The “Everything Shower” routine is awash with Gen Z fans.
The shower craze is the latest obsessive — and probably unnecessary — wellness trend Gen Z and millennials are adding to their self-care Sundays. The TikTok hashtag #everythingshower has 123.7 million views as people share and mock their own routines.
An “Everything Shower” is an extensive bathing process that consists of taking care of well — everything.
The first step of taking an Everything Shower is carving out about an hour or more of time to pamper yourself.
During this time, people partake in a lengthy multi-step pre-shower, shower and post-shower routine using a whole cabinet of soaps, cleaners, exfoliants, serums, oils and more.
Some routines begin with dry brushing, hair brushing, scalp treatments, deep conditioning masks, makeup remover and face masks.
Once the shower is nice and steamy, let the shampooing, conditioning, exfoliating, shaving and washing commence.
Moving up to the face, double cleansing- first with an oil-based face cleanser and then with a water-based one- is often the last step of the in-shower cleansing process ending with a splash of cold water to keep hair shiny and silky.
Stepping out of the shower, experts suggest patting down with a towel to keep skin damp as you moisturize your skin and proceed with your skincare routine. Some people enjoy adding to their glow with fake tanners and hydrating hair or skin masks.
These wellness trends and routines have catapulted the hair and scalp and skin care industries, both of which have expanded and are expected to continue to grow by the billions due to escalating demand of niche products.
While most people take an Everything Shower to pamper themselves, others also partake in the detailed process to get ready for a possible sexual encounter.
While the routine varies for everyone and can change every time, the point of an Everything Shower is to indulge in taking the time to clean and care for every inch of your body.
For many, the pampering practice is a mediative process but others joke that the routine has spiraled into an exhausting and obsessive procedure.
“My Everything Shower is getting out of hand,” Raya Carmona captioned a TikTok video listing the most recent updates to her Everything Shower routine.
The TikToker has added a lymphatic drainage routine during conditioner, dry brushing and gua sha after, Olaplex 3 before shampoo, fur oil on her shaved areas and has her shower water filtered and pH balanced.
“My water bill is exorbitant. My skin is glowing. My mental health is waning.”
Others poke fun at themselves posting funny videos showing them stretching in preparation or shaking and falling into bed after the lengthy and draining cleansing process.
“You just finished your 2+ hour Everything Shower and have lost all sense in your limbs, turned into a human prune, and are grossly dehydrated, but its worth it cuz ur smoother than a glazed donut,” Valera Djordjevic captioned her viral TikTok video.
As some of these videos poke fun at, wellness culture has gotten a little out of hand- we’re looking at you Gwyneth Paltrow– and a bit toxic in recent years as trends like the Clean Girl aesthetic and What I Eat in a Day videos pushing the limits of an unhealthy obsession with self-care and wellness routines.