UrbanUpdate

Life comes at you fast. There will be times when you want to get clean but, for whatever reason, won’t be able to shower. Like maybe you woke up in an unfamiliar bed or maybe the hot water just cut out at your place. You might think you're out of luck on the hygiene front. But for our sake and yours, don't sacrifice your standards so easily. Consider this an opportunity for... ingenuity. Because there's always a way to freshen up.

The way we see it, you'll be faced with one of two scenarios:

1. You planned for this situation.

OR

2. You didn’t.

Either way, you want to look, smell, and feel as crispy as possible for the day ahead. So, here’s what you gotta do in either instance.

If you knew in advance that you’d be unable to shower—like, you're about to take a red-eye or you're heading out for a weekend of camping—then make sure you pack a few products in your dopp kit to help you get clean when it matters most:

1. Goodwipes Cleansing Body Wipes, $8 for a 10-pack

These wipes deodorize and cleanse. They’re alcohol-free so they won’t dry anything out, and they can be used pretty much everywhere on your body—face, pits, groin, arms…. Just pop into a bathroom stall first, to spare anyone an uncomfortable scene. And, speaking of bathroom stalls, Goodwipes also sells flushable Below the Belt Wipes ($7 for 30), which you need to have on hand if airport TP is too scratchy for your standards.

2. Bálla for Men Original Powder, $17.49

The best way to fight unwanted odor and moisture is to prevent it in the first place. Get a body powder like Bálla’s, then sprinkle it into your socks and underwear before you embark on your showerless journey—and repeat once things start getting musky. It’ll absorb excess moisture without drying out the skin, so you’ll stay comfortable and can dodge both funky smells and fungal infections. (Seriously though.)

3. R+Co BADLANDS Dry Shampoo Paste, $28

Greasy hair is the most obvious indication that you haven’t showered recently. The best fix is a dry shampoo and paste-styler hybrid. Dry shampoos absorb the excess oils that make hair shiny and limp. Most come as aerosol sprays, but R+Co has engineered this hybrid so that you can restore order to a disheveled, unwashed bedhead. Just rub a dime-sized amount into your palms and fingers, then apply evenly throughout the hair; start at the scalp and work your way up. It’ll vacuum all that extra grease and leave you with a malleable, matte finish. If you’re just looking for a pick-me-up spray (minus the styler), R+Co’s Death Valley Dry Shampoo is an equally stellar find.

4. Deodorant, toothpaste, and a toothbrush

No explanation necessary.

Now, if you didn’t have time—or foresight—to plan ahead, and you can't stop by a drugstore here’s what we suggest:

1. First, dampen some paper towels.

Wipe down your armpits. Then, wipe them down again with some dry paper towels.

2. Splash some water on your face.

No soap, though. (It’ll dry out the skin.) Pat your face dry with some paper towels.

3. Put on a hat (if you have one).

Or, splash some water into your hair and muss it into some sort of artfully disheveled look.

4. Now that you’re on a paper-towel spree...

You might as well use a couple dry ones to absorb any excess oil or water in the hair, too. The true aim here is to rinse away any grease. It might be good to stick your head under the hand dryer (since this makeshift regimen is already getting weird).

5. Eat a piece of fruit (or a veggie).

Apples, blackberries, celery, and carrots all act as natural toothbrushes. They are fibrous enough to clean teeth, but also can kill bacteria that cause bad breath. But if you are able to buy an apple, maybe also get some deodorant and mouthwash? (And plan ahead next time?)

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Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQBathroom and ShowerGrooming