Anyone with hair that goes past their ears knows there are different types of showers. There’s the quick, post-gym shower where you wash off the sweat; there’s the “I just got out of bed and need to meet someone” shower, where you probably give your face and body a good scrub, but the hair is likely to stay in a bun all day; then, of course, there’s the “everything shower.”
The everything shower is nothing short of a ritual. And like most rituals, the result is typically akin to a total mind and body reset. Here’s everything you need to know about the everything shower and how to build your own soothing routine.
What Is an Everything Shower?
An everything shower is so much more than just washing your hair, body, face, and shaving. It’s actually a lot about what you do before and after you get into the shower itself. We’re talking total-body exfoliation beforehand, washing your hair and conditioning it, shaving down essentially your whole body, and the post-shower after care. It’s a total reset for your body that can also have a powerful impact on your mind.
How to Do the Ultimate Everything Shower
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliating is a key first step to the everything shower. Why? Because it can help remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and even help improve the look of hyperpigmentation. It also preps the skin to better absorb the products you use in the shower and after the shower.
You can exfoliate in a few different ways. There is physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation. We’re love dry brushing as a form of physical exfoliation right now. Dry brushing is like a lymphatic massage and exfoliation technique all in one. As you sweep through the body in bold, circular motions, you can help the body release any built-up fluids, while also sloughing off dry skin in the process. If you’re in the market for a new dry brush, we love ISAAC MIZRAHI’s Dual-Sided Bamboo Cleansing Brush.
You can also chemically exfoliate by using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to exfoliate the skin through skincare products—just use a face cleanser that contains AHAs and BHAs to slough off dead skin.
2. Apply a Face & Hair Mask
Grab a face mask like the BALANCE ME AHA Glow Mask to wear pre-shower that’ll help chemically exfoliate, or just a mask that targets any skin concerns you may have.
You can also apply a hair mask that’ll strengthen the hair from root to tip and deliver an extra boost of hydration. We love the WE ARE PARADOXX Repair Game Changer Hair Mask since it’s packed with hair-nourishing oils like avocado oil, bergamot fruit oil, and peppermint oil to revitalize the scalp.
The best part of adding masks to an everything shower? It’s easier to wash it all off in the shower vs. the sink.
3. Double Cleanse Your Hair
Did you know double cleansing is actually recommended by hair stylists if you have normal to oily hair? It can help you get a thorough clean to extend the period of time you can go in-between wash days. It’s a great idea to incorporate a double cleanse into your everything shower to get a great scalp scrub and ensure you don’t miss any pieces of hair in the cleansing process.
4. Scrub & Shave
This step is optional. If you’re not a fan of shaving, that’s totally up to you. But if you want to add shaving into your everything shower routine like we do, we have some recs that’s going to give you the smoothest shave of all time. Make sure to grab a razor with more than three blades to get the closest shave possible, and don’t use soap and water to shave. A shaving cream or oil will condition the skin as you’re shaving and reduce the chance of post-shave irritation. We’re huge fans ofREFRESHMENTS Pillowy Shave Cream for this. To get even more exfoliation without shaving, you can use a body loofah or scrubber that promotes additional exfoliation like ECO TOOLS’ exfoliating bath cloth.
5. Apply Hair Conditioner
There are a few must-know tips for applying conditioner in the shower. For example, you should only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair so you don’t create product buildup on the scalp after you have already double cleansed it. Look for a conditioner that has fruit oil ingredients to look in hydration.
6. Post-Shower Moisturize
Now that you’ve cleansed, exfoliated, shaved, and scrubbed, you’re ready to lock in all the hard work you just did by sealing in moisture to the face and body. Make sure to pay extra attention to any place you have exfoliated, and if you used a dry brush, this probably includes your whole body. We love to apply a firming body lotion to the skin after exfoliating to promote circulation and collagen production after sloughing off layers of dead skin. We love DERMALACTIVES Energizing Body Lotion for this. You can also apply a leave-on mask for your skin and lips like BLISS’ Green Tea Overnight Mask for the face or NENA SKINCARE’s Overnight Lip Mask. Of course, these are just our recommendations for building your own everything shower. Feel free to add or remove steps as you please. The point is to encourage a total body and mind reset and to get you feeling like new again—whatever that may mean to you.
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