[SustainableTompkins] less bathing

[senecajean at aol.com]

I only wash my hair once a week anyway because it's dry hair and I've been told by several hair dressers that every 5 to 7 days was sufficient. It's also very short. Haven't used a drier in many years. (I admit I still go to a hair dresser on occasion.)

Don't shower that often either. My/our old house only has one old style high tub shower combo anyway and it's hard for me to step into. But even when I got around better I never bought into that overdone shower thing.
I remember over-hearing a co-worker years back saying she showered for 20 minutes daily and I cringed at the indulgent waste.

Jeanne






-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret McCasland <mmccasla at twcny.rr.com>
To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv <sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org>
Sent: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:51 am
Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] less bathing



Ah, yes, the "sponge bath."  Another blast from the past, and 
definitely the key to once-a-week baths.  Important tip: use a fresh 
wash cloth every day! it should go without saying that you start at 
the top and work your way down.

The French elevated "sponge bath" to a new level when they invented the bidet.

I agree with Jan's French friend that shampoo and soap companies were 
probably behind the assumptions that we need a "full shower" every 
day.

Another downside to daily hair washing is that this also means (for 
many people) using a hair dryer every day.  Now that is a 
questionable use of coal-fired electricity.

Margaret


>My godmother, who lived to age 99 and grew up in CT, told me that when they
>were kids they were not allowed to wash their hair all winter long because
>their parents feared feared pneumonia, which was often fatal. They'd brush
>their hair and re-braid it every morning. They took a full bath only once a
>week, every Sunday morning before church -- by heating the water on their
>cast-iron wood stove, and pouring it into the clawfoot tub.
>
>When I lived in France in early 70s, one of my French friends told me he
>thought we'd been brainwashed by the shampoo and soap commercials into
>believing we needed full showers every day. He said most of the French just
>"sponge bathed" every day the necessary body areas, with a washcloth.
>
>- Jan
>
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