Cold shower

End the shower in thirty seconds

Wash with lukewarm water, then switch to cold water for the last thirty seconds. Let the water reach the arms, legs and trunk, continuing to breathe. You can use a timer at the beginning to find the duration, then keep this marker as the last stage of your shower.

Choose a time and keep the same routine

If you're looking for a wake-up feeling, try this late morning shower. Keep a simple protocol for a few days to see if you like the effect and want to continue. The trial benchmark was thirty days; there was no clear advantage to extending the cold part from thirty to sixty or ninety seconds.

For the skin, also adjust the rest of the shower

If your skin feels tight after a shower, start by reducing the temperature and time spent under water. Then apply a suitable moisturizer to the still damp skin. These adjustments matter more for dryness than just the seconds of cold at the end: keep them even on days when you don't take a cold shower.