When Should You Shower — Morning or Night?

Pick a time, any time.

It seems like a simple question at first — are you better off showering before bed or when you wake up? But ask around and you’ll find your friends split into two very adamant camps. For night showerers, the idea of getting into bed covered in a day’s worth of dirt and germs is downright repulsive. For the other team, starting your day covered in sweat from the night before — and without the jolt of a morning shower — is unfathomable. But which side is right?

Turns out they both are, but it depends on the situation. Everything from your skin type to the amount of pollution in your life to when — and how — you work out can determine when you should shower. Here’s how to find out which timing is best for you.

You should shower in the morning if…

You have oily skin. “Showering in the morning may help you perk up and can be especially good for those with oily skin, since oil can build up during the night and showers are excellent at clearing the pores,” NYC-based internist Holly Phillips, MD, tells Yahoo Health. 

You like starting the day with a fresh shave. “For men, showering can soften the hairs on the face, making shaving smoother and easier,” Phillips explains. 

You’re OK with waking up early. One possible downside: the toll it takes on your beauty sleep. “You may have to wake up earlier to bathe in the a.m. — not ideal for those who like to hit the snooze button,” says Phillips. 

You’re a night sweater. “Obviously, if one is sweaty all night, they would want to shower in the morning,” says L.A.-based dermatologist Tanya Kormeili, MD. 

You’re not around many germs. One of the biggest reasons to shower at night is to clean off the grime that accumulates over the day. If you bounce from home to car to air-conditioned office and back, you might not have much to scrub off. “If you’re covered up all day, just washing your hands and face and changing your clothes should do the trick,” Phillip explains.