The Everything Shower Routine, Step by Step

An everything shower is a reset day in shower form: hair, body, face, shaving and moisturizer all in one long session. It feels great, and done well it leaves your skin and hair in good shape. Done badly, with scalding water and three scrubs, it leaves you red, dry and itchy.

This guide is for anyone who wants the ritual without the irritation. It covers what the trend is, a step-by-step routine in the order that works, how often to do it, a short version for busy weeks, and what dermatologists say to watch out for.

What is an everything shower?

An everything shower is a long, occasional shower where you do every grooming step at once instead of spreading them across the week: washing and treating your hair, cleansing and exfoliating your body, shaving, washing your face and moisturizing from head to toe afterward. The term comes from TikTok. A 2023 TODAY.com article reported that the #everythingshower hashtag had more than 173 million views at the time, and described the routine as shampooing, deep conditioning, cleansing, toning, exfoliating, shaving and moisturizing.

One creator quoted in that article called it “the ultimate self-care shower where you are deep cleaning every part of yourself.” Routines vary a lot: some people add a hair mask, a face mask, candles or music, and one TikTok user said hers took two hours.

What do you need for an everything shower?

You need the products you already use, laid out before you start so you are not dripping across the bathroom. A typical list:

• Shampoo, conditioner and, if you use one, a hair mask
• Gentle body wash
• A body exfoliant (a mild scrub, an exfoliating wash or a washcloth)
• Razor with a sharp blade, and shaving cream or gel
• Gentle face cleanser
• A thick body moisturizer, plus your usual face moisturizer
• A towel or cotton T-shirt for your hair, and a clean towel for your body

Step 1: How should you prepare before you get in?

Prepare by setting out everything above, brushing out tangles while your hair is dry, and setting the water to warm rather than hot. Hot water is the most common mistake. Dermatologist Cameron Rokhsar told TODAY.com, “We know for a fact that hot water dries out your skin,” adding that the longer you stay in, the drier your skin becomes.

If you use a face mask or hair mask as part of the ritual, follow the label for how long to leave it on.

Step 2: How do you wash and treat your hair?

Wash your hair first so conditioner and masks can work while you do the rest, but rinse them out before you wash your body. The AAD’s hair care tips give the basics:

• Apply shampoo to your scalp rather than the full length of your hair.
• Use conditioner afterward. If your hair is fine or straight, focus on the ends; if it is dry or curly, use it along the full length.
• If you have thick, curly hair, comb with a wide-tooth comb in the shower before rinsing out conditioner.

Do not leave conditioner sitting for the whole shower and then wash your body. Dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, quoted by TODAY.com, warns that conditioner left on the skin can “clog your pores, and lead to back and chest acne.” Rinse it out, then cleanse your body.

Step 3: How should you cleanse your body?

Cleanse your body with a gentle wash, using it mainly where you need it. The AAD’s dry skin tips suggest using enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil but not so much that you see a thick lather, and focusing it on areas such as the armpits and groin. Washing after conditioner also clears any residue from your back and shoulders.

Step 4: How do you exfoliate without overdoing it?

Exfoliate gently and briefly, with one method, not several. The AAD’s exfoliation guide recommends:

• Applying a scrub or chemical exfoliator in small circular motions for about 30 seconds, then rinsing with lukewarm water.
• Using short, light strokes with a brush or sponge.
• Skipping exfoliation on sunburned skin or anywhere with cuts or wounds.
• Choosing gentler methods if your skin is dry or sensitive, and avoiding strong exfoliation if you have a darker skin tone or tend to get dark spots after breakouts or bites, since it can lead to more dark spots.

The AAD also warns that exfoliating while using retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide may worsen dry skin or cause breakouts, and that over-exfoliating can leave skin red and irritated. Zubritsky recommends exfoliating before shaving to reduce the risk of irritation and razor bumps, which is why this step comes first.

Step 5: How should you shave?

Shave near the end of the shower, when your skin and hair are softest. The AAD says the water makes skin and hair “softer and less likely to get irritated by shaving,” and its shaving guide adds:

• Apply a shaving cream or gel; choose one labeled for sensitive skin if yours is dry or sensitive.
• Shave in the direction the hair grows, to help prevent razor bumps and burns.
• Rinse the blade after each swipe.
• Replace the blade or throw away a disposable razor after 5 to 7 shaves.
• Store the razor somewhere dry, not in the shower.

Step 6: How do you wash your face in the shower?

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and your fingertips, using lukewarm water rather than the hot spray. Keep it short and avoid scrubbing; your face does not need the same exfoliant as your body. For what to put on afterward, see our guide to skincare routine order.

Step 7: What should you do after the shower?

After the shower, pat your skin dry and moisturize right away while it is still damp. The AAD advises gently patting skin with a clean towel, because rubbing can irritate dry skin, and applying moisturizer while skin is still damp. Rokhsar told TODAY.com that after a long shower it is crucial to follow with a thick moisturizer over your whole body, suggesting one with petrolatum or ceramides.

Then finish the rest:

• Face: your normal routine, such as a serum or treatment and moisturizer at night, or moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning.
• Hair: wrap it in a towel or cotton T-shirt rather than rubbing it, and if you use heat, the AAD suggests low or medium settings with a heat protectant.
• Extras: self-tanner, nail care or a hair oil, if they are part of your ritual.

How often should you take an everything shower?

Take an everything shower occasionally, such as once a week or less, not every day. The full version stacks exfoliation, long water exposure and treatments that are not meant for daily use. The AAD notes that the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often you need it, and its tips for dry skin recommend limiting showers to five to ten minutes in warm water. One TikTok user quoted by TODAY.com does hers only once a month. Between everything showers, a short, warm shower is enough.

What is a short version of the everything shower?

A short version keeps the steps that matter and drops the rest. In about 15 minutes:

1. Shampoo, then conditioner on the ends.
2. Rinse the conditioner out, then a quick, gentle body wash.
3. Shave last, with shaving cream, if you shave.
4. Wash your face with lukewarm water.
5. Pat dry and apply body moisturizer while your skin is damp.

Skip exfoliation on weeks you feel dry or irritated. Rokhsar’s suggestion to TODAY.com was to stay in the shower no more than 15 minutes at a time.

What should you be careful about?

The main risks are dryness and irritation from hot water, long showers and too much exfoliation. Keep these in mind:

• Hot water: use warm or lukewarm water, especially on your face.
• Skin conditions: Rokhsar warned that long, hot showers can make eczema or psoriasis worse.
• Over-exfoliation: one gentle method, about 30 seconds per area, and none on sunburned or broken skin.
• Actives: if you use retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide, go easy on exfoliating.
• New products: patch test anything new before using it all over.
• Persistent problems: if your skin stays dry, itchy, bumpy or broken out, see a board-certified dermatologist.

Where does Beautify fit?

Beautify, an iPhone app, fits around the everything shower rather than inside it. Its Glow Up Guide gives steps for skincare, hairstyle, fitness, sleep and nutrition, so a weekly reset sits within a wider plan. From one selfie it gives your skin type with a morning and evening routine for it, and its AI beauty assistant answers product questions, such as which body moisturizer texture suits dry skin. It is not medical advice. You can also plan a reset for free with our glow-up checklist, and a dermatologist is the right person for skin that stays irritated. See how the glow-up features work together.

What matters most?

• An everything shower is an occasional, all-in-one grooming session, not a daily routine.
• The order that works: hair, rinse conditioner, body wash, gentle exfoliation, shave, face, then moisturize while damp.
• Warm water, one gentle exfoliant and a thick moisturizer prevent most of the downsides.
• Keep everyday showers short, and save the full ritual for when you want a reset.