While some TikTok beauty trends feel misguided at best—and blatantly unsafe at worst—others have proven to be fairly smart and just plain fun. On the latter side of the spectrum, you’ll find one of my personal favorites, the “everything shower.” The wellness trend is pretty straightforward: An everything shower is an extensive shower process consisting of, you guessed it, everything.
And I’m not the only fan. At the time of publish, #everythingshower has more than 200 million views on TikTok as people continue to share their lengthy routines in the name of self-care.
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The top-to-bottom approach isn’t anything new—even before the rise of TikTok, the everything shower has long been a part of the wellness lexicon. So, what is an everything shower? Often reserved for at-home spa days, pre-date rituals, and self-care Sundays, the process (and it is quite a process) can be thought of as a once-a-week deep clean meant to leave you refreshed and renewed.
If you’re looking to treat yourself to an everything shower but feeling a bit overwhelmed by, well, the everything of it all, fear not. I’m breaking down my weekly everything-shower routine step by step, from setting the mood pre-shower to cozying up in bed.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Everything Shower
Before we get to the good stuff, keep in mind that an everything shower is all about you, so do what makes you feel best. Not big on body oils (spoiler alert: I am)? Feel free to skip it! There is no one way to everything shower.
Pre-Shower
1. First Cleanse
For me, an everything shower starts before I even turn the water on. First, I massage a cleansing oil onto dry skin to dissolve and remove any makeup, SPF, and other impurities from my face. After about a minute of cleansing, I rinse and remove it with water. I’ve been loving Peach & Lily’s Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser ($35) lately—the formula is super gentle and doesn’t leave behind any residue like some oil cleansers are wont to do.
2. Pre-Shower Hair Mask
Then I prep my hair and scalp with a hair oil treatment and pre-wash, deep-conditioning mask for my ends. Usually, I’ll massage a dropper-ful of the Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Treatment Oil ($36) into my roots and apply the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment ($52) onto my dampened mid-lengths and ends. I let both sit for around 15 to 20 minutes while I continue to prep for my shower.
3. Dry Brush
Next, I dry brush my skin to boost circulation—I specifically prefer a dry brush with a handle, like the Goop G.Tox Ultimate Dry Brush ($25), to easily brush hard-to-reach places.
4. Set the Mood
Before warming up the shower and hopping in, I like to set the mood. This usually involves dimming the lights, lighting a candle—Nette’s Pearl Dust Candle ($82) is a woodsy warm, slightly spicy scent with an impressive throw—and, to be totally honest, setting up a true crime podcast on my water-proof speakers (probably not the best for relaxation, but you can play Taylor Swift or spa music or whatever does it for you).
Shower
1. Body Scrub
Four steps into the process, and we’re finally getting in the shower. An everything shower requires a deep full-body cleanse, so I start off with a body scrub. I like something gritty with both chemical and physical exfoliants for maximum results. I recently emptied a tube of the Naturium KP Body Scrub & Mask ($18) and would highly suggest.
2. Cleansing Shampoo
After roughly rinsing out the scalp oil and hair treatment, I go in with a cleansing shampoo to get rid of any leftover product, grime, and buildup. Personally, I prefer a cleansing shampoo over a scalp scrub, but the world is your oyster here. I rotate between the Virtue Purifying Shampoo ($32) and Ouai Detox Shampoo ($32)—both feature lightweight formulas that cleanse the scalp without stripping it.
3, Conditioner or Hair Mask
An everything shower is a true choose-your-own-adventure situation, and next up is picking between a conditioner or a hair mask. For me, this is usually an in-the-moment decision, though I usually end up using a conditioner since I have finer hair with an oily scalp. If I’m conditioning, I opt for a hydrating, lightweight option like the Pureology Hydrate Sheer Conditioner ($36). If my hair’s feeling fairly lackluster, I’ll reach for a luxe mask like the Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Hair Mask ($69).
4. Second Cleanse
While your hair mask (or conditioner) marinates, it’s time for your second face cleanse. I have an oddly specific list of requirements for in-shower facial cleansers: I want a plastic pump-top container filled with a simple gel formula that’s decently hydrating and leaves my skin feeling balanced. I have about one more pump left of The Outset’s Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser ($32) in my shower currently and already have a backup on the way.
5. Face Mask
Despite knowing better, I like my showers nearly scalding. So I allow myself a couple of minutes to really indulge and turn up the temperature—I should note that hot showers can leave the skin irritated and dry, so I spend this time away from the water but still in the shower itself. I’ll apply Tatcha’s Clarifying Clay Mask ($70) to my face (any clay mask will work), and let the steamy shower open up my pores so the mask can penetrate deep into the skin. I leave on the mask for just a few minutes before turning down the water to rinse off both my face and hair.
6. Shave (If You Want)
Whatever you choose to do, or not do, with your body hair is up to you, but I like to shave mine. Once I’ve given my hair and pores (yes, you have pores on your body!) a solid amount of time to soak and steam, I’ll shave my legs, bikini line, and pits using the Billie Razor ($10) and Whipped Shave Cream ($8). I’ve tried my fair share of shaving products and find myself constantly returning to Billie’s products—trust me, they’re the absolute best.
7. Body Wash
Last but not least, I’ll do a final body cleanse to be sure I don’t have any leftover shaving cream or grime on me. I’ll either use the Necessaire Body Wash in Eucalyptus ($25), which makes the entire shower smell like a spa, or opt for one of Saltair’s Body Washes ($12). They have a bunch of beautiful scents as well as a fragrance-free version I love.
Post-Shower
1. Body Serum or Moisturizer, Body Oil
The everything shower tends to leave me a bit fatigued—after all, we’re 12 steps in here—but I’m always determined to end on a high note. I slip on a fluffy robe and hair towel, and immediately grab some sort of hydrating body product. These days, I find myself reaching for one of two optional: the Sidia Body Serum ($52), which is a lazy girl’s dream with its spray bottle top; or Josie Maran’s Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter ($38), which features a decadent formula that leaves skin feeling moisturized and soft for 24-plus hours. I lock in all that moisturizing goodness with a silky body oil. These days, it’s OSEA’s Undaria Algae Body Oil ($52).
2. Hair Serum and Leave-In Conditioner
Once I put on my favorites PJs, it’s time to deal with my hair. I’ll apply a serum to my scalp, like the Vegamour GRO Hair Serum ($64), and rake a leave-in conditioner through my ends. I love the Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner ($48)—it leaves my hair hydrated and soft without weighing it down or leaving it too greasy.
3. Hydrating Serum
I’ll be honest: By the time I’m ready to tackle my face, I’m usually in a half-catatonic, sleepy state so I keep things simple with an old-faithful hydrating serum. I’ve gone through more bottles of the Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief Serum ($28) than I can count and have gotten countless friends hooked on it. Whatever skin woe you’re dealing with, GBR will probably help.
4. Moisturizer
Last but certainly not least, apply a barrier-boosting facial moisturizer like the Dieux Instant Angel ($45). I like to take my time here and indulge in a bit of facial massage, using my moisturizer or a face oil to give me some slip.
Be sure to keep the self-care sentiment strong even after you finish up your routine. Brew a hot cup of tea, hop in bed a little early, and take some time to read or journal. Your body (and mind) will thank you.
