shower head

A shower is a process of bathing by application of sprayed water upon the body; the term also refers the component of a typical modern bathroom that provides such a function. It offers an effective method of personal hygiene through a spraying of the body with hot or cold water as desired, often in combination with soap, shampoo or shower gel. It is also a more efficient use of water and the power necessary to heat it than taking a bath. By definition, a half bathroom does not include a shower; a full bath may include a full shower.
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The hygiene regimen in the form of a shower goes back to the time of the Greeks, as evidenced by extant vases and murals.[1] During the Scottish Enlightenment Lord Monboddo showered every morning with cold water on his front porch to emulate the Greeks and profess his belief in the practice as healthful;[1] his habit, while eccentric, was well publicized with the intelligentsia of that era. Another step toward the spread of showering was when the Prussian military installed showering rooms in their barracks in 1879.

Cultural significance
Group nudity is commonly accepted in many cultures when showering or bathing, as long as it is not mixed-gender bathing, in which nudity is much less commonly accepted.
Group nudity is commonly accepted in many cultures when showering or bathing, as long as it is not mixed-gender bathing, in which nudity is much less commonly accepted.

Showering in the Western World is mostly part of a daily routine, but is also practiced for wellness and relaxation. Showering has today largely replaced bathing. Many households today do not own a bathtub any more, but rather a shower in its place.[citation needed]

Showering procedure

Showering results in a few phases, in which the skin, and usually the hair, are wet with water. Then the cleansing products are applied, allowed to work, and subsequently rinsed out. If necessary, soaping and rinsing is re-performed. For a complete cleaning 15-20 minutes daily must be spent in the shower.[citation needed]

Too frequent showering with cleansing products can damage the skin and hair. In order to protect the hair, a shower cap may be used.

Constant use of soaps or soap-based products in the shower can produce soap scum on the walls or floors, caused by the reaction of soap with lime in hard water. One of the advantages of using a shower gel instead of soap is that this soap scum does not form, reducing cleaning and maintenance of the shower.