It’s been a cause for much debate: Evening vs. morning shower. Should you shower first thing in the morning to get your day off to a literal fresh start, or shower in the evening to help you wind down after a busy day?

But the answer isn’t quite as cut and dried as you might think, according to Carmen Castilla, MD, dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group. So which way should you go? Get the inside scoop on the benefits of showering at night versus showering in the morning—and how to choose the right time to shower.

The Case for a Morning Shower

A morning shower is the choice of most American adults, according to a Sleep Foundation study—41.8% of us are committed to a morning shower. And there are definitely benefits to starting your day off with a quick rinse.

You remove all the sweat and ick from the night before

Even if you aren’t prone to night sweats, you’re still getting sweaty and shedding skin cells while you sleep. By showering in the morning, you’re completely fresh for the day ahead—which can be especially important if you’re prone to developing body odor. (All that sweat and skin cells can feed bacteria that produce odor.)

A morning shower can revitalize you for the day ahead

If you’re sleepy in the morning, a quick shower can help wake you up—especially if you’re daring enough to keep it on the colder side. “Cold showers may increase cortisol, the stress hormone, which can be energizing—making them a better choice in the morning,” Castilla says.

You never have bedhead

Don’t discount the hair benefits from a morning shower. Showering in the morning means you have freshly shampooed hair to style, so you’re more likely to have a good hair day, every day.

The Benefits of a Nighttime Shower

A nighttime bath or shower can help soothe you to sleep—and 38.4 percent of Americans opt for before-bed bathing (with 25.3 percent of people doing the deed right before bed!). There are some definite benefits to this.

You go to bed fresh and clean

Let’s face it: You get dirty through the day—even if you’re not sweating your way through a workout. You’re sweating, you’re exposed to dirt and chemicals in the environment—and you probably don’t want to leave all of that on your skin at night while you sleep. A quick shower before bed can ensure you’re removing any products, dirt, and grime you’ve encountered throughout the day, and sleep with a clean slate.

A nighttime shower could help you sleep better

“A warm shower can help you relax, relieve tension, and potentially improve your sleep,” Castilla says. “Counterintuitively, it helps cool the body by expanding the blood vessels in the skin. Once you step out of the shower, the heat is quickly released through the skin, leading to a decrease in body temperature—which is one of the signals that tells your body it’s time to sleep.”

Moisturizers and other products may be able to work more effectively

Whether you’re dealing with dry skin or a skin condition, a nighttime skin routine applied immediately post-shower will be even more effective. “Skin repair is more active at night, so applying moisturizer before bed can help support that repair process,” Castilla says. “More important is applying your moisturizer to damp skin after your shower—this helps seal in moisture and hydrate the skin.”

The Final Verdict: Is Showering at Night or in the Morning Better?

The honest answer here: It really just depends on your own personal preferences—and how much time you have to devote to your skin and haircare regimen. “There really is no difference in regards to skin benefits whether you shower in the morning or the evening,” Castilla says. “The difference may be if you are too rushed to apply a moisturizer after your shower in the morning or too tired to do so at night—skipping this step for some can lead to dry, itchy skin. Try both options and see what works best for you.”