Is It Better to Shower in the Morning or at Night?

Health Line

2 days ago

No research suggests that morning showers are necessarily better for you than night showers or vice versa. It comes down to preference because both have benefits, depending on your schedule and lifestyle.

You might step into the shower every morning because it helps wake you up, or you might take a shower at night to wash the day away.
But scientific evidence supporting one type of shower over the other is limited. It really just comes down to preference.
Health and wellness touch everyone's lives differently. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Healthline Media. All quotes are strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Does it matter what time you shower?
You don't need to align your shower with a certain time of day for health benefits. Either, depending on your preferences, can be good for you.
Benefits of a morning shower
You may find that you benefit from a morning shower if you:
Need a morning pick-me-up: Not everyone rises in the morning feeling ready to go. If this sounds like you, a warm (not hot) shower may help. You might also want to try turning the water to cold for a moment as an extra wake-up call.
Want to start the day fresh and clean: Your bed contains sweat, skin cells, and skin oils, and showering in the morning sends this residue that you might have picked up overnight down the drain.
Style your hair: If you wake up with unruly hair, you're not alone. A morning shower can help reset your hair, especially if you use hair products that call for application on wet hair.
Benefits of a night shower
However, if going to bed clean rather than starting the day clean is more your style, you may benefit from a night shower.
Some benefits of showering in the evening may include:
Removing a day's worth of dirt: Your skin picks up bacteria and grime whenever it comes in contact with something or someone. Showering at night stops this gunk and other topical skin care products you might apply throughout the day from getting into bed with you.
Cleaner sheets: If you go to bed clean, you won't have to worry about your sheets getting dirty as fast. But your sheets will still inevitably get dirty over time.
Night showers
go to bed clean
cleaner sheets
potentially better sleep
Showering tips (no matter the timing)
Consider some of these pointers the next time you shower for potentially even more benefits:
Use warm water: Hot water (above 104°F [40°C]) may feel good, but it's more likely to dry out your skin and aggravate inflammatory skin conditions, like psoriasis or eczema. A hot shower may also raise already high blood pressure.
Add a blast of cold water at the end: Though it might not sound the most pleasant, a dose of cold water may help promote healthy skin and hair, increase circulation, and wake you up (if needed).
Use gentle soaps and cleansers: Opt for gentle body washes instead of harsh scrubs and heavily scented products, especially if you live with an inflammatory skin condition or have sensitive skin.
Limit your showers to 5 to 10 minutes: A long, hot shower at the end of the day may sound relaxing, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology, try to limit your showers to between 5 and 10 minutes, especially if you have dry skin or an inflammatory skin condition.
Pat your skin dry: After your shower, try not to rub your skin, as this can dry it out and damage its moisture barrier, which is what helps your skin hold onto moisture. Instead, gently pat it dry.
Follow up with a moisturizer: To lock in moisture, try applying a gentle moisturizer within a few minutes of toweling off.
Be sure to connect with a healthcare professional if you live with an inflammatory skin condition, have chronic dry skin, or another skin disorder before changing your shower habits.
We polled some of our staff to help get a better sense of where the Healthline team stands on this conundrum. See the results below and what some of them have to say.
'I grew up in Asia, where everyone takes at least one shower, and the one at night is nonnegotiable. The reason? You don't want to bring all the sweat and dirt to your clean bed. I guess it also helps reduce the need for frequent washing of the bed sheets.' — Louisa Wah, editor
'I need [a morning shower] to clear the fog and get my day started. Some of my most productive work ideas happen during that time!' — Heidi Smith, Real Appeal manager
'I think of showers as a way to wash away the day and help my mind reset for bedtime. I also really don't like getting into bed with the dirt of the day still on me.' — Megan Severs, senior editorial director
'I work out and walk my dog in the evening, so it fits better in my schedule to shower at night and wash away the sweat and grime from being outside! Plus, there is nothing like getting into a clean bed after a hot shower :)' — Victoria Torrez, senior influencer marketing manager
'I need to be clean before I get into bed! Plus, it has become part of my nighttime routine and helps my brain recognize that things are winding down.' — Sara McTigue, senior editor, Bezzy
'I feel very strongly about [night showers]. I have a 'shower lamp' that has very soft lighting, and my showers are steaming hot, so I'll fall asleep if I do them in the morning. I also want to be clean before I get in bed. It doesn't sit right with me having everything built up from the day get on my sheets, especially if I worked out or spent a long time outside.' — Sarah Choi, associate editor