away, too. God cares about you and will help you. Talk to someone you trust and get the support you need.
Good personal hygiene promotes a sense of well-being, transforming the way you live and how people respond to you. So, take care of yourself and live your best life.
Read and hear Tonya’s backstory. Tonya Carrington is an author, speaker, actress and business owner. But her most important title is a daughter of the Most High King.
