# Should we stop shampooing, showering & using deodorants daily? Is being over clean unhealthy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920 "2010-10-30T22:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/41 "2010-11-02T02:51:07Z")
Bacteria don’t lie. Somebody should write a song. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/42 "2010-11-02T04:12:36Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > People shun deoderant in droves in South Asia, such as Nepal and India. Although there is a noticeable odor, after a couple of days it doesn’t seem to bother you anymore. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Asians tend to have less of a problem with body odor than other races, for a couple of reasons: > > - They usually have fewer apocrine sweat glands > - They often have less body hair > > As a result, deodorants are not nearly as popular (or, arguably, as needed) as they are in the west – and, at least in some Asian cultures, noticeable body odor may be seen as a medical issue. I’ve heard this said of the Japanese, but I was talking South Asians, and there is an extremely strong smell among many. There is a stereotype among the Thais that all South Asians smell foul, and I have to say some of the ones visiting here that I end up stand near on the Skytrain and such really reek. My wife was on a bus one day that a South Asian boarded; he was not sure where to get off and so asked the conducter after a while. (A conducter sells you your ticket on board Bangkok city buses.) The conducter told him it was here just to get the guy to get off the bus and go away. The wife said all aboard were gagging from his smell, which was compounded by the air-con being broken on this very hot day. I noticed this smell, too, while in South Asia, but again, after a while you stop noticing it when the vast majority smell that way. Possibly akin to way back when I worked in Dunkin’ Donutrs in Texas right after high school and could no longer smell doughnits after a while; the shop smelled like nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/43 "2010-11-02T05:08:18Z")
Shampooing is one thing – everyone’s hair is different. My mother only washes her’s once a week, because otherwise it would dry out. My sister, every other day. As I mentioned above, I have to wash my hair everyday, because it’s so oily. And not everyone needs deodorant/anti-perspirant, I guess. (Although I think it’s probably a good idea to keep it around for those times when you DO get all sweaty). However, I absolutely stand by the idea that bathing daily is a must. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/44 "2010-11-02T13:06:10Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve heard this said of the Japanese, but I was talking South Asians, and there is an extremely strong smell among many. Very interesting. Thanks for the clarification, and additional information. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/45 "2010-11-02T13:22:58Z")
My SO doesn’t wear deodarant and doesn’t stink. He does shower daily, but he’s Chinese and I’ve noticed that before. I, on the other hand, MUST wear deodarant. I’m Indian. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/46 "2010-11-02T13:39:20Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Shampooing is one thing – everyone’s hair is different. My mother only washes her’s once a week, because otherwise it would dry out. My sister, every other day. As I mentioned above, I have to wash my hair everyday, because it’s so oily. > > And not everyone needs deodorant/anti-perspirant, I guess. (Although I think it’s probably a good idea to keep it around for those times when you DO get all sweaty). > > However, I absolutely stand by the idea that bathing daily is a must. Hair can get into a viscious cycle. I have oily hair too, but I also have some dandruff issues. My dermatologist recommended shampooing my hair on alternating nights as an experiment. After about a week my hair started being less oily. It’s as if I reprogrammed the oil production. I’m now trying to shampoo every third day with good results so far. I often wondered if my daily shampooing in the old days (we’re talking decades) beat the tar out of my scalp and caused my dandruff problems in the first place. As a side note, my friend’s dad was a beat cop in New York’s lower east side (with plenty of vagrants in his district). These folks were not known for their hygiene. His quote was “In all my years on the beat I never saw a bald hobo”. So maybe shampooing is a factor in aggrivating those who have a genetic predisposition to baldness to actually go bald. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/47 "2010-11-02T16:37:08Z")
> [@aerodave](#): > > There exists a segment of people who cannot accept that it’s even possible for someone to not use deodorant without reeking constantly. A few have already appeared in this thread, and some were mentioned in the article as well. The “_you_ don’t think you smell bad” folks. > > I, on the other hand, concede that it’s entirely possible that not everyone really needs to slather their pits in scented aluminum salts to keep from emitting noticeable B.O. People exist on a bell curve, and some are simply bound to be on the very low end of the stinky spectrum. Granted, some people are actually delusional about it…but others really can get away with it. > > I have a coworker and friend who has admitted that he doesn’t wear deodorant most of the time. I’ve spent plenty of time with him in close enough quarters over the years: around the office, away from work, traveling. And while I’ve certainly kept a nose out for it since his admission, I’ve never noticed anything like B.O. emanating from him. Seems like he’s not delusional, he’s just figured out he doesn’t need it. He bathes regularly, and that seems to be enough for him. I’ve never jammed my nose under his arm, but I’m not sure that’s a fair test, anyways. > > As for me, I reckon I’m on the left side of that bell curve, but not far enough to let myself get away with going deo-less. Whether I could get away with it or not, I keep my pits scented if I’m going to be around other human beings. Another one here who doesn’t use deoderant and doesn’t smell bad . I shower regulary interspersed with baths. I think some people shower more lightly then others, by that I mean that though they go in there regulary and often they don’t really make much effort to get really clean, just token clean. Likewise showers take off the light grime but every so often you need a bath to open up the pores properly and get some of the deep down out. Also some people sweat more then others. If this sounds like I’m obsessively hygenic I’m not, its just the way i was trained. Finally deoderants don’t cleanse they just block up the pores and mask the smell. The more you use them the more crap you’re embedding in your skin. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/48 "2010-11-02T17:41:03Z")
Slate is calling this a [false trend](http://www.slate.com/id/2273201/) story. I personally avoid antibacterial soaps as much as possible to keep the good bacteria around and try to use deodorant instead of antiperspirant because I hate how APs make my arm pits feel gummy and sticky. I still were APs when I expect to be sweating a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/49 "2010-11-02T19:36:38Z")
Oh yeah. A lot of false trends are also promoted by advertisers trying to sell something. In this case, maybe it’s dry shampoo. I have no idea why I’d need that unless someone came up with a really good explanation. I’m still dubious about this product. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/50 "2010-11-02T20:13:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Oh yeah. A lot of false trends are also promoted by advertisers trying to sell something. In this case, maybe it’s dry shampoo. I have no idea why I’d need that unless someone came up with a really good explanation. I’m still dubious about this product. I could see a use for it if I was camping in the desert, or on a long road trip with unknown sanitary facilities on the route. Kind of like all-in-one biodegradable camping soap, a niche product for specific situations. That does not seem how it is marketed though. This seems more a market segment grab than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/51 "2010-11-02T20:22:40Z")
Yeah. I felt the same way about “push presents” (men getting gifts for their wives after they gave birth). ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/52 "2010-11-02T20:34:59Z")
This is something I have been thinking about a lot of late. I am currently on sick leave with a slipped disc, which will be operated on on Friday. Because of this I haven’t washed as often, at times it has been too painful to shower or bathe and I wasn’t going out anywhere anyway. I for years have had bad skin. Greasy, causing not so much spots these days but blackheads. Somehow I don’t seem to have many of them anymore. I am convinced that in some way I was over cleaning to the point that it encouraged bad skin, possibly by overstimulation of the glands. I honestly haven’t had skin this good at any point in the last twenty years. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/53 "2010-11-02T21:52:28Z")
One thing I’d like to add is that there’s nothing better than that nice, clean feeling after a hot shower. Even if it WASN’T needed, I’d still shower every nice, just because it feels good. (And I’ve never had a problem with dandruff. Unless you count “flakes” from too much hairspray back when I was in junior high back in the early 90s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/54 "2010-11-03T02:28:15Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > My SO doesn’t wear deodarant and doesn’t stink. He does shower daily, but he’s Chinese and I’ve noticed that before. > > I, on the other hand, MUST wear deodarant. I’m Indian. Sigh. My wife is nominally Southeast Asian (Thai nationality) but of Chinese ethnicity. (There seems to be some question of whether there’s any actual Thai ancestry on her father’s side; the family is divided about this.) She wears deodorant, as do most urban Thais of the middle class and above. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/55 "2010-11-03T13:38:35Z")
No one else is ready to scream at the frequent misspelling of deodorant? Just me? Here’s a hint: the purpose of deodorant is to mask/neutralize/magically eliminate ODOR. Not “oder” or “odar”. Yes, I am picky. But I shower daily and don’t smell. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/56 "2010-11-03T14:39:22Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Regarding hair: I was reading a hit piece on Locks of Love some months ago, and one of the chief complains was that LoL sells a great deal of what they deem “unusable” hair, and keeps the rest to make wigs. Apparently, pair of their process is to take bundles of similarly-textured hair, wash and dye them the same color, and then make them into a single wig. Unfortunately, so many people’s hair is over-washed so that by the time their process is complete, much of the hair is too weak to be used in a wig. Still, it’s apparently strong enough to be used in a wig for whoever they’re selling it to. Ha, that’s very interesting. Makes a lotta sense. Perhaps if LoL went more public with that people would reconsider washing. Although knowing people, they’d probably just stop donating to LoL. I definitely have less breakage (close to 0 now) and flyaways than I did years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/57 "2010-11-04T01:21:06Z")
How long do you have to leave your hair unwashed then before you donate it? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/58 "2010-11-04T02:45:09Z")
They actually ask you to donate clean hair - so you can wash it before you donate it as long as it’s dry before you cut it. (I’ve donated to Locks of Love 3 times now) The problem isn’t washing just before you donate, the problem is frequent washing over time, or dousing your hair with lots of chemicals, which weakens the strands. I use only very mild shampoo on my hair with a homemade, vinegar based rinse, and don’t shampoo every day (2-3 times a week). My hair stays strong, strong enough I can grow it down to mid-thigh with no problem. I know people who wash their hair daily and use lots of “product” and their hair never grows longer than shoulder length - because it weakens and breaks off at that point. So, if you want to donate your hair to make wigs for the bald use minimal chemicals and don’t overwash. But you have to do for _years_, not just the week before. In my case, I was treating my hair like that anyway, so I never changed anything, it just works out that every 2-3 years I can cut off my braids and send them to charity. Before the hair collecting charities the hair was just thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920/59 "2010-11-04T03:05:51Z")
I wash my hair every day but it’s always had a huge amount of body and gets a lot of compliments. I know, people talk about how they stop washing and then their hair looks gorgeous, but I’m pretty sure that if I ever up and donated it anyone that they’d be very lucky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-stop-shampooing-showering-using-deodorants-daily-is-being-over-clean-unhealthy/558920.md?page=2)