Everything you need for an ‘Everything Shower’

While a quick five-minute rinse may be your go-to on hectic workday, there’s a good chance you’re missing out on the full benefits of an effective shower. Enter: the ‘Everything Shower’. Slower, more relaxing than your regular bath, and thoroughly cleansing, this indulgent ritual has hit peak popularity on platforms like TikTok, with beauty influencers and creators sharing their highly detailed and seriously lengthy routines.

Still not convinced about the Everything Shower? Think of it as an upgraded version of your standard routine—beyond the usual face wash, shampoo, conditioner, and soap. It’s that one hot long bath that compensates all the slack, and all the must-dos you’ve been putting off in the grooming department. And because it’s designed for those rare moments when you have time to spare, it’s not going to happen too often. Perfect when you crave a bit of indulgent self-care, take this time to enjoy your own company. Long showers give you time alone—to think, to not think, to sing aloud, to dance, to contemplate all your decisions as water streams down your hair. It allows you to let everything out.

From hair oils and leave-in conditioners to the best scrubs and tools, below, everything you need for the ultimate pampering experience.

Step 1: Setting the mood

Ambience plays a key role in soothing the nerves. Dim the lights, put on your favourite relaxing playlist, and light a candle or two (or 10!) to transform your bathroom into a personal spa. We recommend Diptyque’s Feuille De Lavande candle, which smells exactly like the lavender fields in Provence. Kimirica’s Illuminating soy candle set, with its trio of summer-inspired scents, will take you back to your last vacation. If you prefer something more opulent and traditional, Artchive’s Night Jasmine might be the perfect pick.

Step 2: Pre-shower ritual

Once you’ve settled into the relaxing environment, it’s time to treat your scalp, hair, and face. You can choose a hydrating hair oil like Fable & Mane’s HoliRoots for a pre-shower champi or a hair mask (see: Moroccanoil) that’ll restore any damage from your blow-drying and curling appointments, leaving your hair smelling divine.

As your hair oil or mask works its way in, we recommend slapping a sheet mask on your face. For the particularly indulgent, there is 111Skin’s Rose Gold treatment mask, packed with ingredients like colloidal gold, peptides, and rose damask, which boost radiance.

Step 3: Out with the old, (sk)in with the new

Exfoliating your skin is a must. Start with dry brushing, which is a great way to not just get rid of dead skin cells, but also boost circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite. For this step, you’ll need a body brush like Dr Barbara Sturm’s—our top recommendation to cleanse and nourish the skin with natural soft bristles. Dry brushing pre-shower also ensures your products get absorbed more effectively.

Now, it’s time to hop into the shower and give your body a nice, long scrub. The Sea Salt Body Scrub by Aminu truly feels like you’re bobbing in the sea and letting the salt water exfoliate your skin. The texture is smooth and the fragrance gets you in the post-beach mood. Another option is Soft Service’s Buffing Bar, which helps tackle ingrown hairs and improve the appearance of rough and bumpy skin.

Step 4: Mane maintenance

Now it’s time to massage your scalp and strands with shampoo to rinse off the pre-shower oil and remove any build-up from the week. We recommend Milk_shake’s deep cleansing shampoo which comes with milk proteins, fruit, and honey extracts to maintain the hair’s moisture balance.

After a thorough rinse, apply an in-shower or leave-in conditioner that suits your needs. Love Beauty & Planet’s Frizz Control conditioner is perfect for the monsoon and will leave your hair smelling like lavender fields on a summer day. For some seriously deep conditioning and curl styling, Ashba’s leave-in conditioner works like magic. It leaves your strands soft and moisturised, and is ideal for defining curls and wavy hair.

Step 5: Lather and wash

After you’ve washed off all your oils, masks, and scrubs, it’s time for the final step—cleansing your body. If you’re into natural, organic products, we recommend the Silkening shower wash with oudh and green tea by Forest Essentials. Love the smell of the rain? Neutrogena’s Rainbath shower gel leaves you feeling and smelling like a fresh cool glass of iced tea. If you prefer a soap bar, opt for one that is gentle and moisturising. Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle gentle perfumed soap is infused with cranberry seed oil and leaves the skin soft and supple with a pleasing ambery scent.

Step 6: Slap on and moisturise

The key to sealing in moisture after a long shower is to do it immediately. According to studies, moisturising within three minutes of leaving the bath is crucial to prevent dry skin and the appearance of stretch marks. Our picks? Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum cream, a blend of vanilla bean and shea butter that has a smooth texture and smells divine. Nécessaire’s multi-peptide lotion is formulated with niacinamide and oils rich in vitamins A, C, and E. If you prefer the texture of oil to that of a heavy body cream or lotion, we recommend the rose jasmine bath and body oil by Kama Ayurveda. It contains ingredients such as organic almond oil, soybean, rose oil, which help with stress reduction, making the skin soft and supple.