How To Apply Deodorant: Tips To Make Your Deodorant More Effective (2024)

FAQs

How To Apply Deodorant: Tips To Make Your Deodorant More Effective? ›

Apply deodorant to underarms: Apply deodorant to your underarms using 2-3 upward and downward sweeps. This technique helps ensure you're covering all of your sweat glands. If you have hair in your armpits, you may need to apply more pressure when putting on deodorant.

Many people quickly make a couple of straight swipes and go. The best method, whether using deodorant or antiperspirant, is to slow down and be sure to give the entire underarm area a uniform coat of product (for men, that means applying enough pressure to get through the hair that most guys have in their underarms).

You're Applying Deodorant to Wet Underarms

“While many people tend to apply after showering—you should wait till the surface is fully dry. Water creates a barrier, therefore deodorants don't penetrate the skin and can wear off quickly.”

But while deodorant effectively masks odor whenever you use it, applying it to sweaty skin won't be quite as effective as using it on clean, dry underarms. So, if you're wondering how to put on deodorant for the best results, we'd recommend washing first, then allowing your skin to dry completely.

Clean and exfoliate gently

Deodorant helps, but its benefits are maximized when applied to clean skin. Lather up those underarms and exfoliate gently to rid yourself of bacteria and dead skin cells — it's a safer bet towards ensuring your delicate skin is ready for a fresh application.

Deodorant is most effective when applied to clean, dry skin. It is better to apply deodorant at night, before bed, when your body is less likely to sweat. You can use most deodorants anywhere you tend to sweat, not just the underarms.

Even if you're using deodorant, you might still experience smelly armpits. This could be due to various factors such as diet, stress, hormonal changes, or even the type of bacteria present in your underarms.

Generally, two or three swipes should be enough. Start at the center of the armpit — on clean, dry skin — and work your way outwards. Be careful not to put too much, as this may lead to irritation and discomfort. The best time to use deodorant is at night .

Whether it's trimming underarm hair or shaving your underarms, shorter hair means deodorant can reach your skin more effectively. Ultimately, the best way to remove underarm hair is whatever works best for you – but keeping it a little shorter is a good first step.

If your deodorant is no longer effective, you may need to re-evaluate your deodorant routine. Several external and internal factors can affect your deodorant's effectiveness. These include humidity, altitude, and the microbiome of your skin. Also, certain foods, can affect the performance of deodorant.

Why doesn't deodorant work for me anymore? ›

Has anything changed? Internal factors, like what you're eating, and external factors, like your environment, can impact how well your deodorant works. Increased humidity and altitude affect your “BO” profile, not just how much you sweat but also your microbiome and how it reacts to sweat.

Your armpits have an inherent odor that's totally normal due to apocrine and eccrine glands. Everyone's armpits smell different thanks to genetics, hormones, diet, and other factors. If your armpits suddenly smell especially foul it could be a sign of an infection that needs medical attention.

"Apply 2 strokes up and 2 strokes down to each armpit. You should only need to do this once or twice a week," the doctor advises. And in case you're wondering what the difference is between antiperspirants and deodorants: antiperspirants are designed to prevent sweat whilst deodorants are used to mask the smell.

Twist the base of the product to dispense the stick. Starting from the center of your armpit, glide the stick outward. Three to four strokes would easily cover the whole armpit area. You can reapply stick deodorants as and when needed throughout the day.

According to Lipner, nighttime is the ideal time to apply an antiperspirant deodorant. “We sweat less at night, so the antiperspirant can come into closer contact with sweat glands and decrease sweating," Lipner explains.

Spray your deodorant from a specific distance, approximately 15 cm away from your body. But do not spray it on your clothes. They are meant to be put on your skin for the best results. Beauty care experts recommend applying 2-3 strokes of deo on dry skin, starting at the center and working outward in all directions.

As far as mildness goes it doesn't matter if you use a roll on deodorant or a spray on deodorant. However, I would recommend you use a good roll on or tube rather than a spray. One reason is effectiveness. Research has found that only 11.4% of a spray reaches the skin.

Less is More

When it comes to natural deodorant, less is more. One to two swipes is all you need. As with all our natural deodorant formulas, Schmidt's should be applied in small amounts to help avoid common issues like yellow stains or stickiness.

Roll-on deodorants are more effective at killing the bacteria that cause sweat and odor. Roll-on deodorants are also more effective at covering up body odor than stick deodorants. This is because roll-on deodorants can form a thicker layer on the skin, which helps to trap body odor.