Taking a shower is a common part of many Americans’ morning routines. However, showering habits can vary significantly between individuals based on personal preference, schedule, health conditions, and other factors.
How Often Do Americans Shower?
Research shows that most Americans shower or bathe nearly every day. A survey conducted by the market research firm Ipsos found that the average American showers 6.2 times per week, or just under once per day. The survey included responses from roughly 1,005 Americans ages 18 and over.
According to the Ipsos survey, the most common showering frequency reported was once per day – around 47% of respondents said they shower daily. Meanwhile, 28% reported showering 2 or more times per day. On the other end of the spectrum, 12% said they shower 4-6 times per week and 13% reported showering just 1-3 times per week.
Shower Frequency by Age and Gender
The Ipsos survey revealed some differences in showering habits based on age and gender:
- Women reported showering slightly more frequently than men – 6.4 times per week on average for women compared to 6 times per week for men.
- Younger adults tend to shower more often than older adults. 18-34 year olds reported showering 6.8 times per week on average, compared to 6.1 times for 35-54 year olds and 5.4 times for those 55 and over.
Regional Differences
Showering habits also appear to vary somewhat based on region. Here is the average weekly shower frequency by region according to the Ipsos survey:
| Region | Average Weekly Showers |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 6.7 |
| Midwest | 6.2 |
| South | 6.1 |
| West | 6.0 |
Residents of the Northeast reported showering most frequently at nearly 7 times per week on average. The West had the lowest average shower frequency at 6 times per week.
Do Most Americans Shower in the Morning?
Morning showers are indeed very common among Americans who shower or bathe daily. However, night showers are also popular.
According to a survey by the American Water Works Association, 65% of Americans take a shower in the morning, while 35% opt for an evening shower instead. Some key findings on American’s time-of-day showering preferences:
- Women are more likely to shower in the morning – 70% compared to 59% of men.
- Younger adults prefer morning showers more than older adults. 71% of 18-34 year olds shower in the AM vs. 63% of 35-54 year olds and 56% of those 55+.
- Parents tend to be morning shower takers – likely due to having children to get ready for school/activities. 72% of parents shower in the morning compared to 57% of non-parents.
Regional differences were less pronounced for time-of-day showering preferences. However, Westerners were slightly more likely to opt for evening showers than other regions.
Why Do Many Shower in the Morning?
There are a few key reasons morning showers are preferred by roughly two-thirds of daily shower takers:
1. Waking Up and Feeling Refreshed
For many morning shower devotees, a shower first thing in the morning helps them feel alert, refreshed, and ready to start the day. The warm water can be energizing and the routine of showering can help fully wake up the mind and body.
2. Hygiene for the Day Ahead
Morning showers help Americans feel clean, fresh, and hygienic as they go about their day. This makes morning a convenient time to thoroughly wash, shampoo hair, shave, etc. so one feels fully cleansed for the hours ahead.
3. Saving Time
Showering in the morning as part of a morning routine allows some tasks like washing and shaving to be combined with other morning hygiene habits. This can save time compared to waiting until night when one may be tired.
4. Styling Hair
Especially for those with longer and thicker hair, showering in the morning can be preferred so one’s hair can be styled and controlled with clean, damp hair. Letting hair air dry or blow drying into a desired style may be easier on freshly washed morning hair.
Why Some Prefer Night Showers
While morning showers are more common, plenty of Americans prefer a nice evening shower instead. Some top reasons include:
1. Relaxing Before Bed
A warm, relaxing shower can help provide a clean slate before slipping into bed. The soothing warmth can create a calming bedtime routine.
2. Washing Away Dirt from Daily Activities
After a day out commuting, working, running errands, exercising, etc. a shower can help wash away built up grime, sweat, and environmenal dirt so one feels truly clean before bed.
3. Making Mornings Easier
Showering at night avoids cramming it into the morning when time may be limited. This helps streamline the morning routine so there’s more time for breakfast, packing lunches, and other AM necessities.
4. Styling Hair
Nighttime can be a better time to shower and style hair for some people. Going to bed with clean, wet hair allows natural overnight styling. Letting hair air dry overnight can set styles like curls or waves.
How Shower Habits Vary
While the average American showers nearly every day, individual habits vary greatly. Shower frequency can range from multiple times per day to just a few times per week based on factors like:
Activity Level
People with active jobs involving manual labor or who exercise regularly may opt to shower more than once a day. Sweat and body odor can build up more quickly with high activity levels.
Commute
Some with long public transit commutes to work may shower in both the morning to start the day fresh and at night to wash away commuting grime.
Skin and Hair Type
Those with oily skin/hair may prefer daily showers. People with dry skin or curly hair that loses moisture easily may shower every other day.
Access to Showering Facilities
Homeless individuals and those with limited access to clean, safe shower facilities are unable to maintain regular hygiene routines.
Health Conditions
Some health conditions like depression or chronic pain can make frequent showering difficult. Others may require meticulous hygiene habits for disease prevention.
Personal Preference
Individual preferences, habits, work schedules, and convenience can shape unique shower routines.
The Bottom Line
In summary, most Americans take a daily shower, with morning showers being more common than night showers overall. However, shower frequency and timing varies significantly based on demographics, location, occupations, health status, and personal preference. While showering is a near universal habit, how often, when, and for how long is highly individual.