Ashton Hall: The Secret Behind His Viral Success

More than a billion people have now witnessed Ashton Hall’s unhinged five-hour morning routine—the one that launched a thousand parodies. The Duolingo bird tried it. The Baltimore Ravens tried it. Even Logan Paul gave it a shot.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

What started as a hyper-structured to-do list with biceps has morphed into something closer to modern folklore: the ideal morning for a young man who wants to be rich, shredded, spiritually enlightened, and just a little bit terrifying.

Some call it aspirational. Others are asking, are men okay? (Spoiler: unclear.)

Whether Ashton Hall is fully in on the joke or just farming clicks, one thing’s certain: The man knows how to go viral.

Today, we’re peeling back the banana peel to figure out what’s really going on behind the world’s most intense morning routine and how Ashton Hall turned absurdity into influence.

Who Is Ashton Hall?

Before dunking his face in ice water, Ashton Hall was chasing a different dream: the NFL. That didn’t pan out. So, like many retired athletes and ex-boyfriends of Bachelor contestants, he pivoted to personal training.

When gyms shut down in 2020, and the world collectively downloaded TikTok out of boredom, Hall saw his moment. He swapped in-person clients for online followers and started posting a steady stream of motivational speeches, workout routines, and lifestyle tips (think gym-core meets TED Talk). It worked. Even before his now-infamous morning video, Hall had already racked up millions of followers on Instagram.

He says he now makes seven figures selling the same advice that "transformed" his life. Based on the view counts, people are buying it, figuratively and literally.

A Quick Rundown of His Morning Routine

3:52 a.m. - Wake up. Remove last night’s mouth tape. Yes, mouth tape. Yes, that’s a thing now.

3:54 a.m. -  Rinse with Saratoga spring water because, apparently, fluoride is for the poor.

4:00 a.m. - Walk out onto your high-rise balcony for Batman-like mindfulness. Sip your Saratoga. Judge the still-sleeping city.

4:04 a.m. - Bust out some push-ups

4:17-4:21 a.m. - Breathe deeply. Sip more Saratoga. Reflect. Hydration is a full-time job.

4:38 a.m. - Sit down at your desk. Open a book. Immediately close your eyes to meditate.

4:40 a.m. - Realize the book was just a coaster for your thoughts. Journal time.

4:55 a.m. - Watch digital church sermon. Drink your holy Saratoga water.

5:46 a.m. - Ice facial. Fill a bowl with ice, pour in your $8 Saratoga, and dunk your face. Like a luxury baptism.

6:01 a.m. - Full gym drip. The grind must look good.

6:20 a.m. - Saratoga bottle in hand, exit the building.

6:38 a.m. -  Hit the treadmill. Because, of course, you do.

7:30 a.m. - Exit the gym, still holding Saratoga like it’s your emotional support bottle.

7:36 a.m. - Outdoor pool. Poorly executed dive. No hesitation.

7:52 a.m. - Hot tub recovery. This is called balance.

8:15 a.m. - Towel-clad pool exit, water bottle still in frame. Glass near the pool? Bold move.

8:23 a.m. - Shower.

8:35 a.m. - Towel dry. Crucial step.

8:43 a.m. - Eat a banana in the mirror. The mirror is important.

8:45 a.m. - Get faced with your banana. Totally normal skincare. Definitely backed by science.

8:55 a.m. - Rinse. Goodbye banana.

9:05 a.m. - Full suit. At the computer. Ready to conquer capitalism.

9:06 a.m. - Assistant delivers a bowl of ice water. Because nothing screams productivity like facial numbness.

9:09 a.m. - Dunk face. Again. This is now a tradition.

9:15 a.m. - Zoom call. Probably about hustle. Possibly about more Saratoga.

9:17 a.m. - Personal chef starts cooking. Yes, really.

9:26 a.m. - Assistant hands over your breakfast water (also Saratoga, shockingly). Eat eggs, bacon, and avocado toast like a man who’s just finished a triathlon and still has 15 hours of self-improvement left.

At this point., Ashton’s been awake for five and a half hours, and he’s already knocked out two workouts, three facial submersions, a sermon, a cold plunge, and (by our count) at least four bottles of Saratoga water. The man is 70% hydration and 30% disciplined.

And while the whole thing feels like performance art, one thing’s hard to deny: the dude is absolutely shredded. Sure, that might have more to do with hours of heavy lifting than rubbing produce on his face, but hey, who are we to question the process?

Going Viral

The internet’s obsession with Ashton Hall officially went turbo when the X account Tips For Men – Fashion | Essentials | Luxury reposted his morning routine. That single video racked up over 700 million views in just four days.

Since then, it's been a nonstop carousel of memes, spoofs, and parodies from all corners of the internet.

Even brands jumped on the bandwagon. Spotify, McDonald's, and the Empire State Building—they all had their fun.

Since Saratoga became part of the routine, its parent company, Primo Brands Corp., saw its stock climb 11%. Hostage Tape, Hall’s go-to for keeping his mouth shut while he sleeps, reaped similar rewards, all without making a brand deal!

Ashton Hall Reveals His Secret to Success

After weeks of silence (and a few dozen ice baths), Ashton Hall finally came forward to share his “secret” to going viral, and, as you may have imagined, it’s not some top-secret, monk-level discipline. It’s just about not overthinking it.

According to Hall, the biggest mistake people make when creating content is making it way too complicated. You don’t need a drone, a three-point lighting setup, or a film degree. You just need to know what’s working and put your own spin on it.

His two go-to strategies are:

Research What’s Already Winning

Hop on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever platform you post, and search your niche. Look at what’s taking off. What topics are people hooked on? What opening lines are stopping the scroll? What visuals are people engaging with?

Once you’ve got a feel for the formula, flip it. Add your own flavor. Keep the structure, and swap the story. Make it feel like you, not a carbon copy.

React to What’s Already Viral

If something’s already blowing up, starting from scratch is unnecessary. Find a viral clip in your niche and stitch, remix, or respond to it. People are already watching that video—now they get to hear your take. And if you’ve got something entertaining, useful, or chaotic to add (ideally all three), congrats!

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you don’t need a banana peel skincare routine or four bottles of Saratoga to go viral. But solid content? That part still matters.

Whether creating your own morning routine parody or just trying to make scroll-stopping content that doesn’t get flagged for copyright, having the right soundtrack can make all the difference.

ProTunes One has your back with a massive library of royalty-free music and an AI-powered search tool that helps you find the perfect track in seconds—no guessing, no legal headaches.

From YouTube skits to podcast intros to that next “what did I just watch?” TikTok moment, our flexible plans make it easy to stay creative and covered.

Start browsing today and soundtrack your next big idea without missing a beat.