If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably heard people asking: what is an everything shower? The term sounds dramatic, but the idea behind it is simple. An everything shower is an extended, luxurious shower session where you tackle every personal-care task you’ve been putting off: washing and treating your hair, exfoliating your whole body, shaving, and finishing with full-body skincare, all in one long, relaxing ritual. Instead of rushing through your usual five-minute rinse, you deliberately slow down and turn body care into self-care. Below, we explain where the trend came from, walk through the full step-by-step routine, and share how often to do one, the products worth having on hand, and what dermatologists want you to know before you turn up the heat.
What Is an Everything Shower, Exactly?
An everything shower is exactly what the name suggests: a shower in which you do everything. You set aside a generous block of time, usually 30 minutes to an hour, and work through your entire head-to-toe maintenance list in one session. Hair wash, hair mask, full-body exfoliation, shaving, deep conditioning, and a thorough post-shower skincare routine all happen back to back. Think of it as the difference between quickly wiping down your kitchen counters and giving the whole house a proper deep clean.
The phrase exploded on TikTok in 2022 and 2023, where videos tagged #everythingshower racked up billions of views. Creators filmed their elaborate multi-step routines, complete with lit candles, curated playlists, and lineups of products arranged around the tub. But the concept itself is far from new. It is essentially a rebrand of the classic Sunday reset or pamper-night ritual, now supercharged by social media aesthetics. What made it catch on is the framing: the everything shower is not just hygiene, it is an event. It gives you permission to slow down and treat body care as self-care rather than another chore on the list.
There is a practical side to the trend, too. Most of us keep our daily showers short out of habit or a busy schedule, and dermatologists say that is actually the right call for everyday washing. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that dermatologists recommend limiting showers to five to ten minutes and using warm water to protect the skin’s natural oils. The everything shower is the deliberate exception: a weekly session where you invest extra time in the jobs that never fit into a quick daily rinse.
The Complete Everything Shower Routine, Step by Step
There is no single official order for an everything shower, but most routines follow the same logic: work from top to bottom, and do the messiest jobs first so each rinse washes away the last step’s residue. Here is the classic sequence.
Step 1: Hair – Double Cleanse and Treat
Start with your hair, since treatments need time to work while you move on to everything else. Soak your hair thoroughly, then shampoo twice. The first wash lifts away product buildup and oil; the second actually cleans the scalp. If your hair is dry or damaged, work a deep-conditioning mask or a few drops of hair oil through the lengths now and leave it in while you do the body steps. The warm steam helps the treatment penetrate. Rinse it out near the end of your shower so your hair gets the full benefit of the soak time.
For many people, the everything shower naturally doubles as wash day. Just keep in mind that ideal shampoo frequency depends on your hair type: fine or oily hair may need washing every couple of days, while dry, coarse, or coily hair often does better with once a week or less.
Step 2: Exfoliate from Neck to Toes
While your hair treatment soaks, move on to exfoliation. Using a body scrub, exfoliating mitts, or a dry brush, work in gentle circular motions from your neck down to your feet, sloughing away dead skin cells. Spend extra time on rough patches like elbows, knees, and heels, but go easy on delicate areas. Exfoliating before shaving matters: it lifts the hairs and clears the dead skin that can trap them, which means a closer shave with fewer ingrown hairs. If you prefer chemical exfoliants, such as a glycolic or lactic acid body wash, use a light hand and skip the gritty scrub in the same session to avoid overdoing it.
Step 3: Shave (If You Want To)
Shaving is entirely optional. An everything shower is about what makes you feel good, not a mandatory checklist. If you do shave, this is the ideal moment: your skin is warm, your pores are open, and exfoliation has already prepped the surface. Use a sharp razor and a proper shaving cream, gel, or oil, never dry-shave, and glide in the direction of hair growth to reduce irritation. Rinse the blade often and let it do the work instead of pressing hard. Finish with a cool rinse to help calm the skin.
Step 4: Post-Shower Skincare
The ritual does not end when the water stops. Within a few minutes of stepping out, while your skin is still slightly damp, lock in moisture from neck to toes with a body oil, lotion, or rich body butter. Pay special attention to the areas you exfoliated and shaved. Then look after your face with your usual routine of cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. This is also the moment for the extras: a face mask, cuticle oil, a thick foot cream with cozy socks, or a spritz of body mist. Pull on your softest loungewear, and the ritual is complete.
How Often Should You Have an Everything Shower?
For most people, once a week is the sweet spot. A weekly everything shower lines up neatly with wash day for many hair types, and it is frequent enough to stay on top of exfoliation without overdoing it. If you have very dry or sensitive skin, every two weeks may suit you better.
The reason not to do it daily is straightforward. Long, hot showers strip the skin’s natural oils and can leave it dry, tight, or itchy, especially in winter. Keep your regular daily showers short and lukewarm, and save the long, steamy, do-everything session for your designated reset day.
Your Everything Shower Products Checklist
You do not need a shelf full of luxury products to enjoy a great everything shower, but having the basics ready makes the ritual smoother. Here is a simple checklist:
- A gentle shampoo and conditioner, plus a deep-conditioning mask or hair oil for treatment day
- A body wash or shower gel you enjoy using
- One exfoliant, not three: a body scrub, exfoliating gloves, or a dry brush
- Shaving cream, gel, or oil, and a sharp razor
- A body lotion, body oil, or body butter for post-shower moisture
- Your regular facial skincare products
- Optional extras for the full experience: a face mask, cuticle oil, foot cream, a candle, and a great playlist
What Dermatologists Want You to Know
The everything shower is a fun ritual, but dermatologists offer a few cautions to keep it skin-friendly. First, watch the water temperature. Very hot water feels wonderful but strips oils from your skin and hair, so aim for warm rather than scalding. Second, do not over-exfoliate. Once a week is plenty, and combining scrubs, acids, and rough mitts in a single session can damage your skin barrier and leave you red and sensitive. Third, moisturize immediately afterward. Freshly exfoliated skin loses moisture faster, so the post-shower lotion step is not optional. Finally, keep the session to a reasonable length. Even a luxurious ritual can dry out your skin if it stretches on too long in very hot water. Done thoughtfully, an everything shower is perfectly fine. It is simply your regular routine, given the time and attention it deserves.
Everything Shower FAQs
How long does an everything shower take?
Most everything showers take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on how many steps you include. A full routine with a hair mask, exfoliation, shaving, and post-shower skincare usually lands around 45 minutes. There is no prize for the longest shower. The goal is to step out feeling refreshed, not pruney.
Is an everything shower bad for your skin?
Not if you do it sensibly. The main risks are very hot water, over-exfoliation, and skipping moisturizer. Keep the water warm rather than scalding, exfoliate gently no more than once a week, and always moisturize afterward. If you have eczema, psoriasis, or very sensitive skin, keep the session shorter and check with your dermatologist about which steps suit you.
What is the correct order for an everything shower?
The most popular order is: hair first (shampoo, then apply a mask to soak while you continue), then exfoliate, then shave, then rinse everything clean and finish with post-shower skincare. Working from top to bottom with the messiest steps first means every rinse washes away the residue of the step before it.
Do you wash your hair in an everything shower?
Yes, for most people the everything shower doubles as hair wash day: double-shampoo and add a deep-conditioning mask or treatment. That said, adapt the routine to your hair type. If your hair is very dry, coarse, or coily, you may wash less often and focus the everything shower on body care instead.
Can I have an everything shower every day?
You could, but dermatologists would not recommend it. Daily long showers with exfoliation and hot water can dry out and irritate your skin over time. Keep your everyday showers short and save the full everything-shower ritual for once a week or every two weeks.
The Takeaway: Make It Your Own Ritual
So, what is an everything shower? It is more than a viral trend. It is a weekly invitation to slow down and take proper care of yourself, from scalp to soles. Whether you go all out with candles and a twelve-step lineup or keep it to the essentials, the point is the same: dedicated time that leaves you feeling reset and recharged.
If you enjoyed this guide, you may also like our broader look at building restorative habits. Read our guide on how to practice self-care for more ideas to weave into your routine. Now run the water, queue up your favorite playlist, and enjoy every minute. You deserve it.
