My new experiment

[bigpimpatl]

If this works I will see about weaning off deodorant too.

just trim/shave your armpit hair and you'll be fine. I say this with experience.

 

[SMOGZINN]

My hazy understanding from a bunch of hippies I knew years ago is that if you stop using soap, you'll get REALLY stinky for a couple weeks, then it'll even out, then drop off entirely. Their explanation, which I have not researched and do not stand behind, was that odor producing bacteria go ape shit at first, then the whole ecosystem evens out after a while as less smelly bacteria move in.

Having been around a bunch of hippies myself I can say with some confidence that what is really going on is that they REALLY stink for a couple of weeks, then they get desensitized to the smell and no longer notice it. The rest of us still do.

 

[OverVolt]

Having been around a bunch of hippies myself I can say with some confidence that what is really going on is that they REALLY stink for a couple of weeks, then they get desensitized to the smell and no longer notice it. The rest of us still do.

Ding!

Humans are stinky get over it.

 

[arrfep]

Some posters over on MTBR.com (I believe that's where I saw it) did this and all returned favorable results. They still rinsed/scrubbed on a daily basis, just didn't use soap.

 

[bigrash]

Be one with the soap. It's here to help you.

 

[GrumpyMan]

At the gym and also at the mall I sometimes catch a whiff of "earthy" people, use a natural soap at least, just because you get used to it doesn't mean others do.

 

[Auric]

I'm one step away from this already: sparingly using veg-based unscented Aveeno goo or Pears bar on actual dirty bits with a cloth; tea-tree oil shampoo during alternate bathes or so; coconut oil for moisturizer as needed. I recently stopped using Cetaphil (was esp. for face) on account of the company not guaranteeing veg sources but only requesting such of their suppliers. I'll try just cloth and water on ze face and hair for awhile (barring exposure to significant filth/grease/smoke) and see how it goes.

 

[Viper GTS]

I did this for most of the last two years. I have fought eczema my entire life and the list of soaps and shampoos that don't destroy my skin with a single use is very short. The list that I can use daily without issue is even shorter.

I did fairly well when not using either. It didn't completely solve my issues but it helped - overall it raised the average quality of life a few points and smoothed out the swings into misery. Don't get me wrong I missed them terribly. Every couple months I would take a normal soapy shower just to remind myself that I was capable of feeling clean.

My current routine is a reduced use pattern. I roughly split my days soap vs no soap and use massive amounts of topical steroids plus moisturizer daily. It seems fairly workable.

For what it's worth it will change how you smell. The gf described it as smelling clean (when using soap) to smelling like a day worn shirt. Not offensive, but not an upgrade either.

In the end I just like feeling clean too much to keep up a soap less existence all the time. I use just enough to maintain that.

Viper GTS

 

[CPA]

You probably use the same towel to dry off day after day, don't you? don't you?

 

[swanysto]

Just do what I do and shave your head and use dove soap. No greasy hair, and my skin is soft and moisturized.

 

[Auric]

In the end I just like feeling clean too much to keep up a soap less existence all the time. I use just enough to maintain that.

I recall that being an adjustment when accustomed to complete soaping with every bathe (even basic veg glycerin). Anything less than essentially deoiled skin resulted in that "not so fresh feeling". But one gets over it. Ze face is easier since more used to soapless cleanser and sunblock or moisturizer, but the hair is more challenging...

Just do what I do and shave your head and use dove soap. No greasy hair, and my skin is soft and moisturized.

Shaving your head is cheating. I'll pass on the perfumed tallow. D:

 

[edro]

(and expensive)

$5 for 3 months is damn expensive...

 

[tokie]

Update: nearly 3 weeks in. So far, so good.

My hair has gotten a bit greasy/dandruffy and weird, but I hope it will level out soon enough.

When using deodorant, I have no difference in smell. So the concerns about body smelling bad are (so far) not there.

 

[Auric]

It's weird that it got dandruffy which implies dryness? Beware compensating with overly hot water. I've never been keen on deodorant (nor thankfully "required" it), especially since learning how harmful the conventional schtuff is. I've had a stick of unscented Tom's of Maine for several years.

Odour is not necessarily bad as opposed to real "smelliness" which, though presumably subjective, may be dependent upon health and diet. Just as nasty, if not worse, is attempting to cover it with parfume. It makes me want to retch when passing by people trailing a cloud of parumed stink like Pigpen from the Peanuts comic. And people do this when exercising on running trails?!

 

[Imp]

Use conditioner only with your hair. I started that when I started losing hair thinking that it was SLS or the harshness of the shampoo making it fall out (denial stage) - nope.

Whenever I accidentally use shampoo my scalp dries the hell out. Conditioner is awesome.

 

[dxkj]

Yes its a good argument for hair, but a bad argument for the rest... There are instances when over cleaning causes issues, like increased oil gland production, etc. You can argue that we can survive without soap/shampoo, but they are called advancements in civilization for a reason... Nature does not "know best" or we wouldnt be living longer and healthier now than we did 50, 100, 500 years ago.

 

[OverVolt]

Yes its a good argument for hair, but a bad argument for the rest... There are instances when over cleaning causes issues, like increased oil gland production, etc. You can argue that we can survive without soap/shampoo, but they are called advancements in civilization for a reason... Nature does not "know best" or we wouldnt be living longer and healthier now than we did 50, 100, 500 years ago.

Running around outside, we need the skin oil. Riding in an elevator with your boss, not so much.

 

[momeNt]

Hopefully this isn't considered a necro, but can we get an update on this?

I'm interested in perhaps saving money and ditching all the personal hygiene products that are forced down the throat of the common american consumer.

 

[clamum]

It's weird that it got dandruffy which implies dryness?

Dandruff can be from a dry or oily scalp.

Updates OP you sordid hippy.

 

[Baked]

Unless your SO is equally as digusting as you, or you're planning on being alone forever living in a basement, your best bet is clean yourself the fuck up with soap and not making an excuse to stink like a pig. What a fucking stupid idea.

 

[momeNt]

Unless your SO is equally as digusting as you, or you're planning on being alone forever living in a basement, your best bet is clean yourself the fuck up with soap and not making an excuse to stink like a pig. What a fucking stupid idea.

I'm not so sure it is a bad idea, once his body readjusts and begins to naturally regulate his oils, all he'll smell like is manly pheromones.

 

[grohl]

The stupidest idea I've heard in a long time.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I'm not so sure it is a bad idea, once his body readjusts and begins to naturally regulate his oils, all he'll smell like is manly pheromones.

Along with any other oils, geese, fats, and grime he picks up that water alone will not wash off. There is a reason we started using soap in the first place, lots of things are not water soluble.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I've been doing this for awhile. I use soap when I'm actually filthy, or when I wash my hands. I rarely wash/condition my hair. Maybe once or twice a month. I vigorously clean it with water and my hands though every day. I coincidentally have very nice hair. I have curly hair and it doesn't really get frizzy unless I mess with it. It's been working fine for me for a few years and I get compliments on my hair and smell.

When I first decided to stop acid washing myself with 100 soaps every day my body/hair produced a lot of oil and I felt gross. If you just taper off with your products you will be fine, its an adjustment. Now I can go for 2-3 weeks without my hair feeling the least bit greasy, despite looking very healthy and being very soft.

I use normal deodorant though.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Hopefully this isn't considered a necro, but can we get an update on this?

I'm interested in perhaps saving money and ditching all the personal hygiene products that are forced down the throat of the common american consumer.

OP died of a penis infection in mid-January.