An everything shower is exactly what it sounds like: a single, unhurried shower session where you do everything at once rather than rushing through the basics. Hair, scalp, body and face all get proper attention in one go, rather than individual steps being skipped or done halfheartedly on different days.
The concept became widely talked about on social media as a counterpoint to the quick, functional daily rinse that most people default to. The idea is not to shower for two hours with forty products. It is simply to set aside enough time to do each step of a proper shower routine properly, rather than compromising on all of them.
What does an everything shower actually include?
There is no single definitive checklist for an everything shower. The core idea is that you cover every part of a thorough shower routine in one session rather than splitting steps across different days. A typical everything shower covers:
- a thorough scalp massage and shampoo, including working product all the way through to the roots
- conditioning the mid-lengths and ends of the hair
- full body cleansing and exfoliation from head to toe
- a proper face cleanse rather than a quick splash
- shaving if that is part of your routine
- any additional treatments such as a hair mask, scalp treatment or body exfoliating oil
Some people also include steps outside the shower itself as part of the same self-care session, such as a face mask applied before getting in, or body moisturiser applied immediately after stepping out. The shower is the core of it, but the broader routine around it can be as involved as you want.
How long does an everything shower take?
Most people find that a properly done everything shower takes between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on hair length, the steps included and how quickly you move through each one. That is considerably longer than a typical five to ten minute daily rinse, which is why most people do not attempt an everything shower every day.
Once or twice a week is the most common approach. Shorter daily or every other day showers handle the basics between everything shower sessions, keeping the routine manageable without sacrificing the thoroughness of the longer session.
Step by step: how to do an everything shower properly
Step 1: pre-shower preparation
If you use a hair mask, a scalp treatment or a body oil treatment, apply it before getting in. Most of these products work better on dry hair or dry skin before the shower rather than during it. Leave it to absorb while you prepare everything else you need.
Step 2: start with the scalp and hair
Wet your hair thoroughly under warm water for a minute before applying any product. Then apply your shampoo and use a scalp massager to work it through the roots with light circular motions across the full scalp, covering the crown, sides, back and hairline. Rinse thoroughly, then apply conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends.
Leave the conditioner in while you complete the body and face steps. This gives it enough time to work rather than rinsing it off immediately.
Step 3: body cleansing and exfoliation
Apply your body wash to a body scrubber and work systematically from the feet upward: legs, knees, thighs, stomach, chest, arms and elbows. Use circular motions on broader areas for a more even result. Pay extra attention to the knees, elbows, ankles and heels where dry skin and build-up tend to accumulate most.
The everything shower is a good opportunity for a more thorough exfoliation session than you might manage in a daily rinse. Consistent, comfortable pressure across the full body rather than a quick pass gives a noticeably better result.
Step 4: shaving
If shaving is part of your routine, do it after the body cleansing step while the skin is warm, softened and clean. Apply your shaving product and shave as normal.
Step 5: face cleansing
Apply your usual facial cleanser to a face scrubber and work in gentle circular motions across the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, avoiding the eye area. Light, comfortable pressure is all that is needed. Rinse thoroughly.
Step 6: rinse the conditioner
By the time you have completed the body and face steps, your conditioner will have had enough time to work. Rinse it thoroughly until the water runs completely clear.
Step 7: final rinse and cool down
A brief cooler rinse at the end of an everything shower can help close the pores after the longer exposure to warm water and leave the skin feeling fresher. It does not need to be cold — just a noticeable step down in temperature for the final thirty seconds or so.
What to do immediately after an everything shower
The steps immediately after the shower matter as much as the shower itself, particularly for skin hydration.
- pat the skin mostly dry rather than rubbing, which can irritate freshly exfoliated skin
- apply a body moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp rather than fully dry, which improves absorption significantly
- apply your usual face moisturiser or serum while the skin is still slightly warm
- apply any scalp treatment or hair oil to damp hair if that is part of your routine
The tools that make an everything shower easier
An everything shower done with the right tools takes considerably less effort than trying to cover the same ground with hands alone. The three core tools that make the biggest practical difference are:
- A scalp massager: makes the shampoo step more thorough and more satisfying without adding extra time. Covers the full scalp more consistently than fingers alone.
- A silicone body scrubber: distributes body wash more evenly and exfoliates more consistently than hands. Makes the body step faster and more effective at the same time.
- A silicone face scrubber: gives the face cleansing step a more thorough result than hands alone, particularly for removing the day's build-up properly.
The ScrubMeRoutine brings all three together in a matched four-piece set, including a HookMe adhesive hook for tidy storage between everything shower sessions.
How often should you do an everything shower?
Most people find once or twice a week is the right frequency for a full everything shower session. This gives enough time between sessions for the skin and scalp to recover from a more thorough cleanse, and keeps the longer routine feeling like a deliberate self-care moment rather than a daily obligation.
Between everything shower sessions, shorter daily or every other day showers handle the basics. The everything shower is not meant to replace your regular routine entirely — it is meant to complement it by ensuring that the more thorough steps actually happen consistently rather than being skipped indefinitely.
Why the everything shower became popular
The everything shower gained traction as a reaction to the opposite problem: routines that had been stripped back so far that almost nothing was being done properly. A quick daily rinse is practical, but it often means that proper exfoliation, a thorough scalp cleanse and a proper face routine all get pushed to another day that never quite arrives.
Blocking out time for an everything shower once or twice a week solves this by making the thorough version of the routine a scheduled habit rather than an afterthought. Most people who try it report that the consistency of doing it properly, even less frequently, produces a noticeably better result than daily rushed versions of the same steps.
The short answer
An everything shower is a complete head-to-toe shower session covering scalp, hair, body and face care properly in one go. It typically takes 25 to 45 minutes, suits once or twice a week and works best when each step is done with the right tool rather than trying to cover everything with hands alone.
For everything you need to build your own everything shower routine in one place, see the ScrubMeRoutine product page for full specifications, what is included and delivery information.
