All athletes should know about Dr. Bronner's Liquid Peppermint Soap and my special pick of synthetic loofahs for their post training and racing shower! Nothing is worse than drying off and finding dirt on a white towel when you think you've cleaned off the road grime, sunscreen, and liniments. The simple solution to this dilemma is to start using Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Liquid Peppermint Soap. It
comes in many other fragrances, but this one is my top pick for many reasons; refreshing, invigorating, and stimulating to the senses. Over 95% of the athletes that I work with, amateur and professional, prefer the peppermint. However there is a niche for "the blend method", ie blending different scents of Dr. Bronner's like peppermint with lavender, or peppermint with eucalyptus, etc. You can experiment; this soap literally cuts grease and grime away! If you find that this soap is a tad drying, then you can do a quick "chaser" with an organic moisturizing soap before you step out of the shower. Or do a "chaser" of lotion or both. It's up to you.
Exfoliation of the skin is essential. I recommend using a synthetic loofah with Dr.Bronner's. Synthetic loofahs as opposed to "real" loofahs are a healthy choice (synthetics don't get moldy). My favorite types are: loofah gloves, loofah mitts, and loofah wash cloths. The loofah wash cloth is great for hard to reach areas of your back. I recommend purchasing "Bass" synthetic loofahs or as they call them "exfoliation mitts and skin towels".
In order to get a "proper cleanse" with Dr. Bronner's, you want to lather up with the loofah. First, pre-soak the loofah with water, add a spoon size of Bronner's soap and begin vigorously lathering your body in a circular motion. It helps to turn off the shower while doing this to allow the Bronner's to sit for a minute or two and break down the grime. Be careful to not get the suds in your eyes or nose. For the uninitiated, the peppermint oil might be a bit too strong for the face. And of course, with experience and familiarity you can determine if you need to add more or less Bronner's to your liking.Synthetic loofahs and Dr. Bronner's can be purchased from fine health food stores and online. Dr. Bronner's can also be purchased at Trader Joe's!
Every athlete should travel with a small bottle of Dr. Bronner's and their choice of synthetic loofah tucked nicely into a large ziplock bag. After a long ride or run it always feels good to wash off and feel that tingle of cleanliness that only Dr. Bronner's soap can give. Ahhhh.....
