Vocal Tips - Hydration

As a singer, hydration is essential for good vocal health.

Singers, a question for you- Does drinking water come in contact with your vocal folds?

I used to believe that water was directly hydrating my vocal folds as I slammed it down just before or after singing.

Don’t get me wrong, it does feel lovely when singing or recovering from sickness, but drinking it does not touch your vocal folds as it goes down.

Our body has an incredibly intricate system to protect us from getting food & drink from going down into our trachea (windpipe) which is connected to the larynx, which houses the vocal folds.
Sometimes that system has a little glitch when we drink water and we get a strong cough reflex to try and get it back to the right pipe- the oesophagus.

So when drinking water, it travels down your oesophagus, through to your stomach.

However, it is still important to be hydrated- you can do that 2 ways:

1. Internally (or Systemically)

Drink water regularly and eventually it will reach your vocal folds to hydrate them from the inside.

If you know when you’re going to sing, try and hydrate at least 4 hours beforehand to reap the benefit.

2. Topically

Steam CAN reach the vocal folds! It’s water in the ‘gas’ phase. Different to drinking water.

Get yourself a pot of hot water (not boiling), a towel and breathe in those tiny droplets of warm water!

Or you can get a Steam Inhaler for something more portable.
**Side note, don’t add essential oils when breathing in, only water!

This is also great if you use your voice a lot (singing or speaking) and you want to do something soothing & therapeutic for your vocal folds.

I’ve been increasing my daily water intake in both these ways and have definitely noticed a difference!

Is this something you already knew, or has this been eye-opening for you? Love to know!

Peace & Love,

Elissa