The ‘everything shower’: how TikTok trend of long cleansing rituals can relieve stress after the pandemic, according to experts

A craze for long self-care rituals with hair treatment, dry brushing, shaving, exfoliating and more has flooded social media and is embraced by celebrities

Experts talk about the benefits of such cleansing rituals, from helping fight anxiety by offering structure to helping us ‘slow down’ and feel pampered

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The “everything shower” self-care trend includes taking long baths, moisturising, exfoliating and more. Experts talk about the benefits of such rituals, including how they can help us relax in a post-pandemic world. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:15pm, 25 Apr 2023

The “everything shower” trend – an elaborate, time-intensive way of showering or bathing – is flooding social media, with fans praising a ritual they believe promotes good health and a feeling of calm while relieving stress and improving their mood.

Videos on social media platform TikTok offering a glimpse of the ritual or showing people flopping into bed afterwards are captivating viewers. Some posts focus on the self-care rituals before, during, and after a shower or soak.

These include shampooing, washing, exfoliating, dry brushing, massaging, deep conditioning, using masks for face and hair, shaving and moisturising. Shampoos, cleansers, exfoliants, serums, oil and other products feature in the footage.

Suniti Adlakha, a banker based in New Delhi, the Indian capital, says she loves immersive baths because “they denote quality me time, especially when you’re juggling careers with kids and home management”.

Self-care rituals before, during, and after a shower or soak include shampooing, washing, exfoliating, dry brushing, massaging, deep conditioning, shaving and moisturising. Photo: Shutterstock

The trend became popular in India a few months ago when celebrities started posting photos of themselves soaking in relaxing baths. Some claimed the ritual was “sacred” in their frenetic life.