# Which way do you face in the shower? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874 "2019-01-16T16:13:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/41 "2019-01-17T12:36:39Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > In addition to my answer above, I have to add that it depends on the height of the shower head. If it is higher than my face, then I face away more. If it is lower than my face, I spend more time facing it. I didn’t realize it until reading your answer, but this is what I do and because most of the showers I use the shower head is higher than my face I am looking away more. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/42 "2019-01-17T14:10:18Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > In addition to my answer above, I have to add that it depends on the height of the shower head. If it is higher than my face, then I face away more. If it is lower than my face, I spend more time facing it. I agree this is probably a large component of it. I am short and my shower head is higher up. If I face toward it, I am going to get a bit of spray in my face unless it is pointed at my belly button or lower. _However_, most humans started out shorter than they are now. When you were smaller, you would have naturally faced away. If you had done this for years, why would you then switch to facing toward? ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/43 "2019-01-17T14:48:43Z")
Okay, I’ve given this way too much thought. 😃 I honestly don’t see how you’d spend more time one way or the other. I will say that as a tall woman, the height of the showerhead factors into the ease of the shower, but doesn’t change the steps. Get in, get both sides wet. Face away: get hair wet Face toward: (but stepped back away from the spray) wash hair Face away: rinse hair Face toward: add conditioner, squish in, let sit Face away: soap front up with washcloth Face toward: soap back up with washcloth Spin: rinse body Face away: rinse conditioner out Water off. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/44 "2019-01-17T15:25:43Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Is “facing carnivorousplant’s wife” a poll option? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > For v.1.0, 2.0 yes. 3.0 is a definite no. :dubious: If ever a poll called for pictures … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/45 "2019-01-17T15:27:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Get in, get both sides wet. > Face away: get hair wet > Face toward: (but stepped back away from the spray) wash hair > Face away: rinse hair > Face toward: add conditioner, squish in, let sit > Face away: soap front up with washcloth > Face toward: soap back up with washcloth > Spin: rinse body > Face away: rinse conditioner out > Water off. Sounds about right to me. When I’m lingering and just enjoying the warm water, I face towards when I want the spray on my body and away when I want it on my head (don’t like water hitting me in the face). ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/46 "2019-01-17T15:30:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Away whilst soaping, facing whilst rinsing, like any normal human. This. I’m a normal human too. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/47 "2019-01-17T15:34:36Z")
Female. About half and half. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/48 "2019-01-17T16:16:18Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > Get in, get both sides wet. > Face away: get hair wet > Face toward: (but stepped back away from the spray) wash hair > Face away: rinse hair > Face toward: add conditioner, squish in, let sit > Face away: soap front up with washcloth > Face toward: soap back up with washcloth > Spin: rinse body > Face away: rinse conditioner out > Water off. Get in, get both sides wet. Face away: get hair wet **Face away** : wash hair Face away: rinse hair **Face away** : add conditioner, rinse out almost immediately 😉 **Face away** : soap back up with washcloth while simultaneously rinsing Face away: soap front up with washcloth Spin: rinse body Water off. I’m not a judgemental guy, but let’s face facts. Showerhead facers=standing bathroom wipers=open-eyed kissers=deviant freaks :D. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/49 "2019-01-17T16:35:20Z")
Dude, let the conditioner sit a minute while you wash the other bits. THEN rinse out, as last step before turning off water. Go on. Try it. Then run your fingers through your hair. No need to prostrate yourself in gratitude, my dear; a cash reward would be sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/50 "2019-01-17T18:19:19Z")
Wow, this must be the most evenly distributed poll in SDMB history! We are truly a divided society… ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/51 "2019-01-17T18:21:56Z")
Mostly away. I only face towards to rinse and pee. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/52 "2019-01-17T18:22:59Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Wow, this must be the most evenly distributed poll in SDMB history! We are truly a divided society… Not many shower sideways. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/53 "2019-01-17T18:31:49Z")
I should never have opened this thread. Now for the next six weeks I am going to be self-conscious about which way I am facing in the shower. It’s like deliberately not glancing down going up the stairs. And thinking that if I ever turn sideways, I am some kind of deviant. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/54 "2019-01-17T18:36:41Z")
How many women (or men) shave their legs while showering? I don’t see how anyone could do that facing the spray. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/55 "2019-01-17T18:44:09Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Is “facing carnivorousplant’s wife” a poll option? Lessee now, which way is Arkansas? Which compass direction am I facing while I’m in the shower? Nope, not facing **cp** ’s current wife. Or **cp** , for that matter, which suits me just fine. 🙂 Arkansas is definitely **not** northwest of Maryland, and that’s the direction I’m facing when I’m in the shower. Anyhow: Other than turning the water on and off, I’m facing **away** from the shower head, except a brief moment when I’m scrubbing my back. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/56 "2019-01-17T20:14:54Z")
Ambi-showerous and male by sex but agender. My option in the poll didn’t make me need to sort out whether the poll meant sex or gender. > [@Hermitian](#): > > How can you face toward the whole time? Even if your face is not in the direct stream you will be getting a certain amount of residual spray in your eyes. I’m around 6’ 1.5" when I’ve been measured as an adult. That is generally after my spine has compacted a bit later in the day. Close to 6’2" is probably a good estimate for first thing in the morning in the shower. Some shower heads are installed around my eye level or not much higher as it is. An annoyingly large number of hotel shower heads require significant ducking to rinse my hair. Unless I am jamming my face right up into the shower head there’s not really water in the eyes issue. If I take a step back it’s entirely a non-issue for me. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/57 "2019-01-17T20:30:21Z")
Away, because I shave my head and face in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/58 "2019-01-18T01:40:11Z")
For the first 30 years of my life I had long hair. The vast majority of my shower time was spent either wetting it, massaging shampoo/conditioner through it, or rinsing it. Mostly rinsing. And most of that activity requires facing away from the shower head. So now my hair is super short, but I think it’s just a habit to have it running down the back of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/59 "2019-01-18T15:51:45Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Not many shower sideways. Ah, but a binary choice does not necessarily equal a 50/50 split. If I were to ask “Do you support genocide as a solution to LA traffic?”, the choice is a binary yes or no. I would expect the answers, however, to be skewed heavily to one side - though I’m not sure which. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874/60 "2019-01-18T16:39:38Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > OP, I’m gonna guess most women face away since, as was pointed out, we’ve got a couple of ultra-sensitive points on the front. So far, 56.4% of women (22/39) face away, and 56.8% of men (63/111) face away. Looks like the ultra-sensitive spots aren’t playing much of a role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-in-the-shower/827874.md?page=4)