a dirty, filthy post

[anotheranon]

This book, The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History looks especially interesting considering the repeated discussions I find myself in re: historical hygiene. It's a topic I know little about but I know enough to recognize that the modern conception of washing = soap and water isn't the only way to get clean - I'm specifically thinking of the Romans and their oil + strigil, or the vigorous scrubbing with towels done by the Elizabethans (not a lot of washing, perhaps, but a whole lot of exfoliation!)

It's possible even in today's polluted, modern cities to successfully (i.e. inoffensively, unstinkily) go without washing one's hair (search the H-costume archive for "not washing hair" for the story from a man who figured out that after 22 weeks, his scalp and hair took care of themselves), though I have to admit mine is so short I'd never try it.

I'm also pleased to read that the book covers the theory that allergies and asthma are more common among modern people because our washing habits remove us so completely from the natural world. Worth considering.

Not sure I'd change my bathing habits though, at least not much. My face feels like an oil slick after only a day and the goop I use in my hair demands washing out to avoid the same. I am trying to use milder soaps this winter though, as every doGdamn thing seems to irritate lately :P

[Poll #1098649]

Note I leave no selections for "no bathing at all" 'cos I can't imagine anyone reading just isn't.

Comments

[hockeycat.livejournal.com]

In regards to the not washing your hair thing, back in October, I stopped using shampoo & conditioner, and started using a baking soda wash & apple cider vinegar rinse instead. It takes a bit of getting used to, plus you still have to deal with the 10-12 days of 'detox' while your hair gets used to not being stripped of it's natural oils, but so far I'm happy with it. If you want more info, I'll send you the doc I have on it!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Please send the doc - I'd be interested to read it, even if I choose not to do it!

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

In Florida, I used to have to take a shower after work just to cool down (long commute + poorly working A/C = meltdown).

I try to go every other day with my hair washing, but it feels so disgusting at the end of day 2. My hair and skin are pretty oily. I've been alternating between Trader Joe's shampoo which has no laurel/laureth sulfates and some yummy stuff from Lush made out of beer.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I've heard many great and good things about Lush, but the only product of theirs that I tried made me itch. Which was a damn pity because it had a wonderful citrus smell!

And I understand about needing to shower in the summer simply because of the heat. A couple of summers ago I had NO A/C in my car and ended up commuting over an hour one way for a class I was taking downtown - I was utterly repellent :(

[margorose.livejournal.com]

There's an interview with the author in today's Salon: http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/11/30/dirt_on_clean/

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I read the interview as well - given my work for HHS, I was amused (sorta?) to see that what we REALLY need to wash more often are our hands! The modern interest in constant washing seems to have more to do with standards of beauty than with health.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I have also used the vinegar-rinse thing, although it was a bit harsh for my fine/permed/colored hair. I suppose if I wasn't abusing my hair so much already it'd be fine. It certainly is a nice once-in-a-while thing to clear out product buildup.

I also went oil-cleansing-method for my face for a while. I have really oily skin, and it did make my face look great (oil dissolves oil out of your pores) but it was summer time and I just FELT icky so I went back to soap. I might take it up again now that I'm not sweating so much.

I did mostly give up "traditional" chemical conditioners and I use Burts Bees hair butter as a leave-in conditioner. I have hairstylists remarking on how healthy my hair looks now.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Tell me more about this "oil dissolves oil" thing - what kind of oil are you using?

I've always been paranoid about using anything with oil on my face (even my moisturizer is water-based) because even when my skin is dry I'm prone to breakouts...

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Basically you use either extra-virgin olive oil or a mixture of oils (depending on who you ask) to wash your face. You rub it in and then put a steamy washcloth on your face to let everything "melt". Then you use the washcloth to wipe the oil and dissolved goo off.

I have oily skin so I had a couple of days of annoyance while my skin adjusted, but then it really did cut down of my blackheads. If you already have dry skin, sounds like a good option for you, although I'm not sure about how useful it is in washing off fencing sweat.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Interesssssting.

I've been using jojoba oil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jojoba_oil) on my body, and only because of it's chemical similarity to human body oil. I've used a tiny bit on my dry spots, but I'm still reluctant to put it on my whole face.

I might try the technique you mention though, on a non-fencing day, mostly because at the end the oil IS wiped off.

[jezzabel.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I think I might try this too. I've gotten away from washing my hair every day, and pretty much down to twice a week, although now that it's warmer (at least here in Australia!), I'll probably have to increase that a bit. Or else get my hair cut. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to cut back is that it took so much time to take care of it.

veddddddy interresting

[plaidsheep.livejournal.com]

I might go get this book - I wouldn't mind having my obsession with hygiene turned on it's head.

I really can't stand to smell myself - so if I smell the least bit sweaty or anything other than neutral - I feel disgusting and in need of a shower. Don't remember exactly when I got to be so fastidious - I know I wasn't always this way.

Typically the very first thing I do in the morning is shower - tho I've long since given up the practice of washing my hair every day (esp since its longer now - there is really no need for it). At least 20 minutes of hot water over every inch of my body, and a thorough scrubbing of my face as well.

My sweetie, on the other hand, can't be bothered to shower more than a few times a week. I've seen him go as long as 4 days between showering and while I don't mind his natural smell - I wonder how he can live with it. Well actually, to be fair, it's my own inner control freak saying "but what if others notice how strongly you smell.. what if others think you smell bad?"

;-)

Yeah.. me = control freak.

But this author has a point. In the States we all have access to big bathtubs and hot showers and for the most part it's very quick and convient to shower every day for as long as we need. We even have showers in the gym. I remember traveling in England, and noticing that a lot of houses did not have the typical "shower" that we're used to - most have just bathtubs.

Taking a bath is a longer process, and to my mind would be something one would do "less than daily". Not to mention, if you're living in a place with a shared bath you have even less time for such things.

I am much more sensitive to the natural smells of others, and sometimes it really bugs me but I also think that it's a rather snooty Americanism that we are all so obsessively hygienic.

Re: veddddddy interresting

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

In the States we all have access to big bathtubs and hot showers and for the most part it's very quick and convient to shower every day for as long as we need.

I think the convenience of showers isn't to wash as long as we need, but as often - you're right, a bath takes more time, and in a clean-freak and busy country like the U.S. showers meet both demands of speed and frequency.

Having just been in GA where they're still under drought conditions, I have to wonder how/if global warming is going to affect human grooming habits. Less water = not able to wash as often/long as we like. Perhaps a return to oil+strigil or other "dry bath" techniques?

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

The oil to remove oil thing makes sense ... we use similar principles to determine what to use to get stains out of clothing. :-)

Additional to my more-or-less twice a week hairwashing ... this needs to be supplemented with regular brushing (our female ancestors did that 100 strokes each night thing for a reason) and the real trick is finding a decent brush ... that done, in my experience regular brushing works as well for short hair as it does for long. I do sluice plain water through my hair in the shower on non-shampoo days because a) this city is darned dusty, as is my workplace, and b) the hair that is resistant to any kind of deliberate shaping/styling will press into any kind of permanent weird shape at the whim of a pillow. :p

If your skin is feeling extra irritated, it might be your water supply rather than your cleansers ... wouldn't hurt to check if the city has changed types or amounts of purifying chemicals, or even supply source or material of mains in your neighbourhood (I itched like crazy after moving to Calgary, then discovered that the water here, unlike Lethbridge, has a very high level of manganese, which means any drops that evaporate rather than being toweled off leave a micro-deposit of the stuff on the skin)