The weather is already careening headfirst into the stinging cold season and we are already craving the comfort of hot drinks, snug sweaters, cosy comforters, and swelteringly hot showers. But while it is a universally acknowledged truth that there is nothing better than a warm shower on a cool winter morning, there are certain disadvantages of the beloved hot showers.

While hot showers are the enemy of flawless glass skin and gloriously shiny locks, there is no denying that they are still universally adored during the frigid wintry months. And that is because there are just as many advantages to showering with hot water.

The disadvantages —

For skin

Hot showers can interfere with the skin's natural functions as a protective barrier, deplete natural oils from the surface, strip hair of its own protective oils, and weaken your complexion overall.

Hot showers and baths can cause skin irritation, resulting in redness, and itching. On top of that, they can also disrupt the skin's natural moisture balance, depriving you of the natural oils, fats, and proteins that keep your skin healthy. Basically, the longer and hotter the shower the worse it is for the health of your skin.

For Hair

Hot showers are not only bad for your skin, but also ruin your hair. Scalding water is also bad for your scalp and hair. It can cause the scalp to produce excessive oil, as well as break protein bonds and damage the hair cuticle.

Hot showers make your scalp extremely dry and flaky — which once again could be cause for irritation and itchiness. On a purely vain level, overly hot water can make your hair frizzy and brittle, inhibit hair growth as well as cause hair loss in some cases.

The advantages —

For mental and physical health

Hot showers can help you relax and relieve muscle soreness and stiffness. Even better if you have a powerful shower head and you can allow the hot water jets to massage your shoulders, neck, and back.

On top of that, exposing the nose to steam is a natural remedy for colds and coughs — a common ailment in winter. When you stand in a hot shower, the steam and heat from the water loosen the phlegm, open the airways, and clear your nasal passage, helping you breathe better.

Lastly, several studies have found that taking a hot shower can help reduce stress and anxiety as they stimulate the release of oxytocin in the brain, which can reduce stress and anxiety. All of this will also be beneficial to a good night's sleep.

Now, should you take a hot shower or not? Well, that entirely depends on what your priorities are. If you prioritise skin and hair health, maybe stick to cold and lukewarm showers but if you have sore muscles and stress, you may jump into the fiery depths!