Last updated: October 2026

Quick answer: An everything shower is a weekly 45-to-60-minute ritual where you do every treatment at once: hair mask first, then a face mask, body exfoliation, shaving, a shampoo and condition, moisturising body wash and a cool rinse. Prep your products beforehand, work in order, and moisturise on damp skin afterwards.

If you have spent any time on Pinterest or TikTok lately, you have probably heard of the everything shower. It is exactly what it sounds like: a long, luxurious shower where you do absolutely everything. Hair mask, exfoliation, shaving, deep conditioning, body oil, the works. It is part hygiene, part spa treatment, and part sacred ritual, and people are obsessed with it for good reason.

The everything shower is not about being high-maintenance. It is about efficiency and indulgence at the same time. Instead of spreading your treatments across the week in rushed two-minute increments, you dedicate one glorious session to doing them all properly, in the right order, while the hot water and steam do half the work for you. You step out feeling like a completely new person: soft, smooth, glossy-haired, and deeply relaxed.

This guide walks you through the everything shower step by step, in the order that actually makes sense. You will learn what to prep beforehand, the exact sequence from hair mask to final rinse, how often to do it, and how to turn a long shower into a genuine self-care ritual. No expensive products required. Just you, your bathroom, and an hour of well-earned luxury.

What Makes a Shower an “Everything” Shower?

An everything shower is a long, luxurious session where you do every treatment at once: hair mask, exfoliation, shaving, a thorough hair wash and moisturising body wash, over 45 to 60 minutes. It is efficient as well as indulgent, because steam helps masks and conditioners work better.

A regular shower is maintenance. You get in, you get clean, you get out. An everything shower is an event. It is the difference between grabbing a sandwich at your desk and sitting down to a proper Sunday dinner. Both feed you, but only one feels like an occasion.

The everything shower typically includes all of the following: a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment, full-body exfoliation, shaving (if you shave), a thorough hair wash with shampoo and conditioner, a moisturising body wash, and sometimes extras like a scalp scrub, a face mask worn in the steam, or an in-shower body oil. The whole thing takes forty-five minutes to an hour, sometimes longer if you are really settling in.

There is also a practical logic to it. Many treatments work better together. Steam may help masks and conditioners work more effectively on the hair. Exfoliating before shaving gives you a smoother shave. Doing your hair mask first gives it maximum time to work while you do everything else. The everything shower is not just indulgent. It is efficient.

One important note: an everything shower is a sometimes ritual, not a daily routine. Doing the full treatment every day would be too much for your skin and hair, and it would turn a treat into a chore. Most people do one everything shower a week, often on a Sunday evening or whenever they have an unhurried hour. The rest of the week, quick regular showers are perfectly fine.

How Should I Prep for an Everything Shower?

Preparation makes the ritual. Gather every product before the water goes on: hair mask, shampoo, conditioner, scrub, razor, body wash, optional face mask and after-care. Then set the scene with candles, music and a warm bathroom, and protect the hour from interruptions.

An everything shower goes wrong when you are halfway through, covered in hair mask, and realise the body scrub is in another room. Preparation is everything, so gather your supplies before the water goes on. Here is your checklist — you will not need all of it every time, but having it ready makes the whole ritual smooth:

• Hair mask or deep conditioner
• Shampoo and your regular conditioner
• A scalp scrub or clarifying shampoo, if you use one
• Body scrub or exfoliating mitt
• Razor and shaving cream or oil, if you shave
• A moisturising body wash
• A face mask or face exfoliant — optional, but lovely in the steam
• In-shower body oil or a rich body lotion for after
• A big fluffy towel, a hair towel or old t-shirt, and your cosiest clothes laid out for afterwards

Set the scene, too. This is what elevates a long shower into a ritual:

• Light: one or two candles on the bathroom counter, somewhere safe and away from water — or dim the main light.
• Sound: music, a podcast or an audiobook; some people love a dedicated “everything shower” playlist.
• Scent: hang a bundle of eucalyptus from your showerhead if you can get one; the steam releases the scent and smells like an expensive spa.
• Warmth: make sure the bathroom is warm, because stepping out of a long hot shower into a cold bathroom ruins the glow.

Finally, protect your time. An everything shower cannot be rushed, so choose a moment when nobody needs you. Tell your household you are taking a long shower. Put your phone on silent and leave it outside the bathroom, or at least out of reach. An hour of uninterrupted time is the real luxury here. Everything else is decoration.

What Are the Steps of an Everything Shower, in Order?

Order matters: hair mask first so it works longest, then an optional face mask, body exfoliation, shaving, a proper shampoo and condition, moisturising body wash, and a cool finishing rinse. Each step prepares the skin and hair for the next, so every product works at its best.

Order matters in an everything shower. Each step prepares you for the next, and doing things in the right sequence means every product works at its best. Here is the order that makes the most sense:

1. Hair mask first. Before you even get properly wet, or in the first minute of your shower, apply your hair mask or deep conditioner to the lengths and ends of your hair. Clip your hair up and let the mask work for the entire shower. The steam and heat will help it along, and by applying it first, you give it the maximum possible time. If you do not own a dedicated hair mask, your regular conditioner left on for twenty minutes works well too.
2. Face mask, optional. If you like a face mask, apply it now and let the steam do its work while you move on to your body. A gentle clay or hydrating mask for ten to fifteen minutes in a steamy bathroom is a mini facial. Skip this if your skin is sensitive or if you simply do not enjoy face masks. It is a bonus, not a requirement.
3. Exfoliate your body. With your skin warmed up, exfoliate from the neck down. Use a body scrub in gentle circular motions, or an exfoliating mitt with light pressure, paying extra attention to rough spots like elbows, knees and heels. Exfoliating now, before shaving, lifts dead skin and may help prevent ingrown hairs. Be gentle — you are polishing, not sanding. If your skin ever feels raw or stingy, ease off immediately.
4. Shave, if you shave. Shave after exfoliating, never before, because the exfoliation has already smoothed the way. Use a sharp razor and a proper shaving cream, oil or conditioner — not just soap, which can be drying. Shave in the direction that suits your skin, rinse the razor often, and take your time. This is not the step to rush. Rinse thoroughly when you are done.
5. Wash your hair properly. Now rinse out the hair mask and shampoo. Most of us shampoo too quickly. Massage the shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips, not your nails, for a good sixty seconds. This is where the cleaning happens. Rinse very thoroughly, then apply conditioner to the lengths and ends. Leave it for two to three minutes while you do the next step.
6. Body wash. While your conditioner sits, wash your body with a moisturising body wash. Work top to bottom. This also ensures any shampoo or conditioner residue is rinsed off your skin, which may help prevent body breakouts. Then rinse everything: tilt your head back and rinse your hair completely, letting the water run clear.
7. The finishing touches. If you like a cold rinse, now is the moment. Turning the water cool for the last thirty seconds is said to add shine to hair and invigorate the skin — many everything-shower devotees swear by it. If you use an in-shower body oil, apply it now to damp skin before you turn the water off.

Step out slowly. Wrap your hair in a towel or soft t-shirt, wrap yourself in your big fluffy towel, and take a moment. You have just done something wonderful for yourself.

One dermatologist-backed note on temperature: the American Academy of Dermatology advises using lukewarm rather than hot water and keeping everyday showers short to protect the skin barrier — so for your everything shower, enjoy the length but keep the temperature moderate rather than scalding.

What Should I Do After an Everything Shower?

The ten minutes after the shower lock in the softness. Moisturise while skin is still damp, do facial skincare slowly, let hair rest wrapped before styling, and wind down with a warm drink. The unhurried attention after the water stops is part of the ritual.

The everything shower does not end when the water stops. The ten minutes after are when you lock in all that softness, so do not rush off to answer messages. Stay in the ritual a little longer:

• Moisturise on damp skin. While your skin is still slightly damp, apply your moisturiser — damp skin absorbs product far better than dry skin. Use a rich body cream or lotion, generously, especially on legs and arms. If your skin is very dry, layer a body oil over the cream to seal the moisture in. Our body skin care routine for dry fall skin goes into detail on choosing the right products for autumn. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology recommend applying moisturiser soon after bathing, while the skin is still damp.
• Do facial skincare slowly, enjoying each step rather than rushing through.
• Rest your hair wrapped for ten or fifteen minutes to absorb excess water gently before you style it or let it air dry; apply any leave-in products first.
• Get dressed in the cosy clothes you laid out earlier, make yourself a warm drink, sit down somewhere comfortable, and do absolutely nothing for a while.

This wind-down is part of the ritual, not an afterthought. The everything shower works as self-care because of the unhurried attention, and that attention should extend past the bathroom door. Many people do their everything shower in the evening precisely so they can flow straight into a calm night — a warm shower an hour or two before bed may even help you drift off, according to the Sleep Foundation. If that sounds like you, our guide to sleeping better when the nights get longer pairs beautifully with an evening ritual.

How Often Should I Have an Everything Shower?

Once a week is the sweet spot for most people: frequent enough to keep skin smooth and hair healthy, infrequent enough to stay a treat. Sensitive skin may prefer exfoliating fortnightly, and a mini three-step version works when time is short.

For most people, once a week is the sweet spot. Weekly is frequent enough that your skin stays smooth and your hair stays healthy, but infrequent enough that it still feels like a treat. Many people choose Sunday, which turns the everything shower into the luxurious finale of a weekend reset.

Listen to your body, though:

• Sensitive or very dry skin: exfoliate only every other week and keep the other weeks gentler.
• Fine or quickly-oily hair: a heavy hair mask every week might be too much — every two weeks could suit you better.
• Irritated, sunburnt or broken skin: skip the exfoliation and shaving and just enjoy a gentle long shower.
• Short on time: do a “mini everything shower” with just the three steps that matter most to you. Fifteen minutes with a hair mask, a quick exfoliation and a good moisturise is still a lovely ritual.

The everything shower is customisable by design. Take the framework and adjust the intensity to suit you — and there is no rule that says it must be weekly forever. Some people do one before events, dates, holidays, or whenever they need a boost. The ritual serves your life. Let it flex.

How Do I Make It a Ritual Instead of a Chore?

Intention is what separates a ritual from a long shower. Engage all five senses, protect the hour from multitasking, bring a wandering mind gently back to physical sensations, and end with a moment of gratitude for the care you gave yourself.

What separates an everything shower from just a long shower with extra steps is intention. Rituals have a beginning, a middle, and an end, and they engage your senses:

• Scent: eucalyptus in the shower, a candle on the counter, a beautifully fragranced body wash.
• Sound: a dedicated playlist, a podcast you save specially for this hour, or simply the white noise of the water.
• Touch: the contrast of the scrub, the silkiness of the oil, the fluffiness of the towel.
• Sight: candlelight, or at least the main light dimmed.
• Taste: a glass of cold water, herbal tea, or a warm drink for afterwards.

When all your senses are involved, your brain registers the experience as special. Protect it from multitasking: do not plan your week, rehearse difficult conversations, or scroll your phone with wet hands. If your mind wanders to your to-do list, gently bring it back to the physical sensations — the warmth, the scents, the water. This mindful attention is what makes the everything shower genuinely restorative rather than just cosmetic.

End with gratitude. As you moisturise or sip your post-shower drink, notice how you feel. Softer, calmer, cared for. Take a second to appreciate that you gave yourself this time. It sounds small, but consciously registering the good feeling is what trains your brain to value rest, which makes you more likely to protect it next week too.

How Can I Do an Everything Shower on a Budget?

An everything shower needs time, not money. A homemade sugar scrub, regular conditioner left on as a deep treatment, and basic oils cover most steps beautifully. Shop your own bathroom first: half-used products finally get their special occasion.

The everything shower does not require expensive products. Some of the best treatments are the simplest:

• Homemade sugar scrub: just sugar mixed with a little olive oil or coconut oil exfoliates as well as many shop-bought scrubs.
• Conditioner as a deep treatment: your regular conditioner, left on for twenty minutes under a shower cap, works as a deep treatment.
• Basic oils: plain coconut oil or a basic body oil makes an excellent shaving oil and post-shower body oil.
• Shop your own bathroom first: most of us have half-used products lurking in cupboards — the scrub we forgot about, the mask we bought and never opened, the fancy body wash saved for “special occasions.” An everything shower is the special occasion. Use them.

Spend your money where it matters most to you. If shaving comfort is your priority, invest in a good razor and change the blades regularly. If your hair needs help, a proper hair mask used weekly goes a long way. Everything else can be simple. And if you want to keep the ritual planet-friendly as well as wallet-friendly, the EPA’s WaterSense programme notes that water-efficient showerheads use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute, compared with the 2.5-gallon standard — an easy swap that saves water without changing the experience.

Ready for Your Hour of Luxury?

The everything shower is popular because it delivers something rare: a full hour where the only task is taking beautiful care of yourself. Pick a day this week, gather your products, and step into the water. You will step out softer, smoother and calmer.

The everything shower is popular because it delivers something rare: a full hour where the only task is taking beautiful care of yourself. No productivity, no multitasking, no rushing. Just steam, scent, warm water, and unhurried attention.

Pick a day this week. Gather your products the night before. Light the candle, hang the eucalyptus, press play on your playlist, and step into the water. Do every step in order, slowly, and notice how different it feels from your usual rushed routine.

You will step out softer, smoother, and calmer than you have felt in weeks. And the best part? You get to do it all again next week. Enjoy every steamy minute.