What to Do Instead of a Viral “downpour of Everything” on TikTok
“everyone takes a shower” is very popular on TikTok these days. When I first heard about it, I thought, “That’s right, like when I wash my head and shave my legs.” It’s an idea, but you don’t stop there.
Like gym workouts or smoothie recipes, every TikToker has its own rules for showering. Some start by dry brushing the skin or applying a hair product that rinses off. Then there is a cascade of products shown to the camera, squeezed and lathered: shampoos, conditioners, exfoliants, shaving gels, body washes and various skin care blends. Finally, the shower moisturizes and usually applies a few more hair and skin products.
Many videos indicate that the shower with everything is also long and hot . After all, it’s about taking care of yourself, and isn’t a long, hot shower a pleasure?
What’s good in the soul of everything
First: if you like something, it clearly benefits you in some way. Making extra time for a monthly or weekly ritual can be a good way to unwind, no matter how the ritual ends. Hobbies are also useful to us. Collecting skin care products is a hobby. Setting up a tripod to film your hands squeezing shower gel into a pouffe so you can post a video on TikTok is a hobby too. I’m happy for you if you like your hobby.
A shower for everything also gives us time for personal hygiene, which we cannot do every day. All showers are often monthly, though some TikTokers say they do it weekly. Sometimes you just want to quickly rinse off so that you can get to work; deep conditioning and everything else can wait until you have more time. Want to schedule a shower with everything to complete those more time-consuming tasks? Of course, why not?
What’s wrong with the soul of everything
Like many TikTok trends, the “everything” shower is a dream of self-improvement and/or luxury, but that doesn’t mean that maximalist routines are actually good for your skin, hair, and mental health.
(Not to mention that many of us don’t have a water heater that can handle hours of hot showers—another aspect in which this trend is more desirable than realistic.)
Hot showers can irritate your skin
Here’s a skin care fact: long, hot showers are actually bad for your skin. Hot water can irritate the skin, and the American Academy of Dermatology specifically recommends using warm rather than hot water and showering for no more than 10 minutes if you’re prone to dry skin. (However, it’s good that you moisturize your skin afterwards.)
If your skin isn’t dry and you don’t have issues like eczema, rosacea, or keratosis follicularis (some of us get bumps on the backs of our hands), you may not need to worry about this guide. But if you’re trying to improve the health of your skin, that’s what all these skin care products are for, right? – you will probably win if you make the shower cooler and shorter. It might be better to spread out your self-care tasks over a week with 15-minute showers than trying to complete them all in one marathon session.
Hot showers are also bad for hair.
Hot water also has disadvantages in hair care. Hot showers can irritate the scalp and dry out the hair . Heat can also cause the cuticle layer to swell, which can potentially affect the texture of your hair (a swollen cuticle can make it frizzier or less shiny).
Food overload won’t help you
When it comes to cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliators, “actives” and other skin care products, dermatologists constantly scream into the void that less is more . (Or, to use their diplomatic language: “Using too many products, especially multiple anti-aging products, can irritate your skin. Instead, focus on the basics like a gentle cleanser, sunscreen, and moisturizer.”)
AAD also recommends using just enough product to get the job done rather than creating luxurious lather. Fragrance-free detergents are preferred, as fragrances are among the ingredients that irritate the skin for some people.
Instead of using every product you can think of to make your shower longer and more beautiful, try cutting back on your routine to find the basics that work best for you.
How to take a healthier shower
If you’re already taking long, hot, difficult showers and are happy with how your skin and hair look, keep up the good work. I’m not here to deprive you of the joys of life.
But for most of us, the trend of showering “everything” is more useful as entertainment content or shopping inspiration than actual self-care. Use the video to review new products to try out or choose an everyday item here and there.
The best shower for most of us is one that is short – less than 10 minutes if you can shower – and uses lukewarm or lukewarm water rather than hot. (On a cold day, I sometimes start with a minute or two of hot water because it feels so good, and then turn the temperature down to the end of the shower.)
Use as many products as you need to get the job done; less is more, as dermatologists always say. A mild cleanser and moisturizer after a shower is a good choice to start with.
Consider a bath
It seems like a big part of the showering trend in everything is “me” time. People leave you alone and you enjoy some of the smells and textures that you usually don’t have time to appreciate – stopping to sniff a rose-scented shower gel, you might say.
So, if you want to relax in a small watertight room with a lockable door, may I suggest taking a bath? Our own company, Claire Lower, has a detailed guide for installing a tub to suit your needs. Maybe you will apply a sheet mask; maybe you put on a good playlist (that won’t be drowned out by the roar of the shower).
Long, hot baths still have the disadvantages of drying out the skin, as do long, hot showers, but they tend to cool down to lukewarm over time, and at least your hair isn’t in the water. You may be better off exfoliating in the bath than in the shower if that’s one of your goals. You can also enjoy the bath while doing other activities besides bathing, such as reading a book or sipping a cocktail.