A great shower can do more than get you clean. Done once a week with a little intention, it becomes a full reset for your hair, scalp, and skin, and a calm start to the week ahead. This guide walks through an “everything shower” routine step by step, with the products we picked for each step and how to keep exfoliation gentle.
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What Is an Everything Shower?
An everything shower is a longer, once-a-week shower where you do it all: wash and treat your hair, care for your scalp, cleanse and exfoliate your body, shave if you want to, and finish with moisture.
Many people save it for Sunday, which makes it a natural part of a weekly reset. If you like that idea, our Sunday reset tips and affordable beauty finds pair well with this routine.
Your Routine at a Glance
| Step | What you do | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set the mood | Add aroma before you start | BodyRestore Shower Steamers |
| 2. Wash | Shampoo and condition for your hair type | Function of Beauty XL Set |
| 3. Scalp care | Massage while you shampoo | HEETA Scalp Massager |
| 4. Treat | Hair treatment while you wash your body | Elizavecca CER-100 |
| 5. Cleanse | Body wash | Dove Serum+ Hydration |
| 6. Exfoliate | Choose one: scrub or mitt | Tree Hut Scrub or Modu Mitt |
| 7. Shave | Optional | Tree Hut Shave Oil |
| 8. Dry hair | Wrap hair | Kitsch XL Hair Towel |
| 9. Moisturize | Lotion on non-exfoliation days | AmLactin 15% Lotion |
Steps 2–4 & 8
Hair Care
Wash, treat, and wrap. Start with your hair so the treatment can sit while you move on to your body.
Step 2 · Shampoo & Condition
Function of Beauty XL Sets
Function of Beauty sells its XL shampoo and conditioner sets by hair type. Choose the one that matches yours:
- Straight Hair Set: made for type 1 (straight) hair, with coconut water in the shampoo and avocado oil in the conditioner, in the brand’s Nude Peach scent.
- Wavy Hair Set: made for type 2 (wavy) hair, with fermented rice water in the shampoo.
Step 3 · Scalp Care
HEETA Scalp Massager
While you shampoo, use the HEETA Scalp Massager. It has soft, flexible silicone bristles and is designed to use with shampoo, conditioner, or hair oil.
Use gentle, circular motions; there’s no need to press hard.
Step 4 · Treat
Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Hair Protein Treatment
After shampooing, swap in the Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment (100 ml). The listing describes it as a treatment with ceramide 3 and collagen, made for damaged or over-processed hair, and notes a short leave-on time of about five minutes.
Let it sit while you move on to your body, then rinse. Follow the directions on the package.
Step 8 · Dry
Kitsch XL Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap
Out of the shower, wrap your hair in the Kitsch XL Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap. It measures 40 x 24 inches, which makes it a good size for long or thick hair, and has an elastic loop to keep it in place.
Step 5
Body Cleanse
A simple, everyday body wash sets you up for the rest of the routine.
Step 5 · Cleanse
Dove Serum+ Hydration Body Wash
For body wash, we picked the Dove Serum+ Hydration Body Wash (30 fl oz). According to the listing, it combines a 6% hydration serum with hyaluronic acid and is meant for everyday use.
Step 6
Exfoliation
This is the step that makes an everything shower feel like a spa day. It’s also the easiest one to overdo, so pick one method per shower.
Option A · Sugar Scrub
Tree Hut Vanilla Body Scrub
The Tree Hut Vanilla Body Scrub (18 oz) is a vegan sugar scrub with shea butter and vanilla.
Massage a small amount over damp skin with light pressure, then rinse.
Option B · Exfoliating Mitt
Modu Korean Exfoliating Mitts
The Modu Korean Exfoliating Mitts (4 large mitts) are double-sided, reusable Korean-style exfoliating mitts.
The listing suggests soaking in warm water first; use gentle strokes rather than scrubbing hard.
Gentle Skin Guide
How to Avoid Over-Exfoliating
The scrub, the mitt, and AmLactin’s lactic acid all exfoliate. Using them together can be too much for your skin. Keep it simple:
- One method per shower. Use the Tree Hut scrub or the Modu mitt, never both in the same session.
- Space it out. Start with exfoliating once a week, and only add more if your skin feels comfortable.
- Don’t layer AmLactin on exfoliation day. On the days you scrub or use the mitt, choose a plain moisturizer instead, and save AmLactin for other days.
- Avoid freshly shaved, broken, or irritated skin. Wait until your skin is calm before exfoliating that area.
- Use light pressure. Smoother skin doesn’t come from scrubbing harder.
- Check for sun warnings. AHA products like lactic acid can increase sun sensitivity. Follow the label, and use sunscreen on exposed skin.
- Patch test new products and follow the directions. If something stings, burns, or leaves your skin red, stop using it. Talk to a dermatologist if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition.
Step 7 · Optional
Shaving
Shave after you exfoliate, not before, and skip exfoliating any area you just shaved.
Step 7 · Shave
Tree Hut Vanilla Moisturizing Shave Oil
If you shave, the Tree Hut Vanilla Moisturizing Shave Oil (7.7 fl oz) is made with shea butter, vanilla, and a blend of oils including argan and grapeseed.
Step 9
Moisturizing
Finish with lotion while your skin is still slightly damp.
Step 9 · Moisturize
AmLactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion
The AmLactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion (7.9 oz) contains 15% lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), plus ceramide 3, and it’s fragrance-free.
Because lactic acid is itself a chemical exfoliant, follow the Gentle Skin Guide above before you pair it with your scrub or mitt.
Step 1 & Optional Extras
Spa Extras
The little touches that turn a regular shower into a ritual. None of these are required.
Step 1 · Set the Mood
BodyRestore Shower Steamers
The BodyRestore Shower Steamers (Energize, 15 pack) are aromatherapy tablets with citrus essential oils, including orange and grapefruit.
The listing says to place one on the shower floor, away from the direct stream of water, so it releases scent as you shower.
Optional Extras
Level Up Your Shower
- Bigger towels: Utopia Towels Jumbo Bath Sheets (2 pack, 35 x 70 in, 600 GSM cotton).
- A warm towel: the Keenray Towel Warmer Bucket.
- Another body wash option: Tree Hut Jelly Bear Foaming Body Wash (18 fl oz).
- A razor: the Gillette Venus ComfortGlide White Tea Razor.
- Detangling: the Wet Brush Detangling Comb, a wide-tooth comb for wet hair.
- Lighter moisture: Naturium Glow Getter Body Oil or eos Shea Better Body Lotion in Vanilla Cashmere. Either one works on exfoliation days.
- A finishing scent: the philosophy body & hair fragrance mist duo.
- Targeted body care: the medicube Body Peel Shot Duo. It’s also an exfoliating product, so treat it as your one exfoliation step that day, not as an add-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I do an everything shower?
Once a week is a good place to start. Exfoliation steps, in particular, don’t need to happen every day.
Can I use a body scrub and an exfoliating mitt together?
We recommend choosing one per shower. Using both at once doubles the exfoliation.
Can I use AmLactin after exfoliating?
AmLactin contains 15% lactic acid, which is an exfoliant. To keep things gentle, use a regular moisturizer on scrub or mitt days and save AmLactin for other days. Always follow the product label.
Do I need every product on this list?
No. Start with what you already own and add a piece or two that fills a real gap in your routine.
The Bottom Line
An everything shower is a simple way to reset for the week: wash, treat, cleanse, exfoliate gently, and moisturize. Choose the steps that fit your hair and skin, keep exfoliation to one method at a time, and enjoy the slower pace.