How Long Should I Wait To Shower After Working Out?

James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Published by James Cunningham, BSc, CPT | Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Last updated: November 15, 2024
FACT CHECKED by Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
Our content is meticulously researched and reviewed by an expert team of fact checkers and medical professionals. They ensure accuracy, relevance, and timeliness using the latest reputable sources, which are cited within the text and listed at the end of the article. Before publication and upon significant updates, we confirm factual accuracy, committed to providing readers with well-informed content. Learn more.

Having a shower after a workout and a short cool-down phase can be a highlight for any training session.

As a personal trainer, I get all my clients to carefully plan their post-workout routine to avoid muscle soreness. And one of the questions I often get is how long people should wait before they head for a shower.

So, I teamed up with a physiotherapist to find out if there’s scientific evidence to support an ideal timing for showering with tired muscles.

Here’s what I found.

Quick Summary

  • To maximize post-workout recovery, wait to shower until your heart rate and body temperature have normalized, which typically takes a short while after exercising.
  • Incorporating a warm shower as part of your cool-down can help soothe muscles, as warmth aids in muscle relaxation and tension release.
  • A cold-water shower for 15 minutes post-high-intensity exercise can improve heart rate recovery and reduce muscle inflammation​.
  • ​Based on my professional experience, transitioning from a warm to a cooler shower temperature post-workout aids in recovery and overall well-being.

Should You Shower Immediately After a Workout?

A person just finished working out and planning to take a shower

You shouldn't shower immediately after a workout, as it can lead to a rapid drop in body temperature and potential feelings of weakness and dizziness.

If you engage in intense workouts, showering immediately afterwards may cause your body temperature to drop too quickly. This can result in feelings of weakness and dizziness.

Therefore, it’s best to make sure you complete a full cool-down process to allow your heart rate and body temperature to come down.

Also, if you wait a few minutes to shower after a workout, you may allow your body to stop actively sweating so that you don’t end up with a sweaty t-shirt 10 minutes after you leave the gym.

“Hot water and steam serve as an instant muscle relaxer, soothing built-up tension and loosening up muscles that can tense up due to stress and anxiety.”

- Nina Kahn, Lifestyle Writer 

Still, standing under warm water is a great way to further enhance your cool-down period, as described in the study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning [1].

In my practice, I've found that visiting a steam room or sauna post-workout can significantly aid in recovery and muscle repair, a strategy backed by research in the Journal of Applied Physiology [2].

How Long Should You Do It?

A muscular person wearing a towel

You should shower for five to fifteen minutes to enhance recovery and overall well-being. And this guideline applies to both cold and hot showers.

Research published in the Plos One journal has shown that there are general health benefits to having a cold shower [3].

Another study from the Journal of Strength and Condition Research shows that a cold-water shower for 15 minutes post-high-intensity exercise can [4]:

  • improve thermal comfort
  • facilitate heart-rate recovery
  • reduce muscle inflammation and soreness
  • have positive effects on mood and cardiovascular health

Now, I’m not suggesting going from hot and sweaty to a freezing shower. But if you go from a hot to a lukewarm temperature and then gradually to a cold, you could be helping your recovery and a general feeling of well-being.

When you gradually lower the temperature, your skin pores will close up and retain moisture.

Cold showers clear pores, remove oil and dirt, lessening breakouts and boosting skin health. The cool temperature of the water can help constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation, which can alleviate muscle soreness and promote faster recovery.

This easy practice elevates workout benefits, leaving you feeling healthier and rejuvenated.

Learn More: Should You Take a Cold or Hot Shower After a Workout?

What Happens to Your Body When You Shower?

A woman taking a shower

When you shower after a workout it can improve blood flow to your muscles and promote relaxation, aiding in post-exercise recovery.

While scientists don’t fully understand the process, it seems that the relaxing effect on blood vessels allows for more oxygen and nutrients to get to your muscles.

When this happens within a half-hour time frame of a workout, you can kickstart your recovery.

From my experience, allowing your body to air-dry post-shower can enhance skin moisture absorption, reducing the risk of clogged pores—a tip I regularly share with my clients.

I find that it may help the skin absorb more moisture and not clog pores.

Related Articles:

FAQs

Should You Have A Hot Or Cold Shower After Training?

You should have a hot shower after training. However, you can also gain good benefits from gradually turning down the temperature to a cold shower as part of your cool-down process.

Is There Any Benefit From Not Showering After A Workout?

No, there’s no real benefit from not showering after a workout. You’ll be smelly and sweaty, and you could be setting yourself up for skin irritations and a slower recovery period.


References:

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31343603/
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17110516/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5025014/
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31343603/
Was this article helpful?
YesNo

About The Author

James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Staff Writer & Senior Coach
James Cunningham, BSc, CPT holds a BSc degree in Sport & Exercise Science from University of Hertfordshire. He's a Health & Performance Coach from London that brings a unique blend of academic knowledge of health supplements and practical exercise experience to the table for his readers.
Learn more about our editorial policy
Dr. Kristy June Dayanan, BS, MD is an author with a BS degree from University of the Philippines and an MD from University of Perpetual Help System. Her ability to simplify medical science complexities and dietary supplement jargon for the average reader makes her a valued medical fact checker and reviewer.
Learn more about our editorial policy
Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD is a published peer-reviewed author and renowned physician from India with over a decade of experience. With her MBBS from Bharati Vidyapeeth and an MD from Rajiv Gandhi University, she actively ensures the accuracy of online dietary supplement and medical information by reviewing and fact-checking health publications.
Learn more about our editorial policy

You May Also Like

Your guide to taking protein
By James Cunningham, BSc, CPT 17 days ago
Protein Shake Before or After a Workout (The Answer)
Woman holding her stomach rolls
By Lisa Lorraine Taylor, BSc, CPT 17 days ago
How Long Does It Take to Lose Belly Fat?
Fat burners on a plastic container
By Lisa Lorraine Taylor, BSc, CPT 17 days ago
How Long Do Fat Burners Take to Start Working?
A couple working out together
By James Cunningham, BSc, CPT 18 days ago
Working Out On An Empty Stomach (Benefits & Side Effects)
your guide to drinking protein shakes without workout
By James Cunningham, BSc, CPT 18 days ago
Is It Bad To Drink Protein Shakes Without Working Out?
A person taking a pill
By Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC 18 days ago
How Long Does It Take for Multivitamins to Work?

Write a Reply or Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our scoring system is the result of objective testing data and subjective expert analysis by a team of fitness coaches and medical experts. Our scoring factors are weighted based on importance. For more information, see our product review guidelines.
BlackFriday Banner