Few household debates run hotter than this one. Morning showerers think night showerers are going to work with bedhead. Night showerers think morning showerers are climbing into bed with a whole day on them. Both camps are a little bit right.
Here's the honest case for each, what actually changes depending on when you shower, and how to pick the time that suits your day.
The short answer
There's no single best time to shower. A morning shower wakes you up and helps you look your freshest for the day ahead. A night shower rinses off the day's sweat, sunscreen and grime before you get into bed, and a warm one can help you wind down. Pick the time that fits your routine, your hair and what your day looks like. If you work out, get sweaty or get dirty, shower after that, whatever the clock says.
The case for showering in the morning
- It wakes you up. Water on your face and a bit of steam are a reliable way to go from groggy to functional. Some people finish with a few seconds of cool water for an extra jolt.
- You start the day fresh. Overnight, you sweat a little and your hair picks up the shape of your pillow. A morning shower resets all of it before anyone sees you.
- Your hair behaves. If you style your hair, washing it in the morning gives you a clean slate instead of whatever you slept on.
- It's the best time to shave. Warm water softens your hair and skin, so a shave right after a morning shower is smoother. We cover the details in should you shave before or after a shower.
- It works after a morning workout. If you exercise early, you're showering anyway.
The case for showering at night
- You go to bed clean. By evening you're carrying the whole day with you. Sweat, sunscreen, makeup, city air, pollen, the gym, the kids' sticky hands. A night shower means none of it ends up on your pillowcase.
- Your sheets stay cleaner longer. Less sweat and oil going into the bed means your sheets stay fresher between washes.
- It can help you wind down. A warm shower is a natural end to the day. Researchers who reviewed studies on bathing and sleep found that a warm bath or shower an hour or two before bed helped people fall asleep a little faster. Your body cools down afterward, and that drop in temperature is one of the cues that it's time to sleep.
- Your mornings get faster. No waiting for hot water, no fighting over the bathroom, ten more minutes of sleep.
- It suits people who work with their hands. If your job leaves you dusty, greasy or smelling like the kitchen, you want that off before you sit on the couch, let alone get into bed.
- It's the natural end of game night. Beer league, pickup hoops or a long shift, the post-game shower is where the day actually ends. We even made a bar for it, Post Game Interview, with bergamot and bourbon.
What about your hair?
Hair is often the deciding factor. If you wash it at night and go to bed with it wet, you'll probably wake up with some creative shapes. Thick or curly hair can stay damp for hours, which isn't comfortable on a pillow.
A few ways around it:
- Shower early in the evening so your hair has time to dry before bed.
- Use a cool setting on a blow dryer for a few minutes.
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, which many people find causes less frizz.
- Skip washing your hair on night-shower days and wash it in the morning instead. Plenty of people split it that way.
What about your skin?
Either time works fine for skin, as long as you don't overdo it. A few things matter more than the clock.
- Keep it warm, not scalding. Very hot water can leave skin feeling tight and dry.
- Keep it reasonably short. Five to ten minutes is plenty for most people.
- Moisturize while your skin is still a little damp. It's the easiest way to keep skin feeling soft.
- Use a gentle soap. A bar made from plant oils with a creamy lather rinses clean without that squeaky, stripped feeling. If your skin is easily bothered, start with a fragrance-free bar.
If you're dealing with an actual skin condition, ask your doctor or dermatologist about your routine. They may have specific advice about water temperature, timing or products.
How often should you shower?
That's a different debate, and a personal one. Many people shower once a day. Others shower every other day and feel great. What matters most is showering after you've been sweaty or dirty, and washing the parts of you that need it most. Hands, of course, get washed many times a day regardless.
Why not both?
Some people do a quick rinse in the morning to wake up and a proper wash at night to go to bed clean. If you have the time and the hot water, there's nothing wrong with it. Just keep both showers short and warm rather than long and hot, so your skin doesn't feel dried out.
How to choose your shower time
| If this sounds like you | Try showering |
|---|---|
| You need help waking up | In the morning |
| You style your hair or shave daily | In the morning |
| You work out before work | In the morning, after your workout |
| You come home sweaty, dusty or greasy | At night |
| You have trouble winding down | At night, an hour or two before bed |
| Your mornings are a scramble | At night |
| You work out in the evening | At night, after your workout |
Make it a routine worth looking forward to
Whenever you shower, it's one of the few parts of the day that's entirely yours. A good bar of soap helps. In the morning, a bright, fresh scent like our 14th Amendment, with apple, pine and fresh water, is a nice way to start. At night, something warm fits the mood, like the bourbon and bergamot in Post Game Interview, or something cozy from our honey soaps. And if you'd rather keep it simple at either end of the day, our Castile Soap is made with 100% organic olive oil and nothing added for scent.
Whichever team you're on, keep your bar on a dish that drains between showers. It'll last longer. Here's how long a bar of soap lasts, and why bar soap is perfectly sanitary to share. Or browse the whole soap shelf.