How To Take an 'Everything Shower,' According to Dermatologists

People are leveling up their shower routines, trading in their quick rinses for longer cleanses that touch on all aspects of personal hygiene needs. The trend, dubbed "everything showers," has exploded on TikTok, racking up over 112 million views as of March 2023.

Everything showers are exactly what they sound like: Instead of simply washing your hair and body, you clean everything. There's still shaving and shampooing, but there are also deep conditioning masks, exfoliators, and foot scrubs—not to mention pre and post-shower routines.

An everything shower is a great way to practice self-care while taking care of numerous body and skincare needs. Having a routine helps create feelings of safety and security, which can reduce stress. Read on to learn what an everything shower means and how often you might incorporate one into your daily routine.

What Is an Everything Shower?

If you browse TikTok, you'll find countless suggestions for your everything shower routine. Many people break their everything shower down into three parts: the pre-shower prep, the shower, and the post-shower routine.

Use your prep time to set the mood. Turn on some music or a podcast, light a candle, line up your hair and skin care products, and start to unwind. The shower itself can include everything from the typical shower time activities like shampooing and shaving to face masks, skin exfoliating rinses, hair conditioning masks, and foot scrubs.

"You might consider using a once-weekly cleansing shampoo to remove excess residue and oil, using a nail brush to clean out debris from underneath nails, using a hair mask to provide intense hydration and conditioning, using a foot rasp to remove calluses, and using a body scrub for exfoliation," Brendan Camp, MD, a dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York, told Health.

Make sure to wash your face last to remove any cosmetic products that may have gotten onto it during your shower. Use a mild cleanser that's non-comedogenic, meaning it has no ingredients that can clog pores. Apply the cleanser to your face using gentle, circular motions, and then rinse it off.

Moisturizing with lotions, serums, or oils is an important thing to focus on during your post-shower routine. Apply moisturizer right after you get out of the shower to lock in moisture and keep your skin hydrated.

The order of your shower tasks doesn't really matter. "It is up to personal preference and what works best for each individual's routine," Vladyslava Doktor, MD, a dermatologist and owner of Skin Center Boston, told Health.

What Are the Benefits?

Everything showers, in moderation, can be a great way to practice self-care. "Self-care is an important part of nurturing one's confidence," Rebecca Marcus, MD, a dermatologist with North Dallas Dermatology Associates, told Health. "It translates to beauty that radiates from the inside out."

Having a routine, such as the everything shower, has been shown to increase feelings of confidence and safety. These feelings can have a positive impact on well-being and reduce stress. Taking a shower is already a regular activity for many people, so it can be easy to adapt it into an everything shower.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive products to optimize your everything shower. Simply taking the time to create a ritual can reduce anxiety and stress. Research has shown that physical touch releases oxytocin. This feel-good hormone helps reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

How To Create a Routine

There are a few things you'll want to do to ensure your shower is more helpful than harmful. The first step is ensuring you're using lukewarm water. The ideal temperature is between 98 and 105 degrees, said Dr. Marcus. If the water is too hot, it can strip oil off the skin, leaving it dehydrated and irritated.

"Using hot water can trigger the release of histamine in the body, which can lead to skin irritation and itching," said Dr. Doktor. You might benefit from a cooler rinse. Research has shown that cold showers can improve quality of life and work productivity, even if you just turn the faucet to cold for 30 to 90 seconds.

Another important note: You may see some people on TikTok say their everything showers last up to four hours, but you don't actually want to be in the shower for that long. "Spending too much time in the shower can strip the skin of oil," said Dr. Camp.

You want to preserve some oil on your skin, which helps keep it soft and moisturized. If you have dry skin, pay even closer attention to how long your everything shower lasts. The ideal amount of shower time is about five to 10 minutes.

The sweet spot is taking an everything shower once a week for most people. The frequency will vary based on each person's schedule and personal hygiene needs. Too many everything showers could become too irritating for your skin, said Dr. Camp.

A Quick Review

An everything shower has become a trend on TikTok that involves taking a lengthy shower. You might wash your hair and body as usual while also using deep conditioning masks, exfoliators, and foot scrubs.

This type of shower can promote self-care and reduce anxiety and stress. You don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive products to upgrade your shower routine. Simply having a routine and taking the time for self-soothing can help you unwind.