5 French Hygiene Habits to Adopt

When I was growing up, there was an odd cliché that French people didn’t shower as often as Americans. I have no idea where this notion came from (probably an English person started it as the rivalry between France and England is as old as time!), but I can assure you it’s totally false!

Most French people practice good hygiene habits just like the rest of us – including taking a shower or bath once a day.

In fact, good hygiene is at the core of all French beauty ideals.

French Hygiene

Today I’m going to share with you a few French hygiene habits and let you know how French women take care of themselves on a regular basis. Check out the best French bath and body brands who create the country’s beloved hygiene products.

Soap

French women regularly wash their hands and bodies with soap bars. France is known for its soap production so you can bet this is a country that smells pretty darn good. Soap has been produced in the southern coastal city of Marseille for several centuries, and the first soapmaker was recorded in the region in 1370!

In the 17th century, Louis XIV passed regulations in the Edict of Colbert which limited the use of the name ‘Savon de Marseille’ to only olive oil-based soaps. Today, many different vegetable oils can be used to create the French soaps we know and love. 

If you live in France, the soap you find at the grocery store is absolutely fantastic. From Le Petit Olivier to Le Petit Marseillais, these authentic French soaps are a great place to find quality French hand soap and body soap.

If you use non-liquid hand soap, then be sure to follow it up with a French hand cream with shea butter.

Showering & Baths

I started using scented French shower gel since moving to France and let me tell you, it’s completely transformed my morning shower/bath! I got in touch with the French organic beauty company La Provençale Bio and they were kind enough to let me try some of their wonderful shower gels, which you can pick up in grocery stores across the country. The best part is – they are not expensive at all! 

You can substitute your shower gel for one of these luxurious French body washes, too.

Once a week, French women use one of the many French body scrubs that work to gently exfoliate the skin and slough off any dry, flaky skin bits.

Oral Care

I’ll never forget the first time I tried a quality, European toothpaste. It was like suddenly a whole world of enjoyable tooth brushing opened up to me! I had always hated brushing my teeth until I found the right high-quality toothpaste. It was Marvis, in case you’re wondering. 

Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste is an Italian toothpaste that is beloved by French people since the mid-century when this apothecary-inspired toothpaste first became popular as a means to remove those smoking stains from teeth.

The French appreciate the little things in life, and this is one area where I think they have the right idea. While Americans are obsessed with whitening when it comes to their teeth, the French prefer to use toothpaste that actually tastes good. It’s just a few minutes of our day, but it should be a pleasant experience, nonetheless.

There are several kinds of French toothpaste that are very popular among the more discerning French folk.

LeBon Natural Toothpaste is a new French toothpaste that appeals to people who value natural hygiene products.

French mouth wash should be used regularly to keep your breath fresh as well.

Deodorant

Do French girls wear deodorant? You bet they do! From natural ingredients to organic deodorant, the French love their deodorant and have quite a few ‘clean’ deodorant products on the market. French women definitely wear deodorant every day and so should you! It will keep you from smelling funny after dashing down a cobblestone street en route to your café meeting. 

However, this is one area where I would not recommend a French product if you sweat a lot such as during a workout. It’s well known among American expat circles that French deodorant simply does not work as well as American ones. Be your own judge!

My guess is that it’s probably because the French have used too many natural ingredients. While organic beauty products are definitely preferable, this is one area where I’ve found it to be much less effective. I know this is a bummer for all you clean beauty lovers, but unfortunately aluminum is what keeps you from smelling bad, and in order for a deodorant to be organic or natural, it must not include aluminum. 

So if you don’t plan on sweating a lot, you can probably go with one of the French deodorants, but otherwise, stick with a good old American Secret deodorant. I even bring a few of these back to France with me from the States!

If all else fails, you can always spritz a few sprays of your favorite French fragrance on you!

Hair Removal

What do French women use to remove their unwanted hair? An epilator of course! I first heard about this little device from a friend in France who said she uses one to remove her leg hair in a snap. I knew I had to try it, but I was living in the US at the time, so I ordered the closest thing I could find from Walmart. 

An epilator is a device that quickly plucks the hair from any surface on your body. It’s essentially a cylinder with dozens of little tweezers that spin around very fast as you move it up and down your legs. The hair must be a bit long for the device to grab onto it so you would have to use it 2 or 3 days after shaving, for example. 

Now, to be totally honest, I wasn’t super impressed with the epilator I bought. While it successfully removed the majority of my leg hair, there were definitely a few patches it missed.

This is one French hair removal hack to try on your own, for sure! 

If you don’t want to fuss around with a new product, then you can also just use French shaving cream and a standard razor to shave your legs and armpits.

Voila, my best French hygiene tips! I hope this post helped you understand a bit more about French hygiene habits and products. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!