I’m not being cheeky. I’m so serious. Well, sort of.
My husband and I have stopped using soap. Now before you assume we’re stinky hippies (no offense to stinky hippies), let me explain.
We read about this dude who ditched soap and shampoo to see what would happen. Now, the first thing you should know is that no soap does not mean no showering. Bathing is still a regular requirement, people. The second thing you should know is washing your hands is not part of the experiment. Washing your hands – with soap – is still a regular requirement, people. But skipping soap in the shower had surprisingly positive outcomes for this dude. He smelled just fine. His skin cleared up. His thick, unmanageable hair became softer. And his life-long dandruff went away (though it did get worse before it got better). He said it took about a month for his body to adjust.
Eh. *Shoulder shrug* Why not? So we tried it.
Here’s what I’ve experienced.
I was having some pesky spots on both sides of my chin that wouldn’t go away… almost like little heat rashes… in December. I cycled through a couple different cleansers… you know, the hoity-toity all natural kinds. Nuthin’. Still sportin’ my pesky red spots. But I’ll be! All I’ve used for the past three months is a wash cloth, and my skin is as good as ever.
The other added bonus, in my book, is light packing. I love packing light. It’s sort of a game I play. Once in elementary school I packed my lunch in one of those tiny paper bags you get at the hardware store when you buy nails. I was so proud. It even included a little tiny steak. Then in college on a trip to Europe, I packed for two weeks in a back pack. Good thing, too, because I left all my carefully-selected souvenir gifts on a train car in the London Tube, and realized just in time to leap back through the doors, reclaim my goods, and circle back at the next station. Trusty backpack.
So it thrills me to pack just three toiletries when we travel now: toothpaste, toothbrush, and deodorant. Oh, and floss. Let’s not forget the floss.
And then there’s the money saved on not having to buy all this.
Now, on the no-shampoo I’m not such a good poster child. I got two or three weeks in and caved. Maybe it would’ve evened out after a month, but I couldn’t take the grease. The husband, on the other hand, is doing swimmingly with this half of the experiment. So my conjecture is the no-shampoo is more do-able for short hair.
If you’re really curious, seriously, read this dude’s article. He’s entirely more thorough and scientific (though I have better pictures) (Who me? Bragging about my point-and-shoot talent? Naaaah. Okay, maybe.).
So here is my new weapon of choice. (And here is Christopher Walken’s. Which may be only slightly better.)
16 Comments
12:05 pm
Interesting! Like you, I don’t think I could do the no-shampoo/no-conditioner thing (dem boys with short hair are lucky!) but I’m all about experiments. Can you imagine the soap industry crash if we all stop using it?
Likewise, I’ve heard of a no-laundry-detergent experiment. The agitation alone is supposed to be enough to get your clothes pretty clean – unless you’ve got a specific stain you’re trying to get rid of. Want to try that one next?
12:16 pm
Someone asked if I had cut out detergent, too, and I scoffed. What do you take me for? But then, all it takes in reading someone else’s swearing that it works for me to be convinced. (I’m an easy convert that way.) So maybe I’ll look into it!
4:27 pm
amy! you have a very interesting blog! i hardly follow any blogs because i find most of them to be boring. anyways, a very interesting experiment. i really don’t think i could go without shampoo, either, but it’s interesting how much our bodies can take care of themselves. a while ago i started using unscented body lotion for both my body and face. i was surprised at how shocked my girl friends were when i told them that i used body lotion on my face– i didn’t even think some of them were that high-maintenance. nothing changed about my face and if anything, my skin is better than ever. thanks for sharing!
6:50 pm
Thank God, someone saying something scientific about the practice I have instinctually and lazily practiced for years. But seriously hair without conditioner?!?! what would be the point of life?
7:32 pm
Nance – I’m sayin’. Soap is overrated. And I’m glad my blog isn’t boring! Seriously. I’m really glad. That’s one of my biggest fears in life. Seriously.
8:51 pm
Kerri – I have experienced a bit of unexpected mourning over the loss of products. But conditioner and me… we’re still on.
9:33 pm
Some Q&A’s that have come in from inquiring minds, in case you’re curious:
Q: What if I use hair product? A: The husband uses hair goop, and it’s not a problem. No grease or stink there. In fact, just reached over and touched it, and feels just the same as before he dumped the shampoo. Softer, actually.
Q: Is water enough to clean off sunscreen? A: Err… just a guess, but if it’s waterproof, I wonder if a spot of soap might be in order. But those washcloths work better than you’d think, so I’ll give it a whirl sometime.
Q: And makeup? A: I only wear eye makeup, and do use a teeny weeny bit of soap or lotion to get it off. Looking like a raccoon is not an option.
Q: Really? You sure you don’t stink? A: All cards on the table here. During the winter I also dumped my deodorant. But now that it’s warming up I’ve caught a couple whiffs of hippie armpit. So I’ve added deodorant back in for the summer months for sure.
3:46 pm
I thought you were going to resolve to post more frequently? :-p
4:02 pm
Doh! You’re the second friend to call me on that. I did. I will. Tomorrow. :-p
9:28 pm
Thanks for dropping by.
One of the things that is interesting about this is how self-conscious I find myself about odor. I get little whiffs of ‘hippie armpit’ (like the term) and start wondering if I stink. That’s the success of marketing talking, isn’t it? Smelling even a little bit of your natural scent is somehow shameful.
8:12 pm
Dean, I’m just gonna have to assume your hippy scent is different than mine.
10:15 am
Another factor is that I am in Pacific Canada while you are in the Southern United States. The average temperature here in June is about 70-75, and this year it has been even cooler. I would imagine that hippy armpit makes an appearance much more quickly down there.
12:12 pm
Mm… yes, well played. I do believe that’s part of it — I break a sweat when I hang the laundry.
4:21 pm
Empty promises!!!
Just kidding. I know you’ve got loads going on. Hmm, but maybe it would make for a good blog post?
8:02 am
My husband asked a few days ago if I had read your latest post, and of course I had (you need to post more often!) … and I’d giggled when I read it, because I gave up soap recently too (but hadn’t told my husband, as part of the experiment — wanted to see if he *ahem* noticed any hippy stink). I couldn’t be happier with my decision to stop bathing with soap, and my skin is better than ever. Yippee! So I made a post about it on my blog raving about the experience.
I’d like to give up shampoo too, and I have tried a few times in the past, but my hair is LONG and thick, and the transition period does me in every time. I will try again this winter when I don’t have to be out and about as much, but I don’t know that shampoo and I will ever part ways, even though some of my friends have given it up and have luscious hair (though much shorter than my own). We’ll see how my next attempt goes, I guess.
And have I mentioned you need to post more often?
8:46 am
So I guess he didn’t notice, huh? That’s just it… people may wrinkle their nose at the thought, but no smell, no slime, no problem!:) I agree on the hair, tho. Don’t think I can pull that one off.
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From Anacronyms Revisited: [...] Additional no-soap links here and here. [...]