The One Gen-Z Trend Boomers Should Embrace

It's the one-stop, luxurious, 'everything' shower.

By

Kristina Wright

 
Amber Day

It took me until my 40s to admit that I simply don’t like taking baths. I’ve tried, truly. I’ve bought — or been gifted — the expensive bath salts, the foaming bubble baths, the bath bombs packed with oils and herbs, but by the time I’ve adjusted the water temperature, arranged everything just so, and lowered myself into the tub, the water is already cooling off. Then I drop my phone on the tile floor, or my reading glasses get lost in the bubbles, or I lose my place in the book I’m reading. My hips start aching, my shoulders get cold, and I feel trapped. And, worst of all, I’m bored.

For years, I thought I disliked baths because I was doing it wrong. Weren’t they supposed to be relaxing? Wasn’t I supposed to emerge from the tub as a serene, lavender-scented goddess? But no matter how many times I tried, the whole experience felt like a chore.

Then I stumbled across something online that changed my tune — the “everything shower.”

A Gen Z Trend for Women Who Hate Baths (Like Me)

The “everything shower” is a viral TikTok trend in which people transform a simple shower into a full-on spa ritual. It’s a long, luxurious session complete with scrubs, conditioners, exfoliators, creams and oils — set to a sound track of a mood-setting playlist or inspiring audiobook. It’s the kind of treat for you to lock the door, take your time, and emerge feeling like a new person. In other words, it’s my favorite way to spend an afternoon or evening.

Here is the one-stop beautifying routine that turns a simple shower into an extraordinary, everything experience, for mind, body and spirit.

Setting the Stage

Before I even turn on the water, I like to make the bathroom feel a little more special. Lately I’ve been using shower steamers — those little discs you place on the shower floor that release scent as the water hits them. The steam fills the whole space with whatever mood I’m going for, and I love lavender or vanilla from a calming evening scent and something citrusy when I need a boost. It’s such a small thing, but it instantly shifts me into a slower, more intentional mindset, like I’m stepping into my own personal spa instead of just taking a shower.

Sometimes I’ll light a candle, but just dimming the lights works too. I always queue up a song I love, whether it’s a relaxing playlist, an episode of a favorite podcast or an inspiring audiobook.

If it’s an evening everything shower, I’ll be slipping into a fluffy robe afterward. And a towel warmer feels like the kind of small luxury this ritual deserves, so I’m putting one on my birthday wish list this year.

Pre-Shower Prep

My everything shower starts while the room is steaming up. I always begin with my scalp. A little pre-shampoo oil and a gentle scalp massage helps put me in the right mindset. I keep a couple of different oils on hand, but you can't beat plain coconut oil for convenience and cost. Before I get in the shower, I also give my face a good cleanse and apply a mask. I'm a fan of sheet masks because they're easy and mess-free, but a 10- to 15-minute cream or clay mask works, too.

Shampoo and Condition

Once the water is warm and my soundtrack is playing, I lather up with a favorite shampoo. If my hair is feeling especially dry, I swap my usual conditioner for a rich hair mask and let it sit while I continue the rest of my routine. A deep-conditioning mask is a treat for my heat-dried, color-treated hair and leaves it smoother and shinier without weighing it down.

Exfoliate Everything 

There’s something wonderfully symbolic about sloughing off dead skin — a literal shedding of the day (or even the week).

When my skin is extra dry, I reach for a gentle scrub designed for sensitive skin that exfoliates without scratching. And I always pay extra attention to my feet with a pumice stone, which makes me feel like I’ve had a mini pedicure.

Shave (or Not), Smooth and Soothe 

If I’m shaving, this is when it happens. My skin is soft, my pores are open, and everything goes more smoothly. I’ve been a long-time fan of moisturizing shave gel because it leaves my skin feeling silky. After shaving, I move on with a refreshing body wash with shea butter for an additional moisturizing boost for my dry skin.

Face Time

Before I finish my shower, I like to give my face a little more attention. Whether I applied a face mask before my shower or not, I use a soft, hydrating cleanswer that leaves my skin calm and refreeshed. The warm steam makes this step feel especially comforting, and it's a nice way to ease out of the ritual. My current favorite for mature skin is a gentle hydrating wash that's thick, creamy and leaves my face feeling clean, but never tight.

Last-minute Chilly Blast

If my everything-shower is happening early in the day, I’ll finish with a quick cool rinse. The temperature shift helps seal my hair cuticles so my locks are smoother and look shinier, and it gives my skin a gentle wake-up without drying it out. I may not love the initial shock, but I always love how refreshed and alert I feel afterward.

Lock In the Goodness 

I never rush out the door when I’m finished with my everything shower. I wrap my hair in a towel and apply body oil or cream while my skin is still damp. My favorite daily post-shower moisturizer is packed with olive and almond oils — it’s incredibly hydrating and smells like I’m on vacation in the Greek islands.

Then I detangle my hair gently, add a little leave-in conditioner and finish with my favorite facial serum and moisturizer.

Making It My Own

What I love most about the everything shower is how personal it is and how easily I can tailor it to my mood and needs. At this point in my life, I've stopped thinking of self-care as something extravagant. A hydrating mask for brittle hair, a gentle scrub for dry skin, a shower steamer to help clear my head — these things feel less like treats and more like tiny kindnesses I can offer myself.

We all have our favorite products; mine are rich in natural ingredients that exfoliate, hydrate and smell great  Pick your own lotions and potions that do what mine do for me – they wake up all my senses  and help me relax.

And when I think I don’t have time for an everything shower, that’s exactly when I need it most. By the time I step out  warm, moisturized, and de-stressed,  I feel like the best version of myself.

Kristina Wright has written for a variety of publications, including the Washington Post, Business Insider, The Girlfriend, Narratively and USA Today. She is a regular contributor at Optimism and BookBub, and she writes a monthly column for the Washington Independent Review of Books. Kristina lives in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, two teenage sons, two Goldendoodles and a ginger cat.