The Resurgence of Bathing: Reasons to Incorporate a Bathing Ritual into Your Routine

      Sharmadean Reid MBE serves as the Editor in Residence for Who What Wear UK and is a beauty entrepreneur, author, and the founder of 39BC, a brand dedicated to bathing rituals. Additionally, she created The Stack World and New Methods platforms, receiving an MBE in 2021 for her contributions to beauty and women’s issues. For her, bathing has always represented a form of cleansing—physically, mentally, and spiritually. She notes that as individuals crowd urban environments, they are constantly in contact with the energies and stresses of others. In this unique time where we are perpetually surrounded by strangers, she feels compelled to cleanse away these energies at day’s end, stating that she struggles to sleep well without a bath.

      Bathing holds such significance for her that she often bathes twice daily. In the morning, she seeks immediate immersion in water; if near the ocean, she will dive right in, and if at a hotel with a pool, she’ll don her robe to swim first thing. This connection with water prepares her for the day. In contrast, her evening baths are more meditative, serving to regulate her nervous system and aid in sleep, as she considers it vital for the body’s repair process.

      Reid believes that many overlook the wellness benefits of bathing, especially for women, as it enhances circulation, alleviates muscle tension, and significantly improves sleep quality. She is passionate about practices that soothe the nervous system, with her top three being breathwork, forest bathing, and immersing in water. She finds that immersion and tranquility can shift one’s mindset. While she enjoys additional practices like wet body brushing and foot acupressure during her baths, her rituals remain quite simple; she mostly sits quietly with her thoughts without adding numerous products to the water.

      What intrigues her is the universal presence of bathing rituals throughout history and across cultures. Humans have always been drawn to water for cleansing and ceremonies. For instance, in Jamaica, the water spirits are referred to as Mami Wata. Ancient Greece introduced private baths called balnea, and the Romans revolutionized bathing culture with their heated bathhouses. Bathing traditions vary worldwide, from Ottoman and North African hammams to Japan’s onsen culture, which developed around volcanic hot springs and served as recovery spots for samurai. Particularly in Japan, bathing is highly ritualistic, emphasizing thorough body cleansing before using the bath for immersion rather than hygiene. This distinction is essential to her; she sees showers as functional while baths serve a meditative purpose. Even without a bathtub, she encourages finding solace in water through floating or swimming, as true bathing is about full-body immersion in elements that elevate one’s state, be it water, sound, or nature.

      Sharmadean Reid MBE's Bathing Rituals:

      **39BC Sage Water Oil Body Cleanser**

      With her frequent baths, she strives to keep her skin moisturized. The primary feature of the 39BC Oil Body Cleanser she created is its oil-based formula that prevents dryness. Unlike concentrated bath oils, it offers a balance between oil and bubble bath. Currently, she enjoys the fresh, herbal scent of Sage Water, perfect for stimulating the senses during warmer weather.

      **Dr Teals Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution Lavender**

      Reid prefers simplicity during her baths, usually adding Epsom salts for recovery in the evening. She insists on using magnesium Epsom salt, as it is most effective, and favors Dr Teal's lavender-infused Epsom salts, which are ideal for relaxing before sleep.

      She also engages in gua sha and body brushing in the bath, using a Japanese body brush with sisal bristles. However, she opts for wet brushing over dry brushing to avoid harsh exfoliation, as frequent bathing requires gentler treatment.

      **Agatige 3 Point Wooden Massager**

      Her favorite tool is a foot acupressure device, inspired by experiences in spa treatments, particularly one in Germany where she walked on a pebbled path designed to invigorate the feet. She believes foot health is crucial, so she uses this tool to apply pressure to various points on her feet while bathing.

      **Boogie Bougie Black Fig and Cedar Candle**

      To create a calming atmosphere during her baths, she enjoys lighting incense or candles. She currently has a collection from various brands but consistently repurchases the Black Fig and Cedar candle from Boogie Bougie for its remarkable fragrance.

      **Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil**

      During her baths, she cleanses her face multiple times with different products, including oil and gel cleansers. She has a particular fondness for this Beauty of Joseon facial cleansing oil. Additionally, she loves incorporating sheet masks into her routine, specifically the Reome Hydra-Plasma Veil Sheet Mask, known for its hydrating properties.

      Sharmadean Reid MBE is a versatile innovator whose work reshapes women's