Towards the end of December I came across an article written by a guy who had given up on using soap and was now washing himself with water alone. My immediate thought was this must be some dirty hippy and I felt sorry for anyone who lived or worked in close proximity to him – however I was interested in why someone would make a choice like this so I sat down and read both the article and the extremely long comment thread which made much more sense than I expected it to. If you have some time I recommend reading it though the author, Richard Nikoley, is active in the paleo-scene so a lot of the comments reference those ideas. But this post isn’t about that article, it’s about my own experiences.
The thing that stuck out to me the most, and resonated with my own philosophy was that it seemed silly that we would have evolved into creatures that needed a bunch of corporately produced and marketed chemicals smeared all over our bodies everyday just to get by. For the most part I’m kind of a “this happens for a reason” person and I don’t think every single things needs to be messed with. I very rarely take any kind of pain killers for headaches or cold medicine for sicknesses. Of course I very rarely get headaches or sick which helps. Maybe those two are related, the people I know who are always sick and always having headaches and always taking things to suppress those symptoms.
Long time readers know I also have a oft cited personal manta about regularly examining my actions and making sure I am doing things for the right reasons, and I decided, rather publicly a few years back, that just because I did something yesterday is not a good enough reason to do it today. As I was reading this article I started thinking that the only reason I was using soap was because I’d always done it and had always been told I needed to. I’d never questioned it, but now that I was questioning it I wasn’t coming up with very convincing answers. Maybe these chemicals were messing whith my body’s own chemistry and creating the need for themselves?
I was reminded of my experiment with some of those acne face pads in high school. I didn’t really have zits, but I saw the commercials for the pads and how they made sure you didn’t get zits and like any other kid in high school I didn’t want zits so I bought some an put them to use. within a few days I had more zits than ever. If I’d believed the hype I would have doubled up on them to get rid of this nasty zit problem but instead my first thought was that the pads had fucked up some kind balance on my face and caused the zits they were supposed to be preventing. So I stopped using them and the zits went away and I never had the problem again.
I wondered why I never used that rationale with soap. The same math was there. I have dry skin on my arms that gets flaky and itchy and dandruff. I’ve spent likely thousands of dollars over my lifespan on special soaps and shampoo to solve those problems, which they do for a day or two, but if I don’t keep up with them things go crazy. But I’d never considered that these things might be just as much at fault.
The article said that it took the author about 2 weeks for things to stabilize, and that before that things were nuts, so if you were going to try this you should give it a month just to be safe. I figured, what the hell, I’ve done weirder things for a month at a time, so this was worth a shot just to see. So for the entire month of January I haven’t used any soap or shampoo while showering. The results are freaking me out on a daily basis, and I’m actually a bit annoyed I didn’t think to try this sometime in the last 35 years.
If you are anything like me this is probably bringing up a ton of questions so let me try to answer some of the ones I’d have myself.
Do I stink? No. I didn’t say I stopped bathing you dillweed! I just stopped using soap and shampoo when I do. I still shower daily but now a long shower lasts about 5 minutes tops. I also still use deodorant but on a whole I actually smell better. Some people can not smell their own BO, I’ve always been hyper sensitive of mine and I smell better after a month of not using soap then I would missing one day of showering with soap. Tara also keeps pointing out how good I smell, even before I tipped her off to the experiment. Which by the way was almost 3 weeks into it.
Dandruff? Pretty much gone. Seriously. I’m shocked but it’s true. This was definitely something that went crazy during the adjustment time though, I’d say about 2 weeks into it I had bigger flakes than I’d ever seen in my life. That shit was like an avalanche. But they went away, and my head has been less dandruffy than it’s been my whole life. I do find if I rinse my hair with water every day I see a few little flakes, where as if I rinse it every other day or so I don’t see anything.
But that isn’t the only hair-benefit I’ve seen. I have pretty thick semi-curly hair which has always been a nightmare to maintain. Since starting this it’s become softer and more controllable than ever. I actually find myself touching it a lot without realizing it because it feels so different.
Dry skin? Gone. In fact not only is my dry skin gone, my skin as a whole feels softer and healthier than I can ever remember it feeling. Again this is something Tara keeps noticing totally unprovoked.
Adjustment time. The first two weeks were definitely weird. My skin was super dry, super oily, then dry again. As I mentioned I had super dandruff and in general it was a little nuts. But I chalked that up to my body trying to correct itself and get back in to balance since it weren’t involved in daily chemical warfare anymore. Today is the month marking point and I’d say I think things are pretty much in order. If you are going to try this yourself definitely give yourself a month. If you try it for a week things will be super wacky and you’ll think it isn’t working, but trust me – stick it out for the month.
Hands – I still wash my hands, especially before cooking and after using the bathroom. And I use soap for that. For some reason that actually makes a lot of sense.
Personally I’m just blown away by this and like I said I can’t believe it’s something I didn’t question earlier. I’m psyched on how it’s played out and can’t imagine using soap or shampoo again. Extra benefit I just realized: less crap to worry about when traveling!
(Photo by Somewhat Frank used under CC. I tried to find a better image for this post, but doing a google image search for “soapy” with safe search off didn’t really produce the results I was expecting. Try it yourself. Just not at work.)
UPDATE: ONE YEAR LATER I just wrote a year later update for BoingBoing – check it out if you are curious how this has played out so far.
No related posts.
Sounds like something I deffinitely want to try out! One thing that might be a problem though: I get tattooed on a regular base, getting both arms inked from shoulders to wrists. Every 4 weeks, I go in for a session, and it takes about a week of healing, which means washing the tattooed area twice a day with antibacterial soap, then creaming it up and putting foil over it (this prevents colour coming out in the first week when it’s still pretty much a wound). So, if I go all no soap/no shampoo, except for the tattooed areas in those weeks, would that work?
Another question I have: what do you people use as moisturizer? I have astma and always have had very sensitive/dry skin, after every shower I cream up my entire body. Could I (would I need it) still do that if I stop using soap in the shower or will it effect the positive results of no soap?
Oh, and another question: I have a short, alternative hairstyle haircut, and need product to make it look okay, how does that work with using no shampoo? I mean, how would I get the product out every day?
@Csilla:
I make exceptions for new ink. Its an investment and should be treated with utmost care at all times.
To take a stab at the rest of your questions I think the best answer is to figure out what works best for you. It will be some trial and error though. I only suggest looking for natural products to use.
ME? I use (natural) soap on the nether regions only. I use a washcloth, sans soap, on the rest of me. I wash my hair a couple time a week (depending on how long it is and how much I’m wearing a hat/helmet/etc) with natural shampoo/conditioner (from Trader Joes!). I tried going without shampoo for the first 2-3 months, but it was just gross because I wear a helmet almost daily (cycling, skateboarding).
I buy one bottle of shampoo/conditioner a year at this rate, and I go through about 2-3 bars of soap a year.
Just washed the dog with cetaphil lotion instead of puppy shampoo. She smells better and she didn’t scratch straight after like she used to.
I dye my hair, so I can’t say anything about the shampoo, but I’ve always been against using harsh soaps every day. I tried not using it before, and I never found I smelled, but I didn’t like the way my skin reacted – I found without soaps, I got dry skin, and it didn’t feel as soft (I have very, very soft skin). So I decided to start using natural soaps instead of chemical ones, and I was amazed with what my skin did. It’s never been healthier, and it allows natural scents instead of chemical ones – I get complimented on how “good” I smell often, and on my skin as well. I also use natural, and often homemade, shampoos.
Ok good with it. But i use wax and styling products. I just can’t imagine my life without wax or gel on my hair. Is that false that i’m reading the article?
ARGH my scalp is driving me nuts!! I went no shampoo/soap for almost a year and it was fantastic, hair was great, skin got better and better and I was able to start reducing the amount of showers per week – but then I had to get a haircut and the hairdresser had to wash my hair because I wanted to go from long to short, and my scalp is so itchy and getting really flaky and it’s driving me nuts, I can’t believe this is stuff I used to put in my hair every day!! How did my scalp stay intact?!
hey Im converting to no soap today or tomorrow if you dont answer me today. But i have a few questions first
1. I wear make up, lots of it, Do I use soap on my face or just water to remove my make up?
2. I also use a lot of product in my hair because boys, a girls hair is not going to stay curly for 12 hours if there is no product in it, or because i will no longer be using soap willl it just have a natural hold or something?
3.I know for guys the private parts washing probly wont be a problem cause its on the outside….but what about girls?
4. Okay last one I have very thick hair and conditioner is my life…would conditioner have to go too? or because I dont use it on my scalp will it be okay?
very sorry for all the questions I just dont want to do this wrong and smell like a turd for a month for no reason thanks much appreciated
Persephaine: Why don’t you try to use home made soap? I posted a comment a few monts ago about it.
I had so many skin problems, specially at my hands. And I started making my own soap with olive oil, water and NaOH, like it’s been done for centuries.
But I also tried to do it with KOH instead of NaOH because it makes a jelly like soap instead of a bar. I like it a lot, and I almost forgot my eczemas after years of itchy hands.
You can also try it to keep waves in your hair without other products. I think it’s because the natural glycerin it keeps after the process. I’m not so fluent in English to explain it properly.
You mustn’t use chemicals to clean your “private parts”. They have their on barrier against infections, and using any kind of soap can destroy it. That’s one of the main causes of fungus or candida albicans infections (they can be STD but also appear when you use some medical treatment or when you don’t wash yourself or you wash yourself too much or with the wrong product).
I tried hundreds of soaps until I started making mine and I just can tell it worked for me and my friends (all of them ask me for a piece or a bottle of soap). I didn’t like so much NaOH soap for my hair, but when I tried KOH soap it was great. It cleans it, doesn’t need conditioner (I have curly hair) to comb it, and stays clean for days (I’ve always needed to wash it everyday because it was so greasy).
I want to testify to my status of no soap or shampoo for 6 months.
I love it. My skin feels much softer than before and my hair is very manageable. I never get any kind of complaint that I have an odor or that my hair looks nasty. I shower everyday with warm water. That is my complete skin and hair hygiene regimen. I am not going back to using soap and shampoo. Thank you to opening my mind up to this. I am much happier for it.
Hi Persephaine
1. Some make ups will wash off with warm water and a wash cloth. If they are oil based however, try citrus juice (watch the eye area) or cetaphil lotion
2.If you stop using shampoo and product, your hair will go to its natural state, whatever that may be. Mine happens to be curly, but I do use conditione. After a while there gets to be a build up of natural oils that become your hair’s own product and your hair may reset every time you wet it and comb it out. I also moisturize my hair after I towel dry it because it helps keep the curls together, but it’s just a regular body moisturizer, as I don’t like the smell of any hair products and don’t want them touching the skin on my face.
3.Never wash private parts with anything other than water. It’s all you need, otherwise you change the pH balance and upset the bacteria that are supposed to live there and make it all happy inside.
4.As mentioned already, conditioner is fine and not in the same category as shampoo because it doesn;t strip oils away, it protects you hair from oils being stripped away. It can be used after the shower as well instead of harsh products. I actually wash with water and fingertips all over the scalp, then put in conditioner, leave it in while I shave my legs (no need for soap there either, just under running water and moisturize well after you dry off) then I wash out the conditioner. Out of the shower I towel dry my hair, moisturize my entire body including my hair, and I rub it into my scalp so I don;t get dandruff. Then I put baby oil on just the ends of my hair so I don;t get split ends, but I keep the oil about 6 inches away from my scalp so my scalp doesn’t get oily.
There is no need for soap on any part of your body other than your hands after the toilet or when you are handling food. If you use soap, you train the bacteria on your skin to need it and you then have to maintain it otherwise you start to smell. This is why when you stop using soap, your skin goes into withdrawl and smells because the bacteria on your skin are not the ones you want. Eventually if you stop killing the good bacteria with chemicals, they will come back and protect you from other invaders.
Hang in there, and winter is a good time to do it. I haven’t used soap in 13 years and don’t need deoderant any more. I have gotten my husband into the same thing and he has never smelt better.
Good luck.
I haven’t read all the other posts but I hope someone pointed this out – the point of soap is not to smell good, it’s an antibacterial which kills off harmful substances that can latch on to your body. Kind of like when you go to the gym and get staph… it is due to not disinfecting the equipment or someone not bathing right and now you get to deal with their disgusting puss infected boils! please use soap everyone. And shampoo is mostly for someone who does have a chemical imbalance and has extra greasy hair.
I’m an almost 17 year old girl and I have not used soap while showering for years. I still use hand soap regularly and use soap when I shave my legs and armpits and use a facial cleanser on my face but other than that no soap use. People are always saying how soft my skin is and no one has ever complained about my odor but I have not sweated for about a year since I have hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating in my armpits) and got botox for it but even before that, I’ve never smelled bad. I have always still used shampoo. I know a lot of people might think it’s gross but its such a regular thing for me and has had no bad effects.
hi i have just stopped using soap to wash my face. now im using facewash which is soap free, but the problem is that ny face is now itcthy. does anyone know what might be the problem?
please reply to my email isaacgundani@yahoo.com
I have seborrheic dermatitis. I am on day 14 of my one month “no shampoo” experiment. My skin is worse than ever just like I expected. My scalp and face is itchy and dry. I have flakes the size of rice grains and dimes. I spend hours scratching off skin although I shouldn’t. A few hours later after I finish, my skin is dry, crusty, and scabby and I start scratching again. I have used dandruff shampoos
for 25 years so I assume my body is adjusting to the change.
I also think my hair smells like gasoline and skunks now, but my girlfriend says it smells fine.
The most effective treatment I have ever found for my seborrheic dermatitis is living in warm tropical climates and swimming in the ocean.
I am stubborn, however, so I plan to continue my experiment. I hope my dandruff disappears, but right now I am skeptical.
This is the first time I’ve seen the don’t-wash-with-anything platform. Mostly, I’ve run across three camps– wash your hair with conditioner (seems to work well for people with thick and/or curly hair, but not so much for those with fine, straight hair), wash your hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar (works better for all hair types) and the cleanse with oils camp (for all face types and some hair types).
The most sensible recommendations I’ve seen are for cleansing facial skin with 25% castor oil (which serves as a fairly effective, yet gentle detergent) and 75% other lightweight oil (like sunflower or jojoba). Massage in oil, steam off with a hot cloth, gently wipe off the rest. If skin feels tight, pat on a tiny bit more oil, then blot off excess.
I think the key thing for a lot of the questions raised in above comments is the importance of exfoliating. Whether you use a washcloth or loofah or natural sponge when you shower, or whether you dry brush before bathing, exfoliation is probably more important than any cleansing agent. As far as I know, there are many cultures that have used sand to bathe instead of water.
My biggest concern for not using any kind of cleanser (aside from washing hands) would be dealing with the bacteria that collects in the damp places, particularly armpits and feet, which lack the natural protective barrier in our more tender private parts. I think men would find better, healthier results if they shaved their underarms, and if hair in the leg crease (aka groin– not to be confused with private bits) was also kept at a minimum.
If you’re particularly sweaty and active, I’d probably go ahead and cleanse pits, crease, and feet. Rather than go the oil cleanse route (like for facial skin or as an option for hair), it would probably be better to go the baking soda & apple cider vinegar route (with options for adding in honey, lemon, tea tree, etc.) that many people with fine straight hair use instead of washing hair with conditioner or with castor/olive oils.
For women (whose facial skin has a different structure and generally less oil production than men’s), for people who don’t have thick and/or curly hair, or for anyone with major skin complaints, they probably won’t get the same results from a cleansing-free routine that the author of this article had. As I pointed out above, there are lots of options for still achieving good results with very few ingrediants (and no harsh chemicals), but it’s a bit more work than many people want to put into it, particularly when there are so many organic, 97% or more natural, free-range, cruelty-free, fairtrade, sls-free, lanolin-free, petroleum-byproduct-free, and paraben-free options out there, if you know where to look.
dry-
Have you tried salt baths? I used them for my psoriasis and got a lot of benefit. Got bulk salt from Saltworks and took a warm 30 minute bath every day and saw improvements in about three weeks.
Good luck.
Would you go to a doctor that follows the no shampoo rule?
I’ve just discovered the no soap idea 30 minutes ago (via a reference to your Boing Boing article) sounds uplifting and I plan to try it myself. Still, I do have my doubts – concerning viruses & evil bacteria. Will they just go away with holy water? Thus the question.
[...] Sean Bonner [...]
Lemony Arm Pits………………………
I have been successfully applying lemon juice as underarm deodorant for 6 months now. It solves any odor problem because it inhibits bacterial growth that causes odor. You will still have perspiration or wetness, which are a normal & healthy function for the body). I am trying to avoid the chemicals in deodorants and antiperspirants (like aluminum) One organic lemon, cut into wedges and refrigerated, lasts me one week. After shower (or just a clean wipe in between shower days or heavy exercise), squeeze a little juice into the palm of your hand and rub on underarm. Fan dry or air dry. Smells nice. Can sometimes feel a little sticky, so I dust on a little cornstarch (no talc) for that smooth dry feel. Doesn’t stain your clothing. If you have very sensitive skin or have just shaved, it may burn a little, so adjust your application accordingly. The lemon smell goes away and you just smell natural/nice. Maybe takes a few minutes longer than slathering on deodorant, but feels like I’m doing something better for my body. I have heard of people using lemon juice in the bottle, but I like the real lemon. If I have to travel, I’ll still use commercial deodorant, unless I’m staying in someones home and then it is still easy to accomplish the lemon gig.
I’ve posted here a few times praising the benefits of the no soap lifestyle. I’ve been doing this for over a year now and I’m now without roommates and have noticed another welcome benefit: less soap scum=I have to clean the shower/bathtub less frequently. I still use (natural) soap in my nether regions and like shampoo/conditioner so there is some but it takes longer to notice the build up.
Hi there, this sounds very interesting, especially the fact that I also do believe that our body should naturally be able to take care of itself but these “chemicals” are getting in the way of it, so my body has to work worker than it needs to and is probably more counterproductive. I would really try this out but this month at my school, the whole month is swimming, so yup…that means a whole month of chlorine and other pesky chemicals on my skin…..should I wait until swimming is over to try this or can I start right away? I’m just worried about the chlorine that will remain on my skin, but I don’t think soap is helping it get away anyways. The dangers of chlorine are high, so I’m just worried. Well, awaiting reply, thank you for sharing this!
Hi STeven,
Yes Chlorine is terrible and it soaks into your skin where soap won;t reach, so it’s probably not the best time to try going chemical free if you are going to replace it with another set of chemicals. While exposed to chlorine, maybe wash with cetaphil lotion instead of conventional soap because it has less chemicals, and makes your skin softer, which will counteract the dryness that chlorine will cause, and don;t forget to moisturize well. Also I would keep shampooing the chlorine out of your hair because that will dry it out if it stays in. Once you are done with the swimming, then you can start with the detox of your body and hair. Good luck
I have finished my 30 day “no shampoo” experiment. I must say this experiment
wasn’t enjoyable. My hair became a blizzard when I ran my hand through it.
The flakes in my hair became nearly the size of cornflakes. My head was constantly itchy and I could
barely have sex, read, or sleep. I felt like a disgusting scumball.
A few days ago, however, I noticed my scalp starting to improve. My dandruff did not disappear, but became more patchy. Since I was finished with the experiment and discovered that I have dandruff whether I use or don’t use shampoo, I decided to start using shampoo again. Basically I found that if I don’t use shampoo, I save money and have dandruff. If I use shampoo, I spend money and have dandruff, but I feel cleaner and have more self-esteem.
My skin is sensitive to cold temperatures, but I personally wouldn’t advise anyone to give up on shampoo. Companies make shampoo because it’s better than nothing. I learned my lesson. This past month was torture for me.
I think I will try having a salt bath next.
Oh, thank you Ani! A week or 2 left until swimming is over, really am looking forward to trying this out. I hope i didn’t harm my skin by not using shampoo/soap for a week with swimming. :/
I’m a 16 year old girl. My Aunt was actually the person to introduce this “no soap” concept to me. She explained to me that you don’t need to use commercial soaps to clean your body, as the chemicals do more harm to your skin than they do helping it. The chemicals used in commercial soaps and shampoos do kill bacteria, but they kill the good along with the bad. So when you stop using commercial soaps, you start to smell odd. The is because there are not enough of the good bacteria to fight off the bad, odor-causing bacteria.
I started using the “no soap” experiment just no more than 2 weeks ago. I have very thick, long, and semi-curly hair. My skin is quite acne-prone to many facial cleaners and I always found myself breaking out after trying one skin care product after another. My skin and my hair tend to dry out quickly and I have always had a problem with frizz and split-ends since my hair is so difficult to manage.
These are my results of the “no soap” experiment so far. My skin has been noticeably softer than before and my sister recently made a compliment on it. My acne has cleared up tremendously and I haven’t broke out severely since. With my hair, however, I found out that I still need to use conditioner, but otherwise, it’s been healthier as well! The frizz has gone down, no dandruff at all, and it’s also become a lot softer.
So all in all, I think that this “no soap” concept is great. I’m actually going to recommend it to my boyfriend, who also has a bad problem with acne and dry skin. It really is great. And no, you won’t stink. Water is the most pure substance in the world, which is why it’s a great idea to wash only with water. Don’t harm your body with all those chemicals. Besides, it sure does save a great amount of money in the long run!
I too had the same epiphany. I’ve suffered from severe dandruff and dry skin throughout my teens. I’m 18 now, and recently became fed up with these seemingly trivial problems – so I took to google and came across a similar article.
I feel like such a sucker for never even questioning the use of soaps/detergents/shampoos. Especially being a believer of reason myself. Of course our bodies don’t need it! But without giving it much thought, it just seems like the sensible thing to do. It can only make you cleaner, right? Wrong.
I’m now on my fourth day of not using soap or shampoo, and my dandruff has significantly shrunk in size (I was showering at least once a day, sometimes twice, and always using some shampoo and soap). They were giant, itchy, oily flakes of dead skin. Now they are grain-sized and not nearly as abundant.
And my left elbow, which was significantly more rough than my right, is healing. And when I give it some thought – I washed myself with my right hand, with cloth in hand … hence why my right elbow is nowhere near the scaliness of my left.
An interesting experiment that I may have to try. However, since no one has mentioned it, I thought I would chime in about water. If you’re going the “no chemicals” route, wouldn’t it be advisable to use a filter on your shower? Tap water has nasty chemicals like Floride, Chlorine, etc. Also the people that are having the worst time of it may have “hard” water, that could be fixed by using a shower filter. We have “soft” water here so I’m giving this a shot but I may buy a shower filter before doing so.
Surprised no one has brought it up but hope this helps some that are having a bad time of it. Most cities have Safety reports online about their city or municipal water supply. If you don’t know what’s in yours, look it up. You’ll be shocked, I predict.
I tried it for 1.5 months now. The main difference was that showers take way longer, mostly scrubbing the head to remove the grease. I still wouldn’t feel 100% as clean as before while wet but afterwards my hair sticks nicer (probably some grease is still there) and feels clean. I kept using soap for hands though – I wouldn’t stop before I read a properly conducted research on this subject.
I wasn’t able to sense a notably softer skin – I guess I’m not as sensitive as most people in the thread
I didn’t have skin or hair problems before either – so it wasn’t really anything to be solved. The casual dandruff now and then – which it’s true, I didn’t get any in the trial period. But then again, this doesn’t happen that often either.
Because I like the idea and wanted to get something out of my experiment I took upon a slightly more scientific approach and started using soap only on the left half of my body to see if I can notice anything. I haven’t. If anything, the half that I used soap on felt slightly softer and with a nicer smell – but the differences were minimal.
At the end I decided to revert to using soap, mostly because it speeds up the process. It was interesting to learn that I can do without soap for a long time. Previously, a couple of times while traveling I found myself in a shower without soap – I always had to revert to toothpaste – it works but it stings a bit
Now I know soap is not mandatory – all it takes is a bit more patience.
It needs to be mentioned though, that I did my experiment during winter – when it’s rather safe, as I lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, wear long sleeves / pants and generally I don’t ge that sweaty / dirty.
I am planning to try this out, but I am wondering about sunscreen. Would it mess with the results of using no soap? Is there a more natural alternative?
To Jennifer: I use Nivea moisturizer with SPF15 every day and it seems to wash off fine with warm water and a facewash. It’s important to protect your skin from the sun and if you wear a heavy duty sunscreen, then you definitely need to wash it off. You shouldn’t be wearing any more than SPF 30 because it does more harm than good for your skin, but if the 30 is too thick to come off with just water, then try something mild like Cetaphil lotion. That’s all I ever use if warm water doesn’t work.
I think it depends on the type of soap. I’ve discovered some soaps and body-washes have ingredients that make me stink in less than 24 hours. It’s a very specific smell. If I switch to another soap or stop using soap, I don’t have that issue. However, I like that clean soapy smell, so I still use it on occasion. I can’t give up shampoo though because I style my hair and water alone hasn’t been enough to remove the product; it requires some serious lather. *shrug*
Thanks for the great info Ani.
My next question is about baking soda. I’ve been reading about using it to clean hair, but I’m wondering if it would be okay to use it for washing my face. I have really oily skin and using baking soda with water seems to get rid of some of what has accumulated throughout the day. Would baking soda strip the essential oils from my skin like soap does?
Ok so I am a girl, and lately i have been experiencing smelly issues down south. Will the no soap thing help with my issues down there? Also I have long hair. WHen will the greasy issues stop?
To Jennifer: Honestly I have never used baking soda but so many people swear by it. Your skin will eventually adjust to whatever you do to it unless it’s bad for your skin. I don’t know if it will strip skin but if you are worried about it then be sure to moisturize after.
To Jenny: Yes, stop using anything down there and the smell will stop. As for hair, mine is halfway down my back and I use shampoo once a month and that’s only because that’s as often as I color it and I need to wash the color out. I stopped using shampoo daily when I went on safari in Africa for a month and by the time I was done with that, the greasy issues stopped. It’s different for everybody and it may be hard for you to test it out while participating in civilized society. I wash with warm water and fingertips, and then use conditioner to get the knots out because my hair is curly and knots easily. I also don;t wet it every time I shower. Hope that helps