Ditching the shampoo

No more!

You know they say everything comes back into style.  Unlike popped colors and 80s neon, this one I am happy about (although I've kept it a secret for some time).  A growing number of people, including myself, have ditched daily showers.  The NY Times reports "some people have all but abandoned the idea of soap, shampoo or deodorant and yet still manage to have friends, relationships and office jobs."  "The Great Unwashed" is what the newspaper calls these people, whose habits range from washing their hair less frequently to not using deodorant.

Daily cleansing has become a ritual and a norm for most people.  I don't recall what my elementary school bathing habits were, but I do remember that in middle school I began washing my hair every day.  I jumped in the shower every morning at 6:15 so I could wear my hair down like all the other girls in sixth grade.  Unfortunately, there was a bad side effect - my hair and skin became extremely dry.

I don't see this no-washing trend as an act of rebellion against societal norms or an environmental movement.  I think as we become more conscious of what is good for our bodies, we realize that showering once or even twice a day is completely unnecessary and time consuming - maybe we're even a little lazy.  Less showering has beauty and health benefits.  Many stylists actually recommend washing your hair only a few times a week.  I generally wash my hair every other day, depending on my activities.  I find this gets the job done.  I'm not stinky.  My hair looks decent.  And my skin is smooth.  So, I will revel in this new-found trend of minimal washing.