A couple of my local dance schools have posted Instagram reels videos about hygiene tips for social dancing and I absolutely love that. If you think your hygiene habits are good enough, think again, since social dance involves being very close to other people while being physically active. There’s only so much you can say in a short video though, which is why I wanted to contribute to the conversation and give you my ultimate guide to smelling clean for a social dance party.
The following may be obvious to you but there are people out there who didn’t grow up with enough guidance on this matter, so it’s beneficial to talk about these types of things.
Secondly, there are also cultural differences at play. If you want to dance latin dances, you need to be as hygienic as Latin-Americans. I started taking my hygiene extra seriously after I saw a bunch of Brazilians (who shower about 3 times a day), complain how people in Nordic countries stink. How embarrassing!
So this is what you would need to do to ensure you can dance all night and smell clean during the whole party.
1. Take a Shower
It’s recommended to take a shower before the party. Yes, you’re gonna sweat at the party anyway but there’s a big difference between old sweat and new sweat, the first one smelling rather bad. Wash your whole body with soap, including ears, feet, in-between the toes etc. Dirty hair also smells bad so make sure your hair has been washed recently.
Tip: Something I’ve noticed is that shower gels don’t clean the skin as well as a bar soap since the latter actually gets rid of bacteria. So for the sweatiest areas like your armpits and feet, use bar soap.
2. Put on Some Deodorant
Deodorant can only work properly on clean skin, so taking a shower before is essential. Apply deodorant on dry skin right after you’ve come out of the shower. You may have to test different brands to find one that works for you.
3. Put on Clean Clothes
Next, put on clean clothes you haven’t worn yet. Don’t come to an evening party with a shirt you wore for the whole 8-hour workday. Also don’t wear a shirt you had on while you were cooking dinner – fabric catches food smells.
Tips on how to wash your clothes properly so that they get clean in the first place:
- Use an effective detergent in correct doses (not all detergents are created equal unfortunately).
- Instead of fabric softener, use laundry disinfectant (brands like Lysol or Sanytol or laundry vinegar)
- Have your washing machine 2/3 or 3/4 full instead of filled to the brim.
- After washing, smell your clothes. If they don’t smell fresh, wash them again. Smelling like “nothing” is not a good sign, since your nose is already used to your own body/home odor. If second wash doesn’t help, soak them in white vinegar solution for 30-60 minutes, drain and then wash again.
- Dry clothes in the dryer or on the line. The latter is trickier – make sure they line-dry in a well-ventilated room that smells clean, otherwise they will catch funky smells (or food smells) and you may have to wash them again. Outside is the best place for line-drying, since UV-rays from the sun and oxygen in the air disinfect clothes naturally, but if you live in high-traffic urban area then clothes may collect city dust.
- Once a month, deep-clean your washing machine. It may have a self-cleaning program or you can use a specific detergent and run the machine empty according to the instructions on the package. If your washing machine isn’t clean, it cannot clean your clothes.
4. Brush Your Teeth Instead of Chewing Gum
I see many recommendations to use chewing gum, but the reality is that nothing ensures clean breath better than brushing your teeth before the party. Even 30-seconds of brushing your teeth with toothpaste is better than 15 minutes of chewing a gum. Use the softest toothbrush you can find, so you don’t damage your teeth or gums. Mints and chewing gum are something you can use during the party later.
5. Bring Extra Shirts or Optimize Your Outfit
Many guys bring extra shirts and change during the party, once the previous shirt gets overly sweaty. Even bringin 3-4 shirts is okay, do what you need to do. Girls often choose a top with the armpit area open, so the skin can breathe and it’s easy to clean during the party, therefore they don’t have to necessarily change the outfit.
6. Wear Perfume (Optional)
If you wear perfume, make sure it’s a small amount – people should only smell your perfume when you’re hugging them, but not from a 3-meter distance. Good perfume can be a nice addition, but some people are allergic to strong scents, so just keep that in mind.
5. Tips for the Party
Not drinking enough water can make your breath smell bad, so make sure you have a bottle of water with you and you drink regularly. Use mints and chewing gum to freshen the breath. Have wet wipes with you so you can clean your armpits and reapply deodorant during the party.
Hope you learned some new hygiene (and laundry) tips that you can start using now. “Hygiene failures” happen to everyone from time to time, so don’t be too harsh on yourself or others, but always give it your best effort. Can’t wait to meet you on the dancefloor smelling fabulous! 🙂
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