Should You Wash Hair or Body First? Experts Explain the Right Shower Routine

The order of your daily shower steps may seem like a matter of personal preference, but dermatologists suggest it can directly affect the condition of your skin. Experts have long debated whether it is better to wash your hair or your body first to avoid irritation and breakouts.

Two Expert Perspectives

Primrose Freestone, a microbiologist and associate professor at the University of Leicester, believes that washing and conditioning hair should always come first. She explains that as shampoo and conditioner are rinsed out, product residue drips down onto the face, shoulders, and back. Washing the body afterward ensures these leftover ingredients are thoroughly removed.

On the other hand, Dr. Matee Rajput, clinical director at KSL Clinic, advises starting with the body and face, leaving hair care for last. In his view, this sequence prevents prolonged contact between skin and hair products, while also reducing the risk of clogging hair follicles on the scalp.

Dermatological Advice

While there is no definitive scientific study favoring one sequence over the other, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that hair products containing oils can trigger breakouts along the hairline, neck, and back. For individuals prone to skin irritation or body acne, cleansing the skin after rinsing out hair treatments is generally recommended.

Beyond sequence, specialists emphasize avoiding excessively hot water and harsh cleansers, which can strip the skin of its natural lipid barrier and lead to dryness.