Okay, slightly weird question, but stick with me: do you actually know what order you’re supposed to do things in an everything shower? Because honestly, same. We’ve all been showering since we were kids, and somehow the order can still feel confusing.
Turns out, it’s not just about the vibe. Your everything shower routine can affect how your skin feels afterward. Wash your face too early and shampoo residue can end up on it. Exfoliate at the wrong moment and you may end up with irritated skin instead of smooth skin. Annoying, right?
So let’s go through it like friends, without making it more complicated than it needs to be.
Quick answer:
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Wait, What Actually Is an “Everything Shower Routine”?
You’ve probably seen it all over your feed by now. An everything shower routine is the full ritual: dry brushing, hair treatments, exfoliating, shaving, the works. Think of it as a reset, not a quick rinse.
It’s not a completely different routine to learn. It’s the same basic order we’re about to go through, just with the optional steps included instead of skipped.
Before You Even Hop In
An everything shower actually starts before the water even touches you.
- Dry brush, if you’re into that, to loosen dead skin before water hits it.
- Brush your hair on wash days so shampoo can actually do its job.
- Apply leave-in treatments that need time to sit.
If you’re having a quick daily shower, you can skip this part. No guilt.
The Everything Shower Routine, Step by Step
1. Water Temp First
Go for lukewarm water, not super hot. A hot shower feels amazing, but it can strip away some of your skin’s natural oils, which is why your skin may feel tight and dry afterward. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends rinsing with lukewarm, not hot, water as a general rule, not just on exfoliating days.
2. Hair Before Body, Always
Shampoo and condition first. Everything you rinse out of your hair runs down your body, so if you wash your body first, some of that residue can end up right back on your skin.
3. Then Wash Your Body
Hands over a loofah, always (more on that in a minute). Choose a gentle, non-drying body wash with ingredients like shea butter or glycerin, and skip anything that leaves your skin feeling tight.
And you probably don’t need to wash twice, even during a full everything shower. One good wash is enough for a normal day.
The Exfoliation Debate Nobody’s Talking About
So, when should you exfoliate—before or after washing your body?
There isn’t one answer everyone agrees on. Some say exfoliate first to remove dead skin and get your skin ready for shaving. Others recommend washing your body first, then exfoliating before you shave.
Both can work, but we prefer keeping it simple.
Our verdict: wash your body first, then exfoliate, then shave.
You also don’t need to exfoliate every day. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends adjusting how often you exfoliate based on your skin type and how strong your exfoliation method is. The stronger the method, the less often you should use it.
That’s why exfoliation fits better into your everything shower routine rather than every quick daily shower.
And be gentle. Don’t exfoliate over cuts, open wounds, or sunburned skin. If your skin is prone to dark spots, aggressive exfoliation can also make discoloration worse.
If clogged pores are what you’re actually trying to deal with, our guide on how to unclog pores the right way explains what works for them specifically.
When to Actually Shave
If exfoliating’s on the agenda, shave right after. It clears dead skin that would clog your razor and cause bumps, giving you a closer shave with fewer ingrown hairs.
Shaving daily or every other day? Just shave after your body wash, no need to wait for an exfoliation day.
Why Your Face Waits Till the End
Keep your face until the end. That way, shampoo and conditioner residue is less likely to sit on it, and your skin is still damp when you’re ready to moisturize.
Once your face is clean, the order you layer products in matters too. Our skincare routine order guide walks through what goes on first once you’re out of the shower.
Everything Shower vs Your Regular Daily Shower
| What Changes? | Regular Daily Shower | Full Everything Shower |
|---|---|---|
| How often? | Every day | Once or twice a week |
| Exfoliation | Usually skipped | Included |
| Shaving | If needed | Usually included |
| Hair treatments | Optional | Usually included |
| Time needed | Quick | Longer, more of a full self-care routine |
The basic order stays the same. An everything shower simply includes more of the optional steps. Neither one is more “correct”; they’re just for different days.
Morning Shower vs Night Shower
Your shower routine can look a little different depending on whether you shower in the morning or at night.
Morning:
Keep it fast and functional. Basic cleanse, skip heavy exfoliation, finish with a light moisturizer and SPF. Save your everything shower for a morning you actually have time.
Night:
This is a good time for the extras, like exfoliation, a richer body cream, or anything you want to let sink in overnight. That’s why an everything shower often fits nicely into an evening routine.
Post-Shower: Moisturize While You’re Still Damp
Don’t dry your skin completely before moisturizing. Pat it lightly, leave a little dampness, then apply lotion or oil. Applying moisturizer while skin is still a little damp helps hold onto that water instead of waiting until your skin feels dry again. The AAD’s own aftercare advice says the same, moisturize immediately after, and it holds for your whole shower, not just exfoliation days.
Body Oil: Damp Skin or Dry Skin?
Damp skin is the better time to use body oil. Oil helps seal in the water already on your skin; it doesn’t add water to dry skin on its own.
Lotion is a little more flexible and can work either way, but body oil makes the most sense while your skin is still slightly damp.
The Self-Care Extras: Bath Bombs and Shower Steamers
This is where an everything shower really earns its name: the little extras you probably wouldn’t bother with on a rushed weekday morning.
Quick difference, because these two often get grouped together even though they’re not quite the same thing.
Bath bombs
Bath bombs dissolve directly in the water you’re sitting in, so your skin soaks in whatever’s inside, usually baking soda, citric acid, essential oils, dyes, and glitter, for the whole bath. A dermatologist at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center has given these a thumbs down for skin, since the concentrated fragrance and dye can trigger irritation and itchy rashes, especially for eczema-prone or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Shower steamers
Shower steamers are the gentler cousin. They sit on your shower floor, releasing scent through steam instead of sitting against your skin. No soaking means lower irritation risk, but they’re still concentrated oils, so the same sensitivities apply.
If you love the ritual: patch test first if you have sensitive skin, keep them away from your face and eyes, and treat them as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit.
Real Talk: Your Loofah Is Probably Gross
Loofahs and washcloths sit wet in your shower between uses, basically a bacteria hotel. Swap yours out every 3 to 4 weeks, or just use your hands for everyday washing instead.
Common Everything Shower Routine Mistakes People Don’t Realize They’re Making
Most of these aren’t huge mistakes. They’re just small habits that can get in the way of the routine we just went through.
Washing your body before your hair. We covered why this backfires. If your back or shoulders randomly break out, check this first.
Using a loofah every single day. Feels thorough, but a loofah sitting wet since yesterday does more harm than the dirt on your skin. Let it dry fully between uses.
Exfoliating and trying a new product the same day. Freshly exfoliated skin is more absorbent, which sounds great until a new fragrance stings way more than usual. Save new products for a non-exfoliation day.
Skipping moisturizer because you’re “not that dry.” Water evaporates and can leave skin feeling tighter than before you showered, whatever your skin type.
Cranking the water up on cold mornings. Understandable, but this one habit undoes almost everything else on this list.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a regular shower routine and an everything shower routine?
Same order, different amount of steps. A regular shower skips exfoliating, shaving, and extras. An everything shower includes all of it, usually once or twice a week rather than daily.
Should I wash my face or body first?
Body first, face last, always. Keeps your face clear of hair product runoff and damp for moisturizer.
How often should I exfoliate in the shower?
Once or twice a week is plenty for most skin types. The AAD notes that frequency depends on your skin type and how aggressive your method is, so scale back if skin gets red or irritated.
Do I need to shower twice a day?
Nope, not usually. One solid shower handles a normal day. Save the second for post-workout or an actually dirty day.
Are shower steamers bad for your skin?
Generally gentler than bath bombs since they don’t sit against your skin, but still concentrated fragrance. Patch test if you’re sensitive, and skip them if strong scents irritate you.