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[Mengy]

Just a metaphor, trying to let people know that hair should be treated somewhat gently and not scrubbed like an old pickup truck : )

I don't think I agree with that. Since I've given up shampoo I've been scrubbing my scalp and hair vigorously with a washcloth and warm / cool water, and it's done miracles for my hair's look and health. Maybe it just works for me?

 

[Nokterian]

Well i went on the train also, my hair was short after the barber and now 2 weeks later still didn't use any shampoo. Only hot water and only shaving around the beard because that needs to be done.

 

[Scrabble]

So I'm about two days in on the whole no shampoo thing, and my hair is already disgusting and greasy as fuck. I really have to put up with this for two months before it gets back to being normal?

 

[Alo81]

So I'm about two days in on the whole no shampoo thing, and my hair is already disgusting and greasy as fuck. I really have to put up with this for two months before it gets back to being normal?

Make sure you are washing it with water in the shower.

And yeah it takes some time to ease up on producing oils, but at least for me it definitely didn't take two months.

After about week 2.5 it was easing up and at about week 4 oil is kind of a complete non-issue.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I've experimented with this as well. Never ever use shampoo going on 5 years now (always wash with water, daily) and tried no soap as well.

I think I might have posted earlier in this thread. Found i didn't get any BO problems washing with water and using deodorant. Except from the occasional after full on exercise etc which happens if you wash with soap anyway.

I went back to soap because of the feeling of 'being dirty' and picked the habit back up, but I think soaps are largely a scam when not used to clean off specific filth you got on you.

 

[ConradCervantes]

Decided to finally hop on this train. I've started taking colder showers recently, which in Wisconsin is no small feat. My hair is of pretty decent length, hangs well below my ears now. I'm hoping this will help control fizziness. And my skin, while much better than it was in years past, still has occasional acne flare ups.

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

Decided to finally hop on this train. I've started taking colder showers recently, which in Wisconsin is no small feat. My hair is of pretty decent length, hangs well below my ears now. I'm hoping this will help control fizziness. And my skin, while much better than it was in years past, still has occasional acne flare ups.

Eat healthier for acne control. I fixed my diet and my skin cleared up instantly.

 

[scotcheggz]

I don't think I agree with that. Since I've given up shampoo I've been scrubbing my scalp and hair vigorously with a washcloth and warm / cool water, and it's done miracles for my hair's look and health. Maybe it just works for me?

You shouldn't really be scrubbing vigorously as all that will do is shit up the protective layer of your hair. Go gentle! If it's working for you though, that's cool, whatever works.

So I'm about two days in on the whole no shampoo thing, and my hair is already disgusting and greasy as fuck. I really have to put up with this for two months before it gets back to being normal?

When you wash it in water, try not to rub your scalp too much and try just letting the water run through it more. By massaging or scrubbing or whatever, you'll stimulate the sebaceous glands which will release more oil. It might help.

Again, it's not really about cutting out shampoo, but more about paying for a decent shampoo that has a lower PH. Most supermarket or drug store or whatever you call them sell cheap shampoo and conditioner with a PH level roughly the same as washing up liquid and contain detergents. You probably wouldn't wash your hair with either of those household cleaners, so why use crappy shampoo?

 

[adamsappel]

You can also rinse your hair with a diluted apple cider vinegar & water combo. Your hair will not smell like vinegar. Honest. It will cut down on the greasiness, but not dry it out like shampoo.

 

[Zoe]

When you wash it in water, try not to rub your scalp too much and try just letting the water run through it more. By massaging or scrubbing or whatever, you'll stimulate the sebaceous glands which will release more oil. It might help.

You need to rub your scalp to lift up the dead skin. The oil will adjust itself with time.

 

[CrudeDiatribe]

I really have to put up with this for two months before it gets back to being normal?

You need to rub your scalp to lift up the dead skin. The oil will adjust itself with time.

^^
For me, I had to use my hands to work your hair and your scalp, at least as much as I did with shampoo, if not more. It felt disgusting at first and it was really hard to skip the shampoo. I would occasionally run soapy hands through mine to cut the grease on my hair. Now that's only when I shower after swimming in the ocean.

It didn't take two months to not feel gross during the day, just a week. It took much longer for it to not feel gross in the shower.

 

[Scrabble]

So I'm at about two weeks now with the no shampoo and soap thing, and I'm surprisingly pleased with the results. My hair is starting to not be as greasy, and I am getting compliments about how nice my hair is looking. Also my natural man pheromones seem to be working much better now that I'm not washing them away with nasty chemicals and soap.

 

[Minamu]

This thread has been intriguing me for quite some time. Is it worth trying this or not? I've been thinking of trying it when I eventually run out of soap but then I accidentally bought new schampoo xD

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I haven't shampoo-ed for about three years now. No problems.

My face has always been oilier than my scalp, even while transitioning. Oh well.

 

[Naked Snake]

I use a mild soap (supposedly made from 100% olive oil) when I shower (I'm allergic to normal soaps), but my armpits tend to smell very soon after I leave the shower... what am I doing wrong?

Surprisingly my groin doesn't seem to smell (as vouched by my sex partners), but my armpits do :/

 

[Ogni-XR21]

OK, I've been doing this for maybe 2 months now. Here is a little something for those "you smell, you just don't smell yourself" people:

I got a new gf and she went down on me 2 times now (we've only been dating for 1 1/2 weeks) and I asked her if everything was fine, smell and taste wise. She replied that she loved how I smell and taste.

 

[Sharp]

You guys realize that the purpose of soap is to kill bacteria, not make you smell good. Right? If you're not using soap, you're turning your back on the germ theory of disease, not the fashion industry.

 

[gwynplaine]

i would always itch as a kid when using soap so i just skipped it. skin feels fine, just a bit dry during winter. should definitely moisturize but too lazy.

jumped onto the no shampoo bandwagon years ago too. the only time it doesn't work that well is if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen or really like frying foods. it's easy to get the oil out but that food smell is really hard to wash out with just water. wearing a cap might help.

You guys realize that the purpose of soap is to kill bacteria, not make you smell good. Right? If you're not using soap, you're turning your back on the germ theory of disease, not the fashion industry.

but there's a lot of helpful bacteria living on you too, i'm sure. if soap really does kill germs it'll kill those too.

and why not just wash your hands with soap?

 

[Sharp]

but there's a lot of helpful bacteria living on you too, i'm sure. if soap really does kill germs it'll kill those too.

There are a lot of helpful bacteria living in you, not on you. What do these skin-level bacteria do for you, do you think? Care to make any guesses?

and why not just wash your hands with soap?

That's a good minimum, but why stop there? Of course, the OP doesn't actually say he washes his hands with soap.

 

[gwynplaine]

There are a lot of helpful bacteria living in you, not on you. What do these skin-level bacteria do for you, do you think? Care to make any guesses?

Why would you ask a random stranger on the internet with no medical qualifications? I'm not a microbiologist nor a dermatologist. The most I can do is google helpful bacteria skin for you - would that convince you? I doubt it. Sorry for the snark but I doubt you have the qualifications to make a blanket statement like that too.

Skin flora is usually non-pathogenic, and either commensals (are not harmful to their host) or mutualistic (offer a benefit). The benefits bacteria can offer include preventing transient pathogenic organisms from colonizing the skin surface, either by competing for nutrients, secreting chemicals against them, or stimulating the skin's immune system.[4] However, resident microbes can cause skin diseases and enter the blood system creating life-threatening diseases particularly in immunosuppressed people.[4] Hygiene to control such flora is important in preventing the transmission of antibiotic resistant hospital-acquired infections.

If you believe it there's bacteria on the skin that do nothing but take up space so that harmful ones don't grow.

That's a good minimum, but why stop there? Of course, the OP doesn't actually say he washes his hands with soap.

Cause your hands are the ones that are most in contact with where flu and cold bugs may be. Then probably your face.

The rest of the body is just your bacteria hanging out having a good time.

 

[Sharp]

Why would you ask a random stranger on the internet with no medical qualifications? I'm not a microbiologist nor a dermatologist. The most I can do is google helpful bacteria skin for you - would that convince you? I doubt it. Sorry for the snark but I doubt you have the qualifications to make a blanket statement like that too.

If you believe it there's bacteria on the skin that do nothing but take up space so that harmful ones don't grow.

Did you actually read any of the links on that page?

It might sound unhealthy or even dangerous to have skin that's teeming with bacterial colonies. But your body relies on some of these bacteria as part of its first line of defense. Many bacteria on the skin defend themselves by secreting small proteins that kill harmful invaders. In protecting themselves, they also protect us.

In other words, they are performing the same function as antibacterial soap--just less effectively

The rest of the articles on that page are not peer reviewed and many appear to be speculative.

Cause your hands are the ones that are most in contact with where flu and cold bugs may be. Then probably your face.

The rest of the body is just your bacteria hanging out having a good time.

I would probably add your feet, too, but if you've added your face to the list it already sounds like you are deviating from the course recommended by the OP.

 

[Skinpop]

Have been doing this for almost two weeks now. I have quite long hair, and it would always get very greasy after only a day without showering.
Massaging the scalp properly during showers and especially brushing my hair 5-10 minutes every day has made a huge difference. Even though the hair still is quite greasy it doesn't look dirty, in fact it looks awsome. It's not dry, has better buoyancy and for the first time in 15 years it's not randomly curly and frizzy but straight with some wave.

The grease is quite annoying though, running my fingers through the hair will produce a layer of grease on my hand and taking a shower isn't as refreshing as it used to be. Once the oil production normalizes in a few weeks I'm sure this issue will go away.

 

[gwynplaine]

Did you actually read any of the links on that page?

Yes, I did, and I realize when people are looking for the argument just for the sake of having an argument. And when they have some major cognitive dissonance to prove that they are right or are practicing for a debate and brush away evidence with "peer reviewed."

In other words, they are performing the same function as antibacterial soap--just less effectively

So what? That's not the point - you claimed this:

There are a lot of helpful bacteria living in you, not on you. What do these skin-level bacteria do for you, do you think? Care to make any guesses?

I'm not prepared to go through an academic database (without a science background there's major gaps in my knowledge, and absolutely no real clue of what I'm reading about) to prove my point but feel free to think that the issue of mutually beneficial bacteria living on your skin is speculative when there's books dating back to 1965 about it, and a couple of new ones from Cornell and Cambridge too. I haven't read any of them but I'm sure there are sections that would classify some skin flora as "helpful."

Or you can stay strong and skeptical, man.

 

[God Enel]

actually i would love to try that too. Can you steadily reduce the use of shampoo, because my hair gets also extremely greasy.


i thought something like this, go for 3 days without shampoo use it than 3 days than 4 and so on. Or isn't that a good idea?

btw. sry for my poor english.

 

[Moff]

tried this for a month
didnt work for me, I still had very greasy and a bit smelly hair. nope. looked good, but anything else, nope. the point where I really had to drop it was when my hands got so greasy that my gaming pads and mouse at home and at work got sticky. I feel kinda foolish now that I ever thought this might work but it seems to for others.

 

[Shags]

I actually wanted to post in this thread before I got approved as a member. I didn't use soap for the first 19 years of my life or so because I figured that the shampoo run-off was enough to keep me clean. I never smelled bad as a result of not using soap and the only reason I started to use soap was because I got acne on my back. Not using soap is not a big deal nor as dramatic as this poster makes it out to be. Perfect health before and after, nothing changes.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I do use shampoo, but never/rarely use soap. Shower gel is such a fucking scam when you don't even smell of what it is afterwards. I pay for grapefruit, I get a vaguely clean smell.

 

[CrudeDiatribe]

You guys realize that the purpose of soap is to kill bacteria, not make you smell good. Right? If you're not using soap, you're turning your back on the germ theory of disease, not the fashion industry.

Yeah! Just like those signs in bathrooms say: "employees must wash their entire filthy bodies with warm soapy water after taking a shit".

Wait. Maybe it says "hands".

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

You guys realize that the purpose of soap is to kill bacteria, not make you smell good. Right? If you're not using soap, you're turning your back on the germ theory of disease, not the fashion industry.

Soap does not kill bacteria. It works by making insoluble matter soluble thus removing it from the skin when rinsed. Soap is not antibacterial unless you specifically buy antibacterial soap. It's purpose is only to remove matter from the skin, not to kill.

The problem comes when we use soaps that are entirely way too harsh, such as most soaps/shampoos on the market, since they're are actually detergents rather than soap.

 

[BizzyBum]

After about two months with no shampoo/conditioner I cracked.

My dandruff didn't stabilize and get better. It was out of control. Bought some Neutrogena T-Gel and after one use my scalp already feels a ton better. It's possible it's not just dandruff or dry scalp, might have some seb derm going on which is why it got bad.

I'm going to try to find a balance where I use the shampoo as infrequent as possible while still keeping my dandruff at bay. Still not going to use conditioner or soap, though.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

After about two months with no shampoo/conditioner I cracked.

My dandruff didn't stabilize and get better. It was out of control. Bought some Neutrogena T-Gel and after one use my scalp already feels a ton better. It's possible it's not just dandruff or dry scalp, might have some seb derm going on which is why it got bad.

I'm going to try to find a balance where I use the shampoo as infrequent as possible while still keeping my dandruff at bay. Still not going to use conditioner or soap, though.

congratulations! you've been trolled by this thread

 

[Laughing Banana]

No soap is alright, but no shampoo?????

Aren't your folks' hair getting attacked by dandruff army? I know my hair does if I skip shampooing it!

 

[anonymous_abc]

No soap is alright, but no shampoo?????

Aren't your folks' hair getting attacked by dandruff army? I know my hair does if I skip shampooing it!

You must be new to this thread.
For many here no shampoo has in the long run greatly reduced dandruff problems.

 

[Timedog]

I think I'm gonna start using baking soda on my armpits and crotch. I must have REALLY overactive apocrine sweat glands, because I smell bad immediately after showering and washing my armpits and groin like 4 times. Only those areas smell.

Today after work I rubbed baking soda into my armpits and they don't smell that bad despite work stink AND I worked out for over an hour after applying the baking soda. If this works I might have the confidence to try no soap.

I rarely use shampoo though, and my hair and scalp thank me every day.

 

[54-46!]

When I was 10 - 14 I showered daily without using soap / shampoo, my mom said my hair smelled terrible.

 

[Everdred]

In other words, they are performing the same function as antibacterial soap--just less effectively

The issue is that it wipes out the good bacteria and then you wash off the antibacterial soap as well. This leaves your body wiped of both good and bad, which means that your body has to naturally build up the good bacteria again and bad bacteria can easily take over because there is no army (or it is building back up) to fight it off.

 

[Moff]

No soap is alright, but no shampoo?????

Aren't your folks' hair getting attacked by dandruff army? I know my hair does if I skip shampooing it!

greasy hair kills dandruff very fast. it was one of the few upsides when I did this.

 

[Z..]

tried this for a month
didnt work for me, I still had very greasy and a bit smelly hair. nope. looked good, but anything else, nope. the point where I really had to drop it was when my hands got so greasy that my gaming pads and mouse at home and at work got sticky. I feel kinda foolish now that I ever thought this might work but it seems to for others.

Well, if it takes around 2 months for hair to normalize, maybe you just quit too soon, no?

 

[ЯAW]

Done this for three or so months. Nothing has changed at all. Given that I have always had great hair so I don't really know what I even was expecting (even greater hair). At least I save so money since I don't have to buy any hair products so I'm going to stick with it.

 

[Rutgurk]

I use shampoo every day, but I'd like to try this. The only thing that's holding me back: hair products. I guess I'd have to stop using those as well, because I can't imagine getting that out of my hair without shampoo... ?

 

[anonymous_abc]

When I was 10 - 14 I showered daily without using soap / shampoo, my mom said my hair smelled terrible.

Teenagers always smell terrible.

 

[Alcotholic]

I stopped using shampoo for a few months. It worked awesome, but for some reason My scalp got intensely itchy and super dandruff-y. So I had to get back to shampoo. It was unbearable. And I like using body soap. The smell is good stuff.

 

[Z..]

I think I'm gonna try this starting next week!

 

[The Boat]

I did this for like a month and results were good, then I went to cut my hair and forgot to told the hairdresser not to use shampoo when washing my hair. Starting the next day I got a terrible itch all over my head and three weeks later it doesn't go away. No dandruff or anything just itchy. I had to go to a pharmacy and a get a shampoo for the itch, I'm just hoping it works.

 

[huxley00]

I gave this a try for about 3 weeks, my results (32y/o male)

Positives
-Hair felt softer overall
-I have sandy blonde hair, my hair tended to look darker
-Hair was easier to style

Negatives
-Scalp was more itchy, even though I rinsed very thoroughly
-Hair looked good but not as good as a light shampoo
-Took longer to rinse thoroughly than it did to shampoo

I went back to using an Argan Oil shampoo and just think my hair looks better overall. The rinsing in warm water actually seemed to dry out my hair than shampooing and quickly rinsing with luke warm water. I think those that have short hair will have better overall results. I don't have long hair but it is somewhere in the middle and it just didn't look very good without shampooing.

Also, if you're young, your hair is probably going to look pretty good shampoo or not. I'm very curious to see the results of older folks at ages when hair tends to start drying out a bit (30+ or so).

 

[Moff]

Well, if it takes around 2 months for hair to normalize, maybe you just quit too soon, no?

many have said it got better earlier, 2 to 4 weeks.
and mine didnt get better anymore, worse actually.
the smell and grease alone was too much, but when everything I touched turned sticky I didnt see a choice anymore.

 

[Azulsky]

I stopped reading when he said "this made sense to me"

 

[JustHadToJoin]

Any blacks can confirm that this helps with dandruff?

 

[aechris]

Reminded of this thread from the ass smell one, thought I'd check in.

32 y.o. white male. I haven't used soap or shampoo since the summer and I smell great. My skin is great. My hair is great.

My wife has converted and we only use water with our 2 y.o. daughter as well.

Making BANK not buying soap products.

 

[saunderez]

many have said it got better earlier, 2 to 4 weeks.
and mine didnt get better anymore, worse actually.
the smell and grease alone was too much, but when everything I touched turned sticky I didnt see a choice anymore.

Yeah I can't do it either, I get an itchy scalp which leads to sores which leads to "fuck this I'm using shampoo".