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A HELPFUL SHOWER ROUTINE FOR BOYS STARTING PUBERTY
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
My son walked past me one day and I just stopped.
Something was different.
I couldn't really put my finger on it at the time. But in my mind, I immediately went, "Wait....is this the smell of puberty?"
It was.
And I just stood there like.....okay. Now what.
Because no one really tells you about this part. Not in a practical kind of way anyway. Not in a okay-here's-what-you-actually-need kind of way.
You just find yourself in the middle of it.
And if you're a single mom raising a teen son, it can feel a lot. I mean, there are all these questions going through your mind. What does he need? What do you buy? Is he okay?
And how do you even bring this stuff up with him without making it a big deal. Without making it so awkward that he never comes to you about any of this stuff again.
So you Google. You hover in the toiletry aisle. You start reading labels. And you start figuring it out on your own.
The thing is that your teenage son might not be running to you asking for help. Not literally. But he is secretly depending on you to jump in and help him out. Because he has no clue either.
The Physical Changes That Come With Puberty In Boys
You have to first understand what's actually happening before you go out buying things. Otherwise everything just feels random.
It usually starts somewhere between 9 and 14. That's the range. But it doesn't mean you'll see it coming. Sometimes it's earlier. Sometimes it's later. Whatever it is, it just....starts when it's time.
The smell is usually the first thing.
Before this, sweat is just sweat. Then suddenly it's not. It's stronger. And it sticks around.
What's really happening is his body is producing a different kind of sweat now. Under his arms. Around his groin. And when that sweat sits on the skin and mixes with bacteria, that's when the smell kicks in.
And it's not about him not being clean or not showering. His body just changed the rules.
Then the skin. It starts getting oily. You'll notice it on his face first. That shine that wasn't there before. Maybe small bumps. Maybe full pimples out of nowhere.
And it's not only his face, but his body too, like bacne and acne on his chest (chacne??) or even his arms.
His hair too. Gets greasy faster. What used to last a couple of days suddenly doesn't. And the annoying part is that oil doesn't just stay in the hair. It ends up on his face, making whatever's happening on his face worse.
Speaking about hair, there's also hair growing in new places. It starts slow and then suddenly it's just there. For some reason, he'll probably show off the few strands of hair in his armpits. Because it's funny to him. But then you realize that's just the start.
The privacy comes next.
Longer showers.
Doors closed.
Less random talking.
It can feel like he's pulling away a bit. But really, he's just becoming more aware of himself.
That part is a mix of things. A little sad. A little proud. A little confusing.
Because he's figuring out a body that doesn't feel the same anymore. And he's watching everyone else around him change too. Some faster. Some slower. You know he notices, even if he never says it.
Having the right things in the shower won't fix everything. But gives him something small he can manage on his own.
And that matters.
10 Shower Products For Boys Going Through Puberty
Try keeping it simple. The thing is, if there's too much, he won't use any of it. So start with the basics. Things that he'll actually reach for. Then add from there.
A body wash he likes the smell of
This is probably one of the most important things on this list. And if he doesn't like the smell, it will sit there forever.
Let him pick it if you can. Take him to the store and just browse and let him smell stuff. My son loves vanilla and he doesn't care if it's for women or men specific so it made my life easier. Anything vanilla. Which I, by the way, don't like. But then it's not about me is it.
There are so many options out there to choose from. Method Body, Dove, Native. All solid options that aren't harsh and actually smell nice.
If he has sensitive skin, or just has a sensitive nose, go for something fragrance-free.
The goal is for him to be consistent. He needs to use it. Regularly.
An antibacterial body wash for after sports
Keep this one separate from his everyday body wash. For days after football, gym, or any time he's been sweating a lot.
An antibacterial body wash does a better job at dealing with the bacteria that actually cause body odor.
Dove is a good option. Having the two types of body washes in the shower covers normal and heavy sweat days.
A face wash, not a bar soap
Bar soap on the face can be a bit too harsh for his skin that's already producing more oil than it can handle. It strips everything, and then the skin panics and produces more oil to compensate. How amazing are our bodies to be able to do that?? But not helpful in this case.
A gentle face wash with salicylic acid or glycerin is so much better.
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser is my go-to recommendation because it suits almost every skin type without causing any reactions. Cerave, Neutrogena and La Roche Posay both have good, affordable options too.
Read Also. The Best Skincare Routine For Teenage Boys
A shampoo for oily scalp/hair
His old shampoo is probably not enough anymore. Look for something clarifying or made for an oily scalp.
Head & Shoulders is reliable. It handles the oiliness and also takes care of dandruff, which can start becoming a thing during puberty.
Neutrogena T/Sal is worth looking at too, if he's dealing with a flaky scalp on top of everything else.
A conditioner
Boys need conditioner. They just don't know it yet. Especially if the shampoo they use strips their hair a bit.
A basic rinse-out conditioner on the ends makes a real difference.
If adding a separate conditioner feels like too much for him right now, just go with a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. It's not perfect, but it's still better than him skipping it completely.
A body scrubber
Washing with just his hands isn't really getting the job done anymore.
A silicone body scrubber or a loofah creates a better lather and actually lets the body wash work properly. It also helps with the buildup of dead skin cells, which is one of the things that leads to back and shoulder acne, among many other things.
Also, silicone scrubbers are so much easier to clean than loofahs and they last a lot longer too. So I'd go that route.
A face scrub or exfoliate, once or twice a week
Definitely not for every day. Just once or twice a week.
Getting him to exfoliate his skin helps clear all the dead skin cells. It keeps pores from getting blocked. And makes a real difference with blackheads around the nose and forehead.
Neutrogena is a classic affordable option. I personally cannot recommend the Paula's Choice BHA Perfecting Lotion enough. My son and I both use it and it has made such a difference to our skin. We absolutely love this product!
Just remind your son not to go too hard with whatever he chooses, whether a face scrub or a chemical exfoliator. Because over-scrubbing can make everything worse.
Antiperspirant, not just deodorant
To be honest, I really didn't know the difference between these two at first.
Deodorant only masks the smell. Antiperspirant actually reduces how much he sweats, which deals with the real cause of the smell. This is the stuff he needs.
You want something that says antiperspirant on the label. Rexona. Dove Men+Care, Old Spice, Nivea Men are all good.
If you prefer a deodorant for him and if that's what he only needs, then do that.
And one thing worth telling him is that putting it on clean, dry armpits at night actually works better than in the morning. The skin absorbs it better overnight. That made a real difference for us. So he might want to try it.
A spot treatment
Even before he gets a full-on breakout, having a spot treatment ready in the bathroom for when a pimple shows up means he's not picking at it. You know how it'll only make things worse.
Products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide work really well.
Clearasil and La Roche-Posay Effaclar are great to start with. Also the Mighty Patch pimple patches are absolutely amazing.
He'll probably come to you anyway with a pimple you can barely see because to him it's a big deal. Yes, it's a big deal, no matter how small the pimple is to you.
But keep telling him almost everyone goes through this because they really do.
A light moisturizer
I know this one sounds like a lot on top of everything else but hear me out.
When his face is being washed every day and treated with active products, it dries out. And when it dries out, it overproduces oils to compensate. So you end up going in circles.
A light moisturizer breaks that cycle. It also keeps everything balanced.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream is great. The Cerave moisturizer is also a great moisturizer for normal skin.
Boys at this stage...they're in that in-between space. They want to handle things themselves (most of the time). They don't want to talk. But they still need you there. Even if they act like they don't.
You don't need a big conversation. Most of the time the quieter approach works much better.
You just leave the deodorant in his room without making it a big deal. Or you say, "hey I got you a new face wash, it's in the bathroom". And that's it.
Nothing much is said, but he knows you've got him.
My son started coming to me with skin questions once I stopped making it a big deal. And those are some of my favorite conversations. At this point, my son knows a lot about skincare ingredients and what they do. And I'm a proud mama!
Just keep your son's bathroom stocked. Try different products to see what suits his skin and issues he has. Keep things casual.
He's lucky to have a mom who's doing all this for him. Even if he acts too cool to say anything about it.
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