Here's a step-by-step guide to having an everything shower

Social media is where most of us get our daily dose of beauty inspiration with new trends popping up every now and then. Oftentimes, these trends range from questionable to downright dangerous. That's not to say they are all bad, considering they provide us with chic makeup inspiration and tips on how to take care of our hair and skin. Speaking of which, there's a new wellness trend floating around which has caught our attention—an everything shower.

For the unaware, an "everything shower" is an elaborate shower routine comprising skin, hair, and body care rituals that leave you feeling fresh and relaxed. It includes hair and face masks, full body exfoliation, clarifying shampoos, treatments, and so on. This routine could make it feel like a spa day at home or an extension of your self-care routine that makes you feel refreshed, relaxed, and at peace. It's like Monnica Williams, a board-certified, licensed clinical psychologist, specialising in cognitive-behavioural therapies told Women's Health, "Self-care is critical for recovery from all types of physical and emotional challenges, and is required for sustained wellbeing."

If you’re looking to treat yourself to an everyday shower, but don’t know where to start, we're here to help. We’ve broken down the process to give you an easy step-by-step guide although, this is just a template. Feel free to use your imagination and make tweaks to improve the process and ensure it suits your skin’s needs.

Step 1: Pre-shower hair and face mask

Begin your everything shower routine by prepping your hair with a hair oil treatment or a deep-conditioning pre-wash mask for an extra dose of nourishment.

While your hair is soaking in all the TLC, apply a face mask. You can go for a hydrating sheet mask or a clay mask to deep clean your pores. Or you could just whip up a DIY mask tailored to your skin’s needs. However, before applying your mask, remember to cleanse your face thoroughly. 

Let both masks sit for about 15-20 minutes. 

Step 2: Set the mood  

It wouldn’t feel like a spa day if you skipped over this step. So, while you wait for your masks to work their magic, you could spend a little time setting the mood. Dim the lights, put on some calming music (or Taylor Swift or whatever your guilty pleasure), and light some scented candles or an aroma diffuser.

This might seem like too much effort during an already convoluted process, but trust us, it’s all worth it. Because if your body is getting pampered, so should your mind.

Step 3: Exfoliate 

Once you’ve set the mood, it’s time to exfoliate. Now you could use tools like a dry brush or a scrub for your body (PS: there's no need to do both. Overexfoliation comes with its own set of problems). If you are comfortable using a dry brush on your body, it could aid in lymphatic drainage that boosts circulation along with leaving your skin smooth and silky. Don't forget to use a face scrub too. Exfoliating once or twice a week is a must. It gets rid of all the dead skin cells and other irritants clogged in your pores.

After the last four steps, it’s finally time to get into the shower. The first thing you’re going to want to do is wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to rid your scalp of product buildup and excessive oiliness. Follow up with a conditioner or a deep-conditioning hair mask, leaving it on for five to 10 minutes before rinsing it out. 

Pro tip: Ensure your hair is damp and not soaking wet before you go in with your conditioner or hair mask. This allows the products to get absorbed into your hair better, yielding greater results.  

Step 5: Shave (optional)  

If you shave, do it right after you’ve exfoliated, while you’re waiting to rinse out your conditioner or hair mask. Of course, this is an optional step. 

PS: Do not shave before exfoliating because that can lead to skin irritation and redness.

Step 6: Body wash   

Congratulations! You’ve reached the last leg of your everything shower routine. Wash your face and body with your daily in-shower products to wash out any excess products and general impurities sitting on the surface of your skin. If you're using a loofah, remember to use a light hand considering your skin is freshly exfoliated.  

Once you’ve gotten out of the shower and towel-dried yourself, it is time for some post-shower care. Opt for a moisturiser, body butter, or body oil based on your skin type and the current climate. If you're doing this at night, be generous with the amount of product you use. Doing so locks in all the hydration your skin just received, giving it that radiant glow and velvety feel.

Step 8: Face serum

After you’ve doused your body with moisturiser, it’s time for your face. Pat in a soothing serum that will strengthen your skin barrier and keep it soft and supple. Follow up with a nourishing face moisturiser to lock in the goodness! 

Step 9: Post wash haircare

The next step in your post-shower care is to apply some hair serum, curl cream, or whatever products and tools you usually use to manage your mane. And if you aren’t too sleepy by now (I definitely would be), give yourself a stunning blowdry. 

Step 10: Spritz some fragrance

Whether you’re going out after your everything shower or tucking yourself in bed, the last step in this routine is to spritz yourself with your favourite fragrance. We’ve found that woody scents or something with notes of vanilla tend to have a calming effect.

We strongly recommend indulging in an everything shower on a day when you have no plans so you can enjoy a cosy nap afterwards. Trust us, that's where it always ends!