How to Take an Everything Shower (Without Spending All Day)
The Best Order, Products, and Expert Tips for a Weekly Shower Reset
Photo by IslandHopper X via Pexels
While scrolling through TikTok and social media recently I've come across influencers walking viewers through their everything shower routine. At first glance, I thought this was just washing your entire body, but I've come to learn that an everything shower is actually a bit more extensive than that. In a nutshell, an everything shower involves everything from exfoliating and shampooing to moisturizing and cleansing.
"I believe the popularity comes from the fact that people are craving intentional self-care," says Shantani Smith-Pannell, a licensed esthetician and educator at Ogle School Atlanta. "In today’s fast-paced world, an everything shower gives people permission to slow down and invest time in themselves. Social media has certainly amplified the trend, but at its core, it’s about creating a ritual that helps you feel refreshed, confident, and cared for."
Can it be more time consuming? Yes, however, it may actually save you time throughout the week if you take care of certain aspects at once.
Ahead, we spoke with licensed estheticians and dermatologists about everything you need to know about everything showers including how to take one, the proper order, and some products you'll want to keep handy in your bathroom. Spoiler alert: Having quality exfoliating products is a necessity.
(Photo by IslandHopper X via Pexels)
What Is An Everything Shower?
As mentioned above, an everything shower is just what the name suggests—a self-care shower routine that takes care of everything from head to toe.
There's no real information on who coined the phrase 'everything shower,' however, many people have jumped on the bandwagon with this self-care method and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
"An everything shower is the long, head-to-toe version of a shower: hair oil or mask, double shampoo, conditioner, body exfoliation, shaving, cleansing, and a full skincare and body care routine afterward," says Dr. Geeta Yadav, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology. "TikTok might have branded it, but it's essentially the thorough weekly shower women have been taking forever but now with an everything shower checklist."
How Often Should You Do an Everything Shower?
Although self-care rituals are popular these days as a means of sticking to a routine and creating a sense of normalcy, an everything shower is not something that should be done daily although influencers might lead you to believe it should be.
"The everything shower is a weekly event, not a daily one," says Dr. Yadav. "Skin and hair don't need that level of intervention more than once and over-cleansing or over-exfoliating will leave you worse off than when you started."
What's Included In An Everything Shower?
When it comes to taking an everything shower, there is an everything shower checklist that has what "should be" included. Notice how we put "should be" in quotes because the everything shower steps will look slightly different based on their preferences, priorities and skincare/hair/body goals.
Here's what's commonly found on an everything shower checklist:
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Authors
Casey Clark is a freelance journalist and content creator from New York City who specializes in beauty, fashion and commerce. She holds a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University in journalism and her byline appears in major national publications in
Written By:
Casey Clark
01
Pre-Shower Hair Treatment
This typically looks like applying a hair oil or scalp treatment to your hair ahead of showering. "Deep conditioning treatments and scalp care can help improve moisture levels, manageability, and overall hair health," says Smith-Pannell.
If you're looking for some pre-shampoo recommendations to add to your shower caddy, the SWAIR SpeedMask Pre-Wash Hair Treatment is a solid-choice to apply on dry hair from root to tip before shampooing and conditioner alongside the Briogeo Scalp Revival™ Rosemary Pre-Wash Scalp and Hair Oil.
02
Shampoo
Most people shampoo in the shower and it's one of the everything shower essentials. For everything showers, double shampooing is recommended as a means of ensuring hair is both properly cleaned by first breaking down dirt and debris and then targeting those pesky impurities that had stayed behind.
Smith-Pannell recommends using a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to wash hair, especially for those with color-treated strands.
03
Body Wash
You can't go in the shower without using body wash to clean your skin and make you smell good. The type of body wash you'll want to use will vary based on your skin type and sensitivities, but finding one that suits you best is recommended.
Dr. Yadav recommends a fragrance-free, ceramide-based body wash like those from CeraVe and Cetaphil as opposed to a stripping shower gel.
04
Conditioner
When it comes to conditioning your hair, Dr. Yadav recommends leaving it in while you exfoliate and shave hence why it occurs earlier on in the shower routine steps. Conditioning is particularly important for those with dry and damaged hair to help add and retain moisture for softer and smoother strands. In terms of everything shower products for conditioner, I recommend the Davines OI Conditioner and Eva NYC Healthy Hair Conditioner as they are both sulfate-free and gentle on the hair.
05
Body Exfoliant
Exfoliation can help you achieve softer and smoother skin whether that's by using an exfoliating scrub or glove. "Keep in mind that over-exfoliating can compromise the skin barrier, so moderation is important," says Smith-Pannell. "For the skin barrier, an everything shower can actually be supportive when followed by hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and nourishing oils."
In my everything shower, I love to use the Cleanlogic Bath and Body Exfoliating Body Scrubber and TULA So Polished Exfoliating Body Scrub that leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch. If you have sensitive skin, then you'll want to consult with a dermatologist first to see if exfoliation is something that will benefit you.
If you’re planning on shaving, make sure it follows this step for the smoothest result.
06
Facial Cleanser
Using a facial cleanser is important for helping get rid of impurities and dirt that have made their way onto your face during the day. All you need to do is get your face wet with some lukewarm water and use your fingers to massage the product into your skin and then rinse it off. I recommend Skinfix's Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser and Almora Botanica's Purifying Gel Cleanser that are both gentle and work to cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural moisture.
07
Body Moisturizer
When figuring out how to do an everything shower, body moisturizer should almost always be the last step. "If you apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp, then it locks water in most effectively," says Dr. Yadav. For my everything showers, I alternate between Vaseline Nourishing Moisture Body Lotion and Burt's Bees Boosted Daily Lotion.
Keep in mind that a little bit of product goes a long way when dealing with body moisturizers otherwise you'll just end up a slick mess.
If you shaved your legs or anywhere else, add in an aftershave product to soothe the area and prevent ingrown hairs.
How Long Does It Take For An Everything Shower?
With all of these steps in a shower routine for women, it seems like it could take a while. In some cases it might, especially if you don't miss anything. For example, shaving alone can take between 10 and 15 minutes and then if you add on the pre-shower hair treatment and post-shower moisturizing that could add on another 10 to 20 minutes. A solid estimate would be between 45 to 50 minutes total depending on how fast you go, but it's more about enjoying the experience. "Self-care should feel restorative, not stressful," says Smith-Pannell.
Not everyone has an hour to take a shower or follow an everything shower list, however, you don't need to complete every step for it to be a successful one. "You can pick the two steps that actually move the needle for you and push the rest to monthly," says Dr. Yadav.
If you want to keep all the steps, then you can multitask by shaving and exfoliating while leaving in your hair conditioner to shave some time off.
Does The Shower Routine Order Matter?
Yes, the everything shower order does matter to some extent mostly to make the process more efficient and effective.
"The shower routine order matters most for hair," says Dr. Yadav. "Use an oil or mask first, shampoo it out, then leave the conditioner in while you exfoliate and shave so it has time to work, and rinse it last. For skin, the only rule I really care about is moisturizing within a few minutes of stepping out, while skin is still damp."
What Are The Benefits Of An Everything Shower?
Now that you know about this ultimate shower routine, you might be wondering what the benefits are of an everything shower. This is a solid question and according to our experts, it can have both mental and physical health benefits.
"When done sensibly, you get well-conditioned hair and smoother, better-hydrated skin, especially if you apply moisturizer while skin is still damp," says Dr. Yadav. "There's also a real mental health component as unhurried time spent caring for your body lowers stress, and stress shows up on skin."
Out of everything in this trend, Dr. Yadav adds that hair generally benefits the most since most people rush conditioner,and a weekly mask. "Plus a proper scalp cleanse is a good habit," she explains.
Authors
Casey Clark is a freelance journalist and content creator from New York City who specializes in beauty, fashion and commerce. She holds a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University in journalism and her byline appears in major national publications in
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