Després de dutxar-me, em pentino el cabell al bany, davant del mirall.

Després de means after.

In Catalan, després is normally followed by de before a noun or an infinitive structure:

• després de classe = after class
• després de menjar = after eating
• després de dutxar-me = after showering / after taking a shower

So the de is not optional here; it is the normal pattern.

Both are possible in Catalan, but they work differently.

In this sentence, després de is followed by an infinitive, so Catalan uses the infinitive form of the verb:

• dutxar-me = to shower myself

You cannot normally put a fully conjugated verb directly after després de in this structure.

So:

• Després de dutxar-me, ... = correct
• Després em dutxo, ... = not the same structure

If you wanted a fully conjugated verb, you would need a different sentence pattern, for example:

• Després que em dutxo, ... would not be the normal way to say this
• more natural alternatives would be things like Després de dutxar-me, ...

In Catalan, object and reflexive pronouns are often attached to the infinitive with a hyphen.

So:

• dutxar = to shower
• me = myself
• dutxar-me = to shower myself

This is very common with infinitives:

• rentar-se = to wash oneself
• pentinar-me = to comb my hair / to comb myself
• llevar-se = to get up

This attached pronoun is called an enclitic pronoun.

Because pentinar-se is commonly used as a reflexive verb when talking about combing your own hair.

• pentino by itself would usually mean I comb something or someone
• em pentino means I comb myself / I comb my hair

Catalan often uses a reflexive pronoun in personal grooming actions:

• em rento = I wash myself
• em vesteixo = I get dressed
• em pentino = I comb my hair

So em is the reflexive pronoun meaning myself here.

Catalan usually uses the definite article with body parts when the possessor is already clear from the pronoun.

So:

• em pentino el cabell literally looks like I comb myself the hair
• but it naturally means I comb my hair

This is very normal in Catalan, and also in other Romance languages. You usually do not need the possessive meu/meva unless you want emphasis or contrast.

Compare:

• em rento les mans = I wash my hands
• em raspallo les dents = I brush my teeth
• em pentino el cabell = I comb my hair

Yes, Catalan can use both singular and plural, depending on the idea you want.

• el cabell often refers to hair as a mass or collective idea, similar to English hair
• els cabells refers more to the hairs or someone’s hair in a countable/plural sense, though it is also very common in everyday language

So both of these can be natural:

• em pentino el cabell
• em pentino els cabells

The singular in your sentence is perfectly correct and sounds like treating hair as one whole.

Al is a contraction of a + el.

• a = to / at / in
• el = the
• a el becomes al

So:

• al bany = in / to the bathroom

This contraction is standard Catalan:

• al cotxe = to/in the car
• al carrer = in the street
• al bany = in the bathroom

You would not normally say a el bany.

Because davant de means in front of, and de + el contracts to del.

Step by step:

• davant de = in front of
• el mirall = the mirror
• davant de + el mirall becomes davant del mirall

So del here is just the normal contraction of de + el.

Davant de is a prepositional expression meaning in front of.

It is used before a noun:

• davant de casa = in front of the house
• davant de l’escola = in front of the school
• davant del mirall = in front of the mirror

So in this sentence:

• al bany tells you the general location
• davant del mirall gives a more precise position inside that location

Yes, Catalan word order is somewhat flexible, although your sentence is very natural as it stands.

Current order:

• Després de dutxar-me, = time/background
• em pentino el cabell = main action
• al bany, davant del mirall = location

This is a very normal way to organize the sentence: first when, then what happens, then where.

You could also say, for example:

• Em pentino el cabell al bany, davant del mirall, després de dutxar-me.

That is grammatical, but it sounds less neutral because the time expression comes later. The original version is smoother and more natural for everyday narration.

Yes. Em pentino on its own is completely natural and often enough.

Catalan speakers may include el cabell to be more explicit, but very often the object is understood:

• Em pentino. = I comb my hair / I comb myself
• Em pentino el cabell. = I comb my hair

So the version with el cabell is a bit fuller, but not required.

They are very close in meaning, but the style is a little different.

• dutxar-se = to shower
• prendre una dutxa = to take a shower

In everyday Catalan, dutxar-se is very common and direct. In your sentence, després de dutxar-me is the most natural compact option.

A less compact version would be:

• Després de prendre una dutxa, ...

That is also correct, but the reflexive verb is more straightforward here.

Mirall is pronounced approximately like mee-RAHL or mee-RYE depending on the variety of Catalan, because the final ll can sound different across dialects.

A useful learner approximation is:

• mi-RAI or mi-RALY depending on accent

The important part is that ll in Catalan is not pronounced like ordinary English l in many varieties. Its exact sound varies by region, so do not worry if you hear some differences.

This one sentence contains several very useful Catalan patterns:

1. Time expression with infinitive

   • Després de dutxar-me

2. Reflexive infinitive

   • dutxar-me

3. Reflexive conjugated verb

   • em pentino

4. Definite article with body parts

   • el cabell

5. Contraction of preposition + article

   • al = a + el
   • del = de + el

6. Location phrases

   • al bany
   • davant del mirall

So it is a great example of everyday Catalan grammar in a very natural context.