Is It Better To Shower In The Morning Or At Night?

Have you ever had a heated discussion with a group of people about whether it's better to shower in the morning or at night? Some people are adamant about the high value of their morning showers, while others are just as passionate that their nighttime shower is the absolute way to go.

Often, night shower advocates cite the idea that showering in the evening means they're clean and relaxed when they crawl into their sheets. Those who swear by showering in the morning say it helps them become alert when they shower first thing in the morning.

Showers: Who Invented Them?

So where did the history of showering begin, anyway? Ever wondered how this daily ritual began? Showering has a fascinating history!

Back when our hunter-gatherer ancestors resided in caves, they needed a pond or lake to clean up after killing and dressing an animal... or else had to head to the closest waterfall, which may have been quite a long hike. Since the power of the waterfall was greater than just a soak in a lake, they may've been willing to go the extra mile.

Ancient Egyptians were probably the first to imagine a shower as a luxury. The wealthy had their slaves or servants carry water in jugs to special shower rooms. But since they had no way to heat the water, you can just about imagine how that cold water shower would take your breath away.

Ancient Greeks took things a step farther. They developed pipes and drainage systems, so you didn't have to keep recycling the water that had just been poured on you. The Romans were a fastidious lot, and didn't reuse water from their showers. They also constructed large bath houses in all the lands they conquered.

It wasn't until 1767 that the first shower you would recognize as "modern" was developed by London stove-maker William Feetham. His invention pumped water to a basin above the person's head. When they pulled a chain, the cold water was released. In 1810 a shower was developed with hot or warm water for the first time.

Who knew the luxury showers we enjoy today had such humble beginnings?

So now, our first world question is this -- is it better to shower in the morning or at night? In reality, it comes down to your own personal preference.

The Health Benefits of a Morning Shower

Allows you to shower right after a morning workout

If you exercise in the morning, showering right after your workout allows you to shower off the sweat from your workout. And you still get the benefit of feeling at your best for the day ahead.

Improves mental alertness

If you're one of those people who feels like the walking dead until you take your morning shower, showering in the morning can wake you up and aid alertness. 81% of people who shower in the morning say that it jump-starts their day.

Preps your skin for skin care routines

Morning showers mean you're ready for your skin care routine for the day.

Combats bedhead

When you sleep on wet hair (or even dry hair), it can get matted down while you sleep, a state known as bedhead. If you take that nice warm shower in the morning, your hair is ready for styling and you'll feel at your best.

The Health Benefits of Evening Showers

Removes allergens, grime, and dirt before bedtime:

Perhaps one of the most-cited reasons for showering at night is that you crawl into your sheets clean, potentially meaning you have to wash your sheets less often. This might be an especially important point for those who suffer from allergies (especially during spring and summer), or those who live with someone who is immunocompromised. [4]

Helps ease the transition into sleep (if timed right):

An evening shower can help adjust the body temperature for sleep. In a small 2019 study, scientists found that soaking in a bath (note: not a shower) at 104 to 109 degrees for as little as ten minutes brought more restful sleep with less tossing and turning. The trick is that it needs to be done one to two hours before bed. The warmth of the water opens the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the surface. Subsequently, your body goes into cool-down mode, signaling your body that it's time to sleep. At least that's the theory. If you fill that hour with screen time, all bets are off! [1]

Caveat: Some people in the study felt more awake after the bath instead of more tired. So if it doesn't work for you and your sleep, don't force it on yourself.

Choosing The Healthiest Shower Option for You

So there you have it. You'll need to decide what your personal preferences are and make a personal choice. Is showering in the morning or evening right for you? It may vary by time of year -- i.e., allergy season -- when showering at night might be best. Your body (and maybe your nose) will guide you. After all, you want to feel clean when you crawl into your sheets.

You may feel showering in the morning helps you prepare for the day. It's a lifestyle choice, and the real answer lies with you. Each is beneficial in its own way. The last thing we want to do is try to press a square peg into a round hole.

What About Baths vs. Showers?

As in the case of morning showers vs evening showers, there are also pros and cons with baths vs showers. It depends on what your goal is.

Baths are known as a good way to relieve chronic pain naturally, especially with the use of substances such as Epsom salts. An immersion bath is also a great way to relax and calm your nerves. It can also relieve fatigue and exfoliate skin. But probably its biggest plus is the ability to add ingredients to the water -- such as Epsom salts or pure essential oils. A bath will also take longer than a shower and use more water. And some experts even recommend that you shower off the bath water after you take a bath (which kind of seems redundant).

Pros for the shower include using less water, which means less skin drying. Showers have been shown to improve circulation. They take less time -- you should limit your shower to just five to ten minutes.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a shower over a bath is that the cleanliness of the tub can be an issue. Showers are cleaner, and you're not sitting in the water. But both the shower floor and the bathtub can get coated with bacterial biofilm, and the only way to remove that biofilm is with a strong bristle brush -- which should be part of your routine household hygiene.

Too Much of A Good Thing -- The Pitfalls of Over-Bathing

The human body doesn't need as much washing as we tend to give it. If you choose to shower in the morning, you generally should skip showering at night. And vice versa. Otherwise, you may get too much of a good thing. We may be destroying our skin microbiome by taking too many showers.

Your skin is your largest organ and your first line of defense against invading species. It contains 1,000 species of bacteria and 80 fungi. Some of these are extremely helpful to you. Demodex are a type of mite, and dig deep into your pores, feed off dead skin cells, and act as a natural exfoliant. Another helpful microbe is a fungus found on your feet. It produces compounds that are lethal to athlete's foot and toenail fungus. And that's just two helpful microbes. Animal research suggests a skin bacterium might even help prevent skin cancer. [2]

When we wash too much, we destroy the skin's microbiome and strip away the protective oils it contains. Conversely, if you wash too little, your skin can't detoxify and you end up with an imbalanced microbiome.

The net-net of protecting your skin's microbiome is that you should use less soap (also helps your budget). Lather up only your armpits, groin, feet, plus any particularly soiled areas. The water will do its own magic on the areas you don't lather up on. Use a gentle pure castile soap such as Bronner's, which doesn't clog pores. If you can get away with it, try shampooing your hair every two to three days with a mild natural shampoo to protect your head's skin microbiome. [3]

Avoid soaps with antibacterials such as triclosan in the shower, bathtub, and at the sink. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor that can wreak havoc on your thyroid and adrenals.

What else about showering?

Here are a few other best practices regarding showers, getting a good night's sleep, and keeping your bed clean.

Besides showering less, lathering less, and using gentle soap, your water should be warm. No hot shower, which is hard on your skin.

You can also experiment with warm-to-cold showers. Cold showers can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and boost metabolism. However, if you have a heart condition or Raynaud's syndrome, speak with your primary care physician before taking a cold shower.

Sheets are full of dead skin cells and sweat -- no matter when you shower. You should wash your sheets at least every two weeks. And your pillows every six months. And incidentally, wash your towels every three to four days if using daily. [3]

Summary

Whether you shower at night or in the morning is largely a personal preference, although in certain cases it may be driven by health sensitivities or a loved one's immunocompromised health.

Proponents of morning showers say it wakes them up, preps them to feel their best for the day, and simplifies grooming tasks. And the proponents of evening showers cite clean sheets, removal of allergens, grime, and dirt, and easing transition into sleep (with good timing). Which one works best for you?

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is showering?

Showering is important in that it helps your skin detoxify. However, overdoing it can destroy the skin microbiome and strip away protective oils. It's important to strike that important balance.

How frequently should adults shower?

Adults should try to shower no more than once per day. And they should lather up only the armpits, groin, and feet, and let water alone do its own magic for the rest of the body.

Does shower water temperature matter to your health?

Generally, you should use warm water for your showers. There are some benefits for cold showers, but check with your healthcare provider first.

How often should you shower?

Generally, you should shower no more than once per day. If a second shower seems necessary, try to make it a water-only shower to rinse off the sweat and grime.