It’s an age-old hygiene debate that strongly divides opinion: When is the best time to shower during the day?
Whether you belong in the brisk morning shower camp, or swear by a soothing evening soaking, inevitably there are pros and cons to both sides.
So when should you shower and what are the benefits and drawbacks of lathering up at different times of the day?
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Time to Shower
Showering is part of our daily routine and fundamental to our hygiene. Whether you have a wetroom-style doorless walk-in shower, or a traditional shower system, you’ll probably spend a chunk of your week conducting your ablutions.
For some, nothing beats the refreshing blast of a morning shower that shakes your senses before a hard day’s work. Others will swear the best sleep they’ve had is after a relaxing evening shower to wash away the daily grime before they hit the sack.
So, who’s right? When is the best time to shower: Morning or night? Let’s dig deeper, weigh up the evidence, and lay the case for morning and evening showers to help you decide.
Is Morning the Best Time to Shower?
From reviving your senses to washing off the night’s sleep, there are many advantages to showering in the morning or when you get up:
Delivers a Sharp Morning Wake-Up Blast
If you struggle to roll out of bed every morning, a sharp shower can be the perfect pick-me-up to prepare for the day. Fans of this morning ritual will rave about the energising boost they get from the refreshing cascade of clean water.
Morning showers don’t have to be warm either, and many people prefer the icy blast of a revitalising cold shower before they begin the cleaning process. Not only does this wake you up, but cold showers are believed to have numerous health benefits too.
Washes Off Bacteria
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep followed by a morning shower. Not it will it make feel alive and refreshed, but you’ll wash away any bacteria, sweat, and dead skin that’s built up overnight.
As you dream away, your body still sweats, particularly if you live in a warm country, so it’s good to wash this off before you put on clothes. Similarly, if you have an oily complexion, a morning dip leaves your skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
Sharpens Your Focus
A cool morning shower is guaranteed to stimulate the senses and get your brain in gear. The benefit of this refreshing awakening is that you’ll feel more active and productive for the rest of the day.
When cold water hits your skin, you’ll naturally take deeper breaths, decreasing the level of CO2 in the body. Studies show this can help to sharpen your focus and improve concentration.
Gives Your Skin a Morning Glow
If you shave, a hot, steamy morning shower is your best friend. It will open your pores and soften hair follicles – ideal for a stress-free, satisfying, close shave. You’ll also be more alert in the morning and less likely to nick your skin or cut yourself.
Because our skin cells relax overnight, they’ll also be stimulated by the water when taking a morning shower, leaving you looking clean, fresh, and well-groomed.
According to Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine: “A morning shower allows for time to meditate and regroup before starting a long or hectic day. This mindfulness can decrease inflammation in the skin by keeping levels of a hormone called cortisol capped.”
Is the Evening the Best Time to Shower?
Whether it’s relaxing the body or scrubbing off city dirt, taking a well-earned shower in the evening or before bed is compulsory for some people for a variety of reasons:
Grab A Quality Night’s Sleep
An obvious one but showering in the evening often produces a great night’s sleep – so much so that for many people it’s a daily ritual. Not only does it provide you with a clean and cosy feeling before going to bed, but it’s also an ideal routine to aid a long, satisfying snooze.
When you shower at night you can free yourself of daily distractions while you switch off and unwind. There’ll be no phones, devices, or work calls, just time to focus on yourself and look after your wellbeing while you wash away the stresses of the previous hours.
Fight Off Those Allergies
Hay fever sufferers often dread the summer months when pollen levels peak. However, an evening shower can be a great help for those who are prone to allergies and struggle to sleep.
When you step indoors, you take pollen with you on your clothes, hair, and skin. Without a full body wash you’ll transfer these contaminants to your bed, leaving you coughing and sneezing throughout the night and feeling tired and lethargic in the morning.
Go to Bed Clean and Relaxed
As refreshing as morning showers are, an evening dip is also great for your skin because it gives it a deep clean before you hit the hay. Showering at night removes dirt and pollutants accumulated during the day, leaving your skin shiny and revitalized and your mind and body relaxed.
As well as ridding your body of grime, showering at night helps remove sunscreen and other skin care products that you apply during the day. Not only that but showering in the evening will also keep your bedsheets cleaner for longer saving you time and energy.
While there is no definitive answer to the best time to shower, Nancy Rothstein, also known as The Sleep Ambassador, once said: “If you like to shower in the morning, do it. But definitely shower at night. It’s so important to go to bed clean, and it separates the day from the night.”
Can You Take Too Many Showers?
Some people, especially in warm climates, take two or three showers every day, perhaps even more. But for many of us, multiple showers in one day are simply impractical and unnecessary.
We’ve established there are obvious benefits associated with both morning and evening showers. But doing both is rarely required, and it can even be detrimental to your skin. Using soap and other cleaning products too often can dry out your skin and remove moisture. So, if you work hard and work out, and need more than one shower a day, think of swapping the soap for cleaning oils or moisturising cleaners to keep your skin fresh and soft.
Undecided about the best time to shower?
At CCL Wetrooms, we’re firm believers that you should shower any time you like – be it morning, noon, or night. Whatever your preference, our professional wetroom design service will ensure you have the perfect bathroom to suit your needs. Contact us today.