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[YesNOnoNOYes]

I has long hair and I only shampoo it once every 3 months or so. Other than that, it's just wash with water. But I grew up like this, so my hair has adapted? I think.

My dad had no ideas about how to teach me about skincare/ haircare/ cosmetics, so he just taught me how HE does it.

:>

I love not shampooing so much. Hair feels pretty natural and clean and has normal pH balance and I spend very little for haircare products

 

[ced]

My routine: LISTEN UP

I drink a spinach-kale shake every morning to cleanse myself of toxins before I jump in the shower. I don't use any shampoo because of the chemicals that are likely to destroy my hair and make me bald. I used to use a moisturizer but now I buy a multi-vitamin from GNC, crush it and apply it to my face after I use a cucumber mask all night. The vitamin B from the cucumber absorbs impurities from the skin and cleanses the toxins. I mix some metamucil in 2 to 3 cups solution of tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, cucumbers, and oranges to cleanse the toxins from my bowels and to stimulate my liver to drive toxins out. The cucumbers also promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin - the rest of the vegetables improving circulation of the blood; and help in refueling the body with healthy nutrients. Finally, every Thursday I do a 24 hour fast that allows the organs to rest and then I detox with a kale + herbal tea mix. I drink about 3 to 4 gallons of water a day and make sure I eat at least 40g of fiber from complex carbohydrates. I haven't eaten refined foods in a decade. All in all, I'd say this cost me around $24 to $25 a day.....if I add a cleansing licorice tea from Maylasia to my routine - it's about another $5 a day. I do this depending on whether or not I feel that I have toxins that need to be cleansed.

Haven't gotten any new acne on my face and my depression has been completely cured (which I attribute to the 2-3 gallons of water I drink every day (which help to eliminate toxins)).

I can't tell if your serious or not...

I keep my hair short so I never use shampoo anymore. I had a hard time at first with the idea of no soap or shampoo so I would shampoo at least once a week. I'm with you guys on the shampoo, my usually unmanageable hair is great now.

I still can't get off soap for the stinky parts at least a couple times a week.

 

[biggersmaller]

I would propose this to my wife, but she would just assume I'm being cheap/lazy. I'm frankly a little skeptical myself as I am a very greasy person when not showered. If I still like to eat pizza and burgers, will this work? (I do exercise).

My routine: LISTEN UP

I drink a spinach-kale shake every morning to cleanse myself of toxins before I jump in the shower. I don't use any shampoo because of the chemicals that are likely to destroy my hair and make me bald. I used to use a moisturizer but now I buy a multi-vitamin from GNC, crush it and apply it to my face after I use a cucumber mask all night. The vitamin B from the cucumber absorbs impurities from the skin and cleanses the toxins. I mix some metamucil in 2 to 3 cups solution of tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, cucumbers, and oranges to cleanse the toxins from my bowels and to stimulate my liver to drive toxins out. The cucumbers also promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin - the rest of the vegetables improving circulation of the blood; and help in refueling the body with healthy nutrients. Finally, every Thursday I do a 24 hour fast that allows the organs to rest and then I detox with a kale + herbal tea mix. I drink about 3 to 4 gallons of water a day and make sure I eat at least 40g of fiber from complex carbohydrates. I haven't eaten refined foods in a decade. All in all, I'd say this cost me around $24 to $25 a day.....if I add a cleansing licorice tea from Maylasia to my routine - it's about another $5 a day. I do this depending on whether or not I feel that I have toxins that need to be cleansed.

Haven't gotten any new acne on my face and my depression has been completely cured (which I attribute to the 2-3 gallons of water I drink every day (which help to eliminate toxins)).

 

[jimbor]

Alright, thanks for letting me know. Didn't your hair get smelly in the meantime?

Not too smelly, more greasy than anything else. It was weird as it kind of happened overnight. After that, I've never looked back. Hair is soft and non stinky and have had compliments on the smell and softness. It's a shame I mostly have it short all over now.

 

[Naked Snake]

I think you anti shampoo people need to look into what shampoo does. If nobodys told you that you look and smell like a greasy pusher theyre far too polite to break it to you.

Somebody from this thread should try to meet up with Escape Goat to prove to him that we don't smell.

 

[Escape Goat]

Somebody from this thread should try to meet up with Escape Goat to prove to him that we don't smell.

I just dont get it. The oil is just sitting in your hair. People are talking about "organisms adapting" and I can't take it seriously. Your scalp is producing oil daily. Shampoo is designed to get this oil to bind to it and to repel the water, effectively removing the build up from your scalp and hair.

 

[Tesseract]

guys, you stink. please shower.

 

[Funky Papa]

I just dont get it. The oil is just sitting in your hair. People are talking about "organisms adapting" and I can't take it seriously. Your scalp is producing oil daily. Shampoo is designed to get this oil to bind to it and to repel the water, effectively removing the build up from your scalp and hair.

Unless your hair is tremendously greasy, warm water will take care of it.

I shower daily without shampoo except on the weekends. My hair is not greasy at all. Actually, not using shampoo on the reg finally took care of some small troubles with dandruff near my hairline, which was becoming way too dry.

 

[-Deimos]

I just dont get it. The oil is just sitting in your hair. People are talking about "organisms adapting" and I can't take it seriously. Your scalp is producing oil daily. Shampoo is designed to get this oil to bind to it and to repel the water, effectively removing the build up from your scalp and hair.

You body is producing extra oil to get rid of the crap (shampoo) you keep putting in your hair. After you stop using shampoo, your body will continue to produce extra oil for a while because it's dumb. Once your body realizes there's no more crap, it'll chill out with the oil and stop turning your hair into a greasy mess. At this point, water is enough clean off the excess oil naturally produced by your body.

 

[Mengy]

I just dont get it. The oil is just sitting in your hair. People are talking about "organisms adapting" and I can't take it seriously. Your scalp is producing oil daily. Shampoo is designed to get this oil to bind to it and to repel the water, effectively removing the build up from your scalp and hair.

You don't get it because you haven' done it, you haven't experienced it. Most of society has been conditioned to believe that you need to use both soap and shampoo every time you wash or you will stink, it's just the way people in modern society are raised. I used soap and shampoo for 40 years of my life. And I had horrible dandruff problems and periodic skin rash problems. It was just how I was.

But then over a year ago I read about this and decided to try it myself. You know, as a science experiment. I mean, at worst it wouldn't work and I'd just go back to doing what everyone else does. But much to my surprise, it not only worked just like people say it does, it worked wonderfully. My dandruff and dry scalp went away, my skin feels better than ever and my rashes are no more. My hair feels much, MUCH better than ever, it's more full and controllable. And no, it doesn't feel greasy.

This isn't a "don't shower" thing, I shower daily just like I always have. It just works better than it ever has, and I feel better than I ever have. And yes, I even smell better than I ever have. Several people have commented on how I smell better than I used to, especially my girlfriend who thankfully was willing to put up with this experiment in the first place. More than one person has asked what cologne I was wearing when all I had on was a dab of deodorant.

I don't know the science behind it, or even the reasons why this works, all I know is that through personal experimentation and observation it DOES work. Whether you get it or not, it works, and it works great.

guys, you stink. please shower.

Sigh. The lack of reading comprehension and social stigma in this thread are depressing. I suppose some people just can't think outside the box and even entertain the idea that something they believe just may be incorrect.

 

[Dr. Buni]

Not too smelly, more greasy than anything else. It was weird as it kind of happened overnight. After that, I've never looked back. Hair is soft and non stinky and have had compliments on the smell and softness. It's a shame I mostly have it short all over now.

Right, thanks for responding!

 

[UND3RxOATH]

This thread is interesting to me and I'm thinking about following through.

I have short air, very short (think Military) style. I also have a dry scalp, but not dandruff. For about a year I've been using the Tea-Tree treatment shampoo and moisturizer. I use the moisturizer the most and even on my face.

I feel like I need to get a haircut ever 1.5-2 weeks to keep things managed in the hair area but I still do get irritation in the scalp. Most of the time my head feels itchy due to the lack of oil (I suppose that's what causes it?).

I also have dry-skin and have certain areas on my skin that are darker than others because of itchiness. Through the process I've used multiple soaps, hair products, and even certain lotions to adjust these problems. Nothing has helped.


Gaf, what do you recommend?

 

[Robot Pants]

I still think this thread is probably a collaborative trolling attempt. I fell for it and almost lost my scalp to so much dandruff. Not to mention the stink: brand new towels would turn into rancid messes after a single use.

To be honest, I've always felt this too.

But why does it have to be either regular soap or no soap. I think there is a middleground: natural soap/shampoo without any chemicals, farfume, preservatives, ingreadiants made of oil and shit like that. I've been using such shower products for month now and my skin feels great.

Everyone is different. At first I tried no shampoo at all and I couldn't do it. Then I tried just washing once a week.
Couldnt do it.
My hair just gets too greasy. Washing your hair is fine in my opinion as long as you aren't using regular shampoo. Seriously, give baking soda and water a try.

 

[hydragonwarrior]

Question on this - how do you avoid the greasy hair look without shampoo? I think that without the soap, I can't get the grease out of my hair if I go maybe 2-3 days without washing my hair

 

[entremet]

Question on this - how do you avoid the greasy hair look without shampoo? I think that without the soap, I can't get the grease out of my hair if I go maybe 2-3 days without washing my hair

There's an adjustment period. May take months.

 

[Rokal]

2 months without shampoo and my hair looks/feels great. Have gotten multiple compliments on my hair when I never really did in the past. I didn't even really have a rough break-in period. My hair felt a little off for the first week then it was smooth sailing.

It sounds crazy but it works.

 

[crazepharmacist]

Ever since I took accutane when I was a teenager my body's oil production decreased drastically, permanently. I've found not using shampoo in my hair helps tremendously with the quality of my hair. I still use conditioner but usually only once every other day. I still use soap though, dunno if I'd be able to give that up or be willing to try.

 

[Elija2]

There's an adjustment period. May take months.

This adjustment period is the reason I quit. For months my hair felt greasy and it showed no signs of getting better.

Every time I see this thread I want to try it again, but I don't know if I can deal with months of greasy hair again.

 

[crazepharmacist]

Wait, those not using shampoo, do you still use conditioner or absolutely nothing at all besides water?

 

[mnemovore]

The idea that nobody needs to shampoo looks like first-world historical revisionism and denouncing of ancient cultural practices. Ancient peoples of non-European ethnic groups found it necessary to shampoo. Because we live in cities and suburbs and don't have to deal with resource scarcity, we can claim shampoo is not needed. We might as well claim vaccines are not needed. Oh, wait...

 

[Jigolo]

Wait, those not using shampoo, do you still use conditioner or absolutely nothing at all besides water?

Same question I have

 

[Incendiary]

I use soap and shampoo once a week, basically. All my other showers I just use water. I also use regular deodorant. Seems to work fine for me, my skin is never too itchy or dry or whatever. I have pretty crappy skin so I occasionally break out on my face a little, but I'm trying to work harder at keeping my face clean by washing it more often.

 

[zaxon]

Wait, those not using shampoo, do you still use conditioner or absolutely nothing at all besides water?

It's up to the individual, but I would guess that eliminating shampoo would also eliminate the need for conditioner for most people. Modern conditioners mostly just compensate for the negative effects of shampoo.

The idea that nobody needs to shampoo looks like first-world historical revisionism and denouncing of ancient cultural practices. Ancient peoples of non-European ethnic groups found it necessary to shampoo. Because we live in cities and suburbs and don't have to deal with resource scarcity, we can claim shampoo is not needed. We might as well claim vaccines are not needed. Oh, wait...

This is a good point. When ancient aliens gifted the Egyptians with sodium lauryl sulfate, they did so so that the Egyptians' shiny hair would serve as a beacon for their intergalactic spaceships. After they built the pyramids this was no longer needed, of course, but the Egyptians still found it necessary to shampoo in order to stave off resource scarcity and polio. (I'm pretty sure Herodotus mentions all this.)

 

[anonymous_abc]

This thread is interesting to me and I'm thinking about following through.

I have short air, very short (think Military) style. I also have a dry scalp, but not dandruff. For about a year I've been using the Tea-Tree treatment shampoo and moisturizer. I use the moisturizer the most and even on my face.

I feel like I need to get a haircut ever 1.5-2 weeks to keep things managed in the hair area but I still do get irritation in the scalp. Most of the time my head feels itchy due to the lack of oil (I suppose that's what causes it?).

I also have dry-skin and have certain areas on my skin that are darker than others because of itchiness. Through the process I've used multiple soaps, hair products, and even certain lotions to adjust these problems. Nothing has helped.


Gaf, what do you recommend?

With short here there is no need the worry, the adjustment period should be short accordingly.

 

[UND3RxOATH]

With short here there is no need the worry, the adjustment period should be short accordingly.

Taking my first shower with nothing but water. Just scrubbing briefly with my hands. Hopefully this goes well. I'd do anything to get rid of my scalp and dry skin problems.

 

[anonymous_abc]

Taking my first shower with nothing but water. Just scrubbing briefly with my hands. Hopefully this goes well. I'd do anything to get rid of my scalp and dry skin problems.

Thats all I did when I still had hair.

Spoiler

Just to clarify I didn't loose my hair by not shampooing, I just shave my head now.

 

[Sorcerer]

I has long hair and I only shampoo it once every 3 months or so. Other than that, it's just wash with water. But I grew up like this, so my hair has adapted? I think.

My dad had no ideas about how to teach me about skincare/ haircare/ cosmetics, so he just taught me how HE does it.

:>

I love not shampooing so much. Hair feels pretty natural and clean and has normal pH balance and I spend very little for haircare products

Once every 3 months. I thought I was pushing it by just shampooing once a week. I use Dr. Bonners Magic Castile Soap.

I recently discovered that Rubbing alcohol works better than any deodorant I have ever tried and it does not clog my pores in my armpits.

Someone on youtube suggested 90 percent alcohol but my armpits were on fire. I had to dial it down to 70 percent.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

I

This is a good point. When ancient aliens gifted the Egyptians with sodium lauryl sulfate, they did so so that the Egyptians' shiny hair would serve as a beacon for their intergalactic spaceships. After they built the pyramids this was no longer needed, of course, but the Egyptians still found it necessary to shampoo in order to stave off resource scarcity and polio. (I'm pretty sure Herodotus mentions all this.)

I dunno, 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid doesn't sound all that good to me either.

 

[Naked Snake]

Once every 3 months. I thought I was pushing it by just shampooing once a week. I use Dr. Bonners Magic Castile Soap.

I recently discovered that Rubbing alcohol works better than any deodorant I have ever tried and it does not clog my pores in my armpits.

Someone on youtube suggested 90 percent alcohol but my armpits were on fire. I had to dial it down to 70 percent.

Are your armpits shaved?

 

[Nokterian]

Almost 8 months or longer? Without shampoo my hair also feels great. I do shave it short but even when it gets longer it feels soft and thicker then before.

 

[sometimes i game]

I think this concept is interesting but when I see people explain it as "Soap is manmade, shouldn't be necessary for life" I just think you still use toothepaste, a television, or a house don't you? All normal things we created. Socially we have advancements and hygiene expectations.

 

[anonymous_abc]

I think this concept is interesting but when I see people explain it as "Soap is manmade, shouldn't be necessary for life" I just think you still use toothepaste, a television, or a house don't you? All normal things we created. Socially we have advancements and hygiene expectations.

Well yes it's a silly argument and not the one most of us are using.

 

[Skinpop]

I think this concept is interesting but when I see people explain it as "Soap is manmade, shouldn't be necessary for life" I just think you still use toothepaste, a television, or a house don't you? All normal things we created. Socially we have advancements and hygiene expectations.

The issue I have with shampoo is that it's the cause of the problem I'm fixing by using it. Use shampoo to remove grease/oil, scalp reacts by exuding more oil.
With that the side effects like worse hair quality, irritated scalp. Unpredictable hair(I have long hair, some times it's very hard to style because it's too soft, dry or something) doesn't make it worth it for me to use it.

 

[Sinfamy]

I'm sure the mouth regulates itself too right?
You guys hopefully switched to an all baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste.

 

[anonymous_abc]

I'm sure the mouth regulates itself too right?
You guys hopefully switched to an all baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste.

false equivalences are false.

 

[Funky Papa]

Oh, the sanitary argument.

I could so easily turn this silly debate into an uncut/cut thread.

But I won't.

Not this time.

 

[gotoadgo]

What the fuck is with the snarky drive by posts in this thread? Stop doing it, you're not adding to the discussion what so ever.

I've been doing this for a while now and it seemed strange at first but now it's great. Hair was never really oily, but my skin is definitely less dry than what it was and never a complaint from anyone(I have a girlfriend and not a word).

 

[Skinpop]

I'm sure the mouth regulates itself too right?
You guys hopefully switched to an all baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste.

false equivalence, but if you eat the right foods I'm sure it would.

 

[DopeToast]

I haven't used shampoo in about a year and half. I use baking soda to clean it and condition with watered down Apple cider vinegar every two weeks. My hair is better than it's ever been. I don't have dandruff, it has way more volume and doesn't just lie there, I can move it around a bunch, and it really doesn't smell. I'm a very hygienic person, and I have asked plenty of people to smell my hair and they admit it doesn't smell.

I haven't tried the no soap thing yet. I figure if you exfoliate enough then you should be fine, but I just haven't put in enough research where I feel comfortable trying it yet.

 

[hydragonwarrior]

Not really face pics, but could we get pics of just people's hair? I really want to try this but like another poster said, the look of greasy hair is unappealing to me (and probably not the greatest to see at work lol)

What the fuck is with the snarky drive by posts in this thread? Stop doing it, you're not adding to the discussion what so ever.

I've been doing this for a while now and it seemed strange at first but now it's great. Hair was never really oily, but my skin is definitely less dry than what it was and never a complaint from anyone(I have a girlfriend and not a word).

The title can make a person instantly think it's about someone giving up showering completely... that's what I got out of it at first

 

[Anarion07]

Hmmm.

 

[xk0sm0sx]

I'll just admit it.
3 years since this thread started.
3 years I've been doing this.
I live with my family, and I work with other people all the time.
No one has ever complained or noticed anything.
I wouldn't say it has been better nor worse since when I used shampoo, after so long I can't really remember.

 

[Coriolanus]

I wouldn't say it has been better nor worse since when I used shampoo, after so long I can't really remember.

Use shampoo once. Be horrified for a couple of days with how limp you hair gets.

 

[Minamu]

I haven't really noticed much of a difference either, after around six months. But I use hair wax almost every day so that might be why. It's definitely an improvement though, however small. And the money saved by not buying tons of hair products is great so I see no reason to start using schampoo again. Seeing the million different hair products my girlfriend has has also scared me off of it.

 

[Baraka in the White House]

No soap for probably two or three years now. I'm bald so I don't use shampoo anyway. No complaints from the wife or public at large. Feels good man. Showers are such simple matters.

 

[Revoh]

So I decided to give the no-shampoo thing a try.
I haven't use it since last Saturday night.
I can smell my hair and I'm self-conscious about it, I'm afraid my coworkers will say something about it.

I don't know how to explain but I can feel my scalp, something is off. How long should I wait before giving up?

 

[Mistake]

How long should I wait before giving up?

It can take two weeks or a little longer for some people. If I use shampoo, it takes me a little over a week to change back. Just make sure to do it every day with warm or cool water. Hot will mess up everything. If my hair is short I do cold, if it's longer I do cool.

 

[BamfMeat]

I have no hair, so no shampoo anyway, but I'm hairy all over and extremely oily all over. If I go a day without showering, the hubs is like "Honey, go. Shower. Now." Plus I like how my face feels after I use face wash.

More power to you guys that can do it - I think I'd probably lose what little social life I have!

 

[Zeyphersan]

Been trying this for a couple weeks now. Don't have a SO to test if I'm smelly, but I try to stay pretty conscious about my own stank, especially trying something as "risky" as this. Overall I can say that as long as I scrub down my armpits and junk really thoroughly with a washcloth, I don't have any odor. Most days I don't even need to rock deodorant.

My hair is still in the adjustment period but I cut it right before starting so the greasiness isn't really an issue. My skin is SUPER soft though, like I almost can't believe it. Feels as clean as it did before but way softer than its ever been, and I didn't really have any skin problems before. Also the acne on my back has cleared up a ton, so there's a plus

Will update as time goes on, but overall I'm very happy with the results

 

[Admiral Woofington]

I think my biggest issue with attempting this is that going a couple of days without using shampoo and my hair feels greasy as shit. Soap I could attempt to do without, but shampoo? I don't know if I can. I already only wash my hair like 2-3 times per week, so it shouldn't be an issue.