Unlock the secret to ultimate relaxation: why everyone is raving about dark showering

SHOWERS aren’t just something we do every day; they’re a ritual.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Whether it’s a quick maintenance shower or a full-on everything shower with exfoliating and deep conditioning, each one has its own feel.

And now, TikTok has introduced us to a new kind of shower that’s creating ripples in the wellness space: dark showering.

If you're like me, you know the magic of a good shower. It’s where I belt out my favourite tunes. The musical selection is wide-ranging, depending on the mood, varying from Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus to blasting out Gqom beats, a sound that spans the country from Cape Town to Durban.

The debate about which is better is still ongoing. Anything from a simple walk to running errands, I will take that shower before getting into loungewear. Yet, still cry whenever I see my water bill.

What is dark showering?

It sounds dramatic, like an alternative rock album or a breakup ritual, but dark showering is less edgy goth, more nervous-system-friendly wellness.

The idea is simple: turn off your bright bathroom lights (or dim them, you can’t go full blackout) and shower with minimal light. You still wash like you normally would; you just do it without the glare of LED bulbs interrogating you like you stole something. And, surprisingly, there’s science behind the mood.