A no-soap, no-shampoo bacteria rich hygiene experiment

I remember my nephew deciding to stop using soap and shampoo when he was a student. Drove my SIL crazy as she thought he was just being lazy but he had read an article explaining why these weren't necessary for your personal hygiene. His skin and hair were eventually in better condition according to him.

I also remember, as a student nurse, one of our lecturers say that both soap and shampoo were unnecessary luxuries and in fact did more harm than good.

I personally think being 'too clean' ie, showering and shampooing every day possibly leaves the body open to infection more. I could be completely wrong but that is my instinct.

A friend of mine stopped using shampoo years ago and she says her hair is thicker, shinier and her skin allergies have just gone away. I'd love to try but just cannot put up with the couple of weeks of adjustment. She swears by it though.

I put my severe acne outbreak in my late teens to my use of soap when I went to University, having never washed my face with anything but flannel and hot water.

After make up remover wipe ( scent free and really only used for eyes) I just splash my face with cold water. Seems to work! X

It really does not surprise me. but I would like to see more about the research. We use far too many harsh chemicals on our hair and skin and I am very concerned about the environmental effects of antibiotic sprays for all surfaces from worktops to bodies.

Look at Dettol's product advertising to see the way they try to raise our fears about bacteria.

Yes you need good general hygiene with regard to washing hands after going to the toilet and with regard to food hygiene but not antibacterial sprays. I am sure they must be contributing to the growing problem of our antibiotic resistance.

Lice are meant to prefer clean hair!

There are only a few bits that actually need soaping. Hands are top of the list because they do pick up viruses etc.

I wet my hair under the shower with water every day after swimming but only use shampoo once a week and my hair feels nice and soft. There's an article on bacteria and viruses in this months Which? Which looks interesting.

Lice certainly prefer clean hair Flickety When my children were still at school DD ans I spent a couple of months battling with headlice. DS who rarely washed his hair (if at all) was practically louse free. I managed to comb about half a dozen out of his hair. DD and I were frantically washing our hair all the time and the lice were loving it!

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And that same website yet again. Thanks for the commercial Fili

My granny only ever washed her hair in rainwater, no shampoo, she had beautiful hair and when she die in her late eighties there was not a grey hair on her head.

If I stopped using shampoo my hair would be heavy. Probably because the grease and most of the dirt from the air would still be in it.

I could not bear the itching if I did not shampoo my hair every 3-4 days. I do not have a shower every day because my skin was becoming dry and sore in places. I could not do without soap and shampoo forever.

Well I love soap and water lots of it shower or bath twice a day, shampoo my hair alternate days and that's only because its frizzy and I love a good hose down of the kitchen and bathrooms with cleaning products. Not apologising for it or changing my habits- cleanliness is next to Godliness my Mother told me.

Yes to no soap/shampoo/toothpaste/any chemical'cleansers' for me or my clothes or my house etc.I have been keeping everything clean without these chemical poisons for about 10 years now. I'm sure i would have heard from friends/family if i was not clean. I do use vinegar and baking soda.