When I think of little luxuries from my college dorm room, my mind goes to my shower caddy. Strange, I know. But I’m a girl who takes her bathing experience extremely seriously. When I was a freshman at WVU, I stayed in an all girl’s dorm where each floor had a communal bathroom. I’d always shared a bathroom (the oldest of 4 siblings), but I’d never shared a bathroom quite like this. What a communal bathroom meant was having to cart all of my toiletries back and forth every time I needed them. I definitely perfected my shower caddy and stocked it with the shower essentials that got the job done but also made me feel a little more at home.
Today I’m going to list what I required in my shower caddy in college, and the things I wish I’d have had.
The Caddy Itself
Ideally, your shower caddy should carry everything you need in the bathroom and also be easy to carry around. A lot of the girls on my floor had really cute, cloth bags they used, but I liked having a plastic caddy instead. I didn’t always take the entire basket into the shower, but if I did, I felt like plastic was a little more sanitary. I was able to get it wet and let it dry without worrying about mold happening.
Shower Shoes
Dorm showers are notoriously gross, and no one has time for an infection. Ew. Purchase a cheap pair of flip flops you exclusively use in the shower to avoid anything yucky. Bonus points if your shower shoes have small holes in them, like these, to let water filter through.
A Shower Cap
Let’s be real, you probably don’t wash your hair every single day. But sometimes it’s annoying to take a shower on no wash days and your hair still gets wet from the water. Enter the shower cap. You may look silly, but your hair will stay dry.
In-Shower Lotion
One of my newest shower obsessions is in-shower body lotion, and I wish I’d have had it when I was in the dorm. Apply it to your body, rinse it off, and you’re done. If you want to apply body lotion after, you can. But I find it moisturizing enough that I can skip the lotion on busy days and quickly get dressed and get out the door.
Makeup Remover/Cleanser
I’ve talked about double duty cleansers before. I love a cleansing product I can also use as a makeup remover. Wash your face once to remove any makeup/pollution on your face, and then use the same cleanser again. The second cleanse is what’s going to clean your skin.
Body Scrub
One good way to make a dorm room shower feel a little more luxurious is to remember a body scrub. Not only does exfoliating help get your blood flowing and remove any dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth, it also is an extra pampering step your skin will love.
Wash Cloths
At home, I love a loofah. I know they aren’t the most hygienic and harbor bacteria, but old habits die hard. When commuting to your shower every day, however, I would not advise it. What I would suggest (and what I used) is a good ole washcloth. I like the packages of 6 or so, so you can use one every day or so without having to do laundry right away. Using a new wash cloth will also keep any bacteria, like from acne, you may have on your skin from spreading.
Razor
Today, I rely on my monthly waxes for hair removal. But my college self was broke AF, so I relied on a traditional razor. I wish I had a travel size option, like this from Venus, when I was in school. Not only is a small option great for travel, it’s good for fitting into small spaces–like a dorm room bathroom/shower caddy.
Shaving Cream
If you’re going to be shaving, you’ll probably want to toss a shaving cream into the mix. While my lazy ass uses conditioner half of the time, a good shaving cream can moisturize the skin and prevent any nicks and razor burn. One of my favorites is the Pearl Souffle shave cream from Shaveworks. I know, $22 for a shaving cream is ridiculous. BUT this one is great. It doesn’t irritate my skin, and since you only need a small amount, it lasts forever. Buy this at the beginning of the year, and you won’t have to get another one until Christmas.
Shampoo + Conditioner
I wish I liked the 3-in-1 products that triple as shampoo/conditioner/body wash. But I don’t. If you do, amazing. It’ll save you precious real estate in your caddy. If you’re like me, it’s a risk worth taking. Of course, your shampoo and conditioner are going to be based on your hair needs, but I’ve linked some of my favorites below.
Soap/Body Wash
Some people like bar soap. Some like gels. I’m partial to the latter. Whatever you choose, select something that is going to leave your skin moisturized and soft — as well as clean.
Shower Speaker
I never had one of these, but I think it’d have been cool at times. I usually never was alone in the shower area, and someone else almost always had their own speaker. But the times I was, a little of my preferred music would have been nice to wake up or wind down with.
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