During a recent discussion, Taylor Swift surprised many of her fans by revealing a particular aspect of her shower routine that she skips.
Everyone has their own unique approach to showering. Personally, I apply shower gel all over, starting from the feet and working upwards before rinsing it off.
However, the 35-year-old singer has a different method, and her admission has divided opinions online. While some fans found it controversial, others admitted they follow a similar practice.
This year has been eventful for the 14-time Grammy winner, from her engagement to Travis Kelce making headlines to the excitement surrounding her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl.
Swift talked about her personal hygiene practices during a 2019 appearance on The Ellen Show.
Ellen DeGeneres inquired: “Do you wash your legs in the shower?”
Swift responded, “I do, but only when I shave.”
She humorously added, “The shaving cream is like soap, right?” which DeGeneres agreed to.
DeGeneres further commented: “I think that’s the reason that most women wash their legs – because we have to, because we shave our legs.”
The clip quickly garnered reactions on social media, with users expressing both bewilderment and humor.
One fan commented, “Taylor Swift said she don’t wash her legs but she shaves them girl that is not the same thing wtf.”
Another user questioned, “I’m confused, isn’t the shower supposed to be the place where you wash EVERYTHING?!”
Yet, some see the logic in Swift’s minimalist routine.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, informed Women’s Health that it might not be necessary to wash your legs as often as expected.
“Unless your legs are visibly soiled, you don’t actually need to wash them directly with a cleanser,” he stated. “The cleanser that drips down your body is enough to remove most of the dirt and sweat that accumulates during the day.”
However, Zeichner did stress that feet should always receive a thorough cleaning.
While many may criticize those who avoid scrubbing their legs during showers, dermatologist Dr. Julie Russak from Manhattan explained to The New York Post that dermatologists generally do not advocate for daily showers.
Dr. Russak explained that soaps can ‘really remove and destroy the skin’s microbiome,’ which she noted is ‘extremely important in overall health of the body’.
In 2020, physician James Hamblin authored a book titled Clean: The New Science of Skin, detailing his decision to stop showering.
He remarked to the BBC that those who ridicule infrequent showerers ‘are betraying profound ignorance of the skin microbiome’.