Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Cleanin' up Questionnaire

Scrub them pits!Last summer I asked a few questions about personal cleaning habits, mostly out of curiosity but also because there is such a huge focus in our culture on bathing and bath products and sterilizing everything.

One thing that stuck in my mind the other day was the commercial from the late 1970s for Mitchum anti-perspirant. The ad's tagline was "so effective, you can even skip a day." Back then, the concept of not showering everyday wasn't such a big deal.

Well, there's no way in hell you'd see the same sort of ad campaign today. What has changed in the last 30 years that people are so averse to appearing not up to "standards"? That is: showering, shaving, shampooing and getting all gussied up every. single. day?

Here's a new questionnaire for you.

What are your personal cleaning habits?

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
2. How often do you wash your hair?
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
4. How often do you floss?
5. How often do you get your hair cut?
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?

106 comments:

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day
2. Wash hair every other day
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss once a day
5. Haircut twice a year
6. Soap and toothfloss is natural, shampoo and toothpaste is conventional
7. I'm showering less

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day
2. Wash hair every other day
3. Brush teeth 3x/day (usually w/no water or just a mouthful of rinse water)
4. Floss weekly? Intend to more
5. Cut my own hair as the spirit moves me; yearly professional haircut.
6. "Natural" toothpaste for flavor reasons, local/handmade soap, bulk shampoo from coop, floss totally conventional, and we have listerine because my partner uses it
7. None of those things are for environmental reasons but I have given up q-tips for environmental reasons and switched to a toothbrush with replaceable bristles. Oh, I guess the no water thing was partly environmental (mostly it was for camping).

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

Since I've had twins I:
Shower 2X a week. If I'm lucky I shower 3X a week.
I wash my hair when I shower, so if i only get a shower twice that week, my hair is washed only twice that week (grossed out yet?).
I brush my teeth 2 or 3 times a day and floss almost every day. I don't like to spend money on fillings so I brush and floss alot.
I get my hair cut probably 3 times a year.
I use paraben free soaps and lotions and no-floride toothpaste.
I try to live "green" and am trying to include more ways of green living into our life, such as bringing our own bags to the grocery store, I walk to the store whenever possible, and we turn off lights and unplug things not being used. I also have my computers and battery chargers on an outlet stip and turn that off every night. We're really bad at water conservation though. Need to work on that!

Simply Authentic said...

1. shower every day because if i don't certain zones get a tad bit disorderly
2. wash hair every day
3. brush 2x per day (morn/night) and sometimes if i eat something smelly then after that as well
4. floss every night
5. haircut-depends...right now i've gone short which takes more upkeep but other times i just trim 3 times a year
6. soap is natural and sometimes local, shampoo/conditioner has switched to more envir/health friendly, toothpaste is tom's, make up is improving toward healthier, deo is conventional however
7. all products changed to more natural due to environmental and health reasons---especially as i've learned more about all our personal products being pretty much unregulated and untested....have you gone to http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1 ?

Della said...

1. Bathe daily, sometimes skipping a day. Shower once a week.
2. Wash hair 1-2 times aweek.
3. Brush teeth twice a day.
4. Floss every few days, trying to do more.
5. Haircut when I notice it, usually every 3-5 months.
6. Most of my products are naturaly, trying to slowly switch everything over.
7. Just trying to watch the water usage, and watch the ingredients in my products.

Simply Authentic said...

oh and i've always switched to preserve's recycled and recyclable razors and toothbrushes....

Anonymous said...

1 - i shower every other day. if i feel like i need another shower in between i'll just wash up and not do my hair.
2 - i guess i wash my hair about 3 times a week... refer to answer 1. i used to be able to go 3-4 days without washing it, but lately it gets dirty faster. i think it's 'cause i touch/twirl/play with my hair a lot...
3 - i brush morning and evening before bed. gotta stay fresh :P
4 - every night
5 - i'm bad with this... my wild curly hair gets out of control, but i really can't be effed to cut it more than every 5 or so months.
6 - everything in my house is natural or organic - no chemicals
7 - well, the only things i've really changed in the last couple years is that i've added vegan waxed dental floss which comes in a cardboard container only, as well as fluoride free toothpaste and tissue/cotton products which are either from recycled paper or organic cotton (i.e. cotton balls, toilet paper) otherwise, the toiletries, cleaning products, etc have been pretty 'green' for a while. and that change was initially made for personal health reasons (not wanting to expose myself to certain things) and the environmental stuff came later... well actually, i've cut the length of my showers down to conserve on water. and i really don't shave my legs unless i'm expecting someone to see my bare legs, which is unfortunately very infrequent, lol

Green Bean said...

1) I shower every other day
2) I wash my hair every other day
3) I brush my teeth multiple times a day (my dad's a dentist!)
4) I floss every other day
5) I get a haircut every 3 or 4 mos
6) Everything is "natural" - the vegan floss, Whole Foods toothpaste, farmers' market soap, vinegar rinse and shampoo bar
7) I shower less, switched my hair care products and bathe the kids way less

Kimberly Gische said...

1. Shower every weekday, average 1.2 times per weekend
2. Wash hair every shower, otherwise the routine is off and I don't feel clean.
3. Brush teeth every morning and another time if I get to it.
4. Floss after most meals because of a gap between a set of teeth that is just the right annoying width to get lots of stuff caught.
5. Haircut every 8 weeks
6. Except the flossers I carry in my purse, everything is a natural product, even the henna hair color.
7. I've been switching to all natural products. I use up what I have in the house and replace only the items needed with natural products. I was showering less before getting pregnant, but now I feel sweaty when I wake up, every morning.

Joe said...

1. Normally once a day, twice if I workout.
2. Usually when I shower.
3. Brushing two to three times a day.
4. Flossing once a day
5. I buzz my hair myself every month or two.
6. A few.
7. Working toward the 5 minute shower, Dr Bronner's bar soap, Burt's Bees shampoo bar

Robj98168 said...

1-shower every day-military style
2-wash hair? Are you kidding? What hair?
3 Brudh twice per day
4-Floss twice a day
5-Haircut- monthly (I do it myself)
6-brushing teeth Conventional; Use Dr. Bronners Soap in the shower so I guess natural
7- Yes- military style shower- get wet turn water off, soap, turn water on rinse; turn off faucet while brushing teeth; catch the first few gallons of shower water in bucket-flush toilet with it

Samantha said...

1. I shower twice a week, maximum.
2. Never. I rinse it with water when I shower but I never use shampoo or conditioner. My hair is so much healthier since I've stopped.
3. Once a day. And I've never had a cavity in my life.
4. Never, and still no cavities.
5. I have a mohawk, which I redo monthly myself.
6. I really don't use many products at all. I guess the few I do use are natural.
7. Not particularly. I've never showered or brushed my teeth as much as most people feel the need to.

Unknown said...

1. Shower usually 3 times a week but wash certain areas every day. I sometimes have a bath to relax, maybe once a month.
2. 3 times a week.
3. Twice a day.
4. I don't.
5. 3 times a year.
6. Mostly natural, but conventional toothpaste atm and some conventional soaps.
7. Yes. I used to shower and wash my hair every day. This was partly cos I had really short hair that got greasy quickly, though. I also used to use all conventional products.

Anonymous said...

1: shower every other day, every day in summer or after sports.
2: every other day
3: teeth 2-4 times a day
4: never floss- don't feel the need since I'm vegetarian. Is that bad?
5: Ideally, 3-4 times a year, but since the only person in the whole wide world who can touch my hair is 2000Km away, it's more like 1-2 times a year now.
6: Everything natural
7: I changed to natural products. I would like to be able to wash my hair only 2 times a week, but I don't have the will power to not wash on the second day.

Burbanmom said...

1. Shower every day but Sunday
2. Shampoo Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
3. Brush teeth twice daily
4. Floss? What's that? (not often enough, apparently)
5. Every six months or so
6. Both
7. Yes. Cutting down on the routines. Try to use as little "product" as possible. Switching to natural products whenever possible.

Anonymous said...

1. I shower on the days I go to work which is Mondays and Wednesdays and then once during the weekend.
2. Hair same as above.
3. Brush every evening for sure, some mornings.
4. Floss every evening (although I skip it once in a while).
5. Once a year haircuts and my mom does it for me.
6. All natural products, except for the floss and my toothbrush.
7. I used to feel that I had to shower every day but since going green, I've accepted that showering every day wasn't necessary.

Unknown said...

1. the goal is to shower every other day. minimum 2x a week (I have two small kids and my husband works long hours)
2. wash hair every other day, every third day at longest, even if I don't shower
3. brush teeth minimum 2x day
4. floss teeth minimum 1x day (I'm a little obsessive about this)
5. haircut every 6-8 weeks (my hair is boy-short)
6. soap and lotions are homemade, shampoo is organic, floss is the high-tech conventional kind, toothpaste varies depending on who buys it (I buy natural, husband buys conventional)
7. I've changed what products I use

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day
2. Wash hair every other day
3. Brush teeth once a day, sometimes twice
4. Floss maybe once a week
5. Home haircuts about once every other month
6. natural shampoo and conditioner and bath soap, conventional toothpaste
7. We've switched to 'greener' cleaners, I don't wash my hair as often as I used to, I don't stress out when the kids go a couple of days without a bath (they're on a twice a week plan right now).

Anonymous said...

1. I shower 2x/week unless I have a meeting on that final one or two less than "fresh" and "pretty" day(s).
2. I wash my hair when I shower, 2x/week.
3. Brush two to three times per day.
4. Floss once per day.
5. Get my hair cut two to three times per year.
6. Soap is natural, shampoo is conventional.
7. I used to shower daily but changed to every-other day, then every 3-4 days because of water. I'm sure I'll go to every-other day in the summer.

Unknown said...

oh yeah, no more deoderant. thanks to NIM, I switched to baking soda, and i'm never going back! I used some of my old deoderant one day last month, just to see, but it fel disgusting. I hadn't realized how much helathier I felt without it. and I don't stink ,either (well, I do smell like fenugreek, but that's not the baking soda's fault.)

Sarah said...

1. Shower Daily (just rinse with water, no products, shave without creams/gels).
2. Rinse Daily with water (no products on hair either).
3. 1-2 times a day with natural Fluoride-free toothpaste.
4. Rarely
5. I trim my hair whenever I feel the need (2-3x a year).
6. The few products I use are natural (toothpaste, mouthwash, hand soap, and occasional body lotion).
7. I gave up hair products in October and my hair is softer, shinier, and healthier than ever. I love it. When I changed my diet from eating anything and everything to consuming a vegan diet full of fresh fruits and veggies, all body odor left. I can go days without a shower, but I find them too relaxing to give up. I did give up all soaps, gels, body sprays, facial products, and deodorants. I'm buying less, using less, and trashing less. My skin is healthier, my hair is healthier, and I feel great. I'm doing my part for the environment, but I'm reaping wonderful benefits as well.

Natural Louisville said...

1. Shower daily - sometimes 2x a day in summer. If I don't shave I itch so badly I can scratch to the point of staph infection, so this one's kind of non-negotiable.

2. Wash hair 5-7x weekly.

3. Brush teeth 2-3x daily.

4. Floss 5-7x weekly.

5. Hair cut 4-6x per year (this will probably decrease now since my stylist, who works with me, threw in the scissors).

6. Most of my products are "natural" (Tom's toothpaste, etc) unless we're talking sunscreen. Also non-negotiable.

7. I've definitely bought more "natural" products, but this survey has made me realize I'm apparently a grooming fanatic.

Maybe I'll just go eat some lead paint.

Anonymous said...

shower everyday
wash hair 2x a week
brush at least 2x
floss once
haircut every 4-6 weeks
combo of natural and conventional
My big change is trying to find better packaging. For example...switching to the shampoo bar over bottle to save plastic use.

Anonymous said...

I brush 2 x a day...not a week.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day.
2. Wash my hair every day, but only use shampoo/conditioner when I shower
3. Brush my teeth twice a day, more as necessary
4. Floss every evening
5. Haircut every 3-4 months
6. Conventional products
7. Only taking my beloved bath once a week, shorter showers and showering less Debbie C

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day. Wash every day.
2. Wash hair 5-6 times a week, less if it doesn't need it.
3. Brush teeth 3-4 times a day
4. Floss at least 2 times a day. "soft teeth" and I am terrified of dental work. My dentist loves me.
5. Haircut twice a year and I cut it at home. I usually keep it long and pinned up. Every 7 years I cut it very short and then let it grow out. I cut it short this past January after nine years. I cut it slowly myself so my children would recognize me :)
6. I have sensitive skin, most natural products seem to burn, so I go through many trials of both conventional and natural products. Shampoo, soap and hand lotions only; no conditioner or other products including make-up, deodorants, hair gels, some lip sticks, and sun screen. When I find a product that does work for me, either the manufacturer discontinues it, or the stores discontinue stocking it.
7. My showers are shorter, for water and washroom restrictions. We have only one washroom for a household of 5. Our 30' deep hand dug 1864 well has consistently 19.5 " of water in it, but a great recharge rate. Our laundry days are less frequent. Clothes hang to dry, year round.

maryann said...

1. Shower every day (known to skip the weekend when really lazy)
2. Wash hair every day (I have oily hair so no choice)
3. Teeth - at least twice a day
4. Floss daily
5. three to four times a year if it's shorter, i'm working on growing it out now because I can't find a hair dresser I can afford that can cut straight
6. Make my own soap use it for the hair also, make lotion, lipbalm, blush and powder. Use witch hazel daily (oily skin too). Working on making deodarant - summer is going to be the true test for the winter it was good, otherwise I use Dove unscented solid. Toothpaste - verdict is out on the baking soda thing - I'm using it but not loving it, may go back to toothpaste.
7. Low flow showerhead,navy shower which means shutting the waer off once wet ad while soaping up.

Wendy said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? Every day

2. How often do you wash your hair?
Every day

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
1 to 2 times per day

4. How often do you floss?
Every other day

5. How often do you get your hair cut?
Once every blue moon (I usually keep it trimmed myself).

6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?
I use liquid castille soap for my hair and body. We use a conventional toothpaste.

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? I switched to more eco-friendly products. I'm much more careful about my water usage, and while I shower just as much (once a day) I don't spend as much time just languishing in the spray. I'm in, I wash, and I'm out :).

Malva said...

1. Shower twice a week.

2. Hair wash once a week.

3. Teeth brushed twice a day.

4. Not often enough, but I don't normally have cavities and go see the dentist for a cleaning every 6 months.

5. Once, sometimes twice, a year.

6. Baking soda/vinegar for hair, natural local soap, local toothpaste but I'm about to stop using it (don't like throwing out the empty tube ever 2-3 months), floss is conventional and I use a conventional moisturizer (haven't found anything else that works for me so far).

7. Pretty much all of it was changed for environmental reasons. It was all very painless to change too, I wouldn't be going back to all mainstream products/habits.

Lynnet said...

1. Shower twice a week
2. wash hair at same time.
3. brush teeth every couple of days
4. floss--never :-)
5. haircut every 3 mos
6. soap, shampoo and toothpaste natural
7. using more natural products, showering less

scifichick said...

1. Shower once/twice a week, always after I go to the gym (not that often, unfortunately), and certain areas every day. More in the summer though, when it's hot, humid, and sticky.
2. Wash my hair once a week. I have long hair, and it still looks OK.
3. Once a day, sometimes twice.
4. I'm shooting for once a week with flossing, but that doesn't always happen.
5. About once/twice a year professionally, every 3-6 months at home.
6. I have switched to natural products.
7. I have switched to natural/organic products. And I feel better about not being conventional with number of showers I take.

Lana said...

1. shower 3 times a week, short showers that last about 3 - 4 minutes.
2. wash hair when I shower
3. brush 1 sometimes twice a day
4. floss 3 times a week
5. hair cut every 6-8 weeks... I have short hair
6. traditional soaps and shampoo
7. I take shorter and fewer showers. I gave up luxurious baths.

Adrienne said...

1. Shower daily
2. Wash hair daily
3. Brush three times a day
4. Floss daily- I hate it but I'd like to still have teeth when I get old and this seems to be key.
5. Haircut two or three times a year
6. Natural hair and body products, conventional toothpaste/floss.
7. Using natural hair & body products (and some household cleaning products too) actually came about for me b/c I was looking for stuff from companies that don't do any animal testing. These tend to be the same companies that use natural/organic ingredients in their products.

equa yona(Big Bear) said...

1.I shower when the spirit moves me-maybe 2-3 x per week.
2.Same for hair(what there is of it).
3. Brush 1x daily and I ALWAYS get praised for my dental hygiene during my six month cleanings
4.Floss daily
5. Shave my head in the summer-get a trim once during the winter
6. I am using up my conventional deoderant(not very rapidly I might add), but my sweetie keeps buying regular toothpaste so we have to work on that.
7. Yes, I have cut back on showering, using deoderant, and gone back to using castille soap.
If you ever get a chance, listen to George Carlin's comments on our hygiene obssesion.
I must say, I check wit da wife re: you know, BO because "your best friend won't tell you" unless she has to sleep with you.

Lisa Zahn said...

1. shower about every other day (sometimes more, sometimes less), unless I'm dirty from sweating, gardening, etc.

2. wash hair 2-3 times/week (it's long and wavy and I've been "training" it to not need more washings)

3. brush teeth 2x/day

4. floss a couple times a week

5. haircut every 3-6 months now that I'm letting it grow out to one length (forget the "style")

6. all products are natural except, currently, Suave conditioner bought for $1 when broke last month. I'm a Buyer for these products at a natural foods co-op! My fave product is the crystal rock deoderant--only natural deoderant that works for me.

7. I am showering/bathing/using products less for both environmental and skin health reasons

Anonymous said...

1. shower/bathe once a day
2. wash hair every other day
3. brush teeth twice a day
4. floss? Not often enough. Once every other month or so. Or when I have something in my teeth.
5. I'm growing my hair out, so only trimmed it once in the last year. When I do cut it off I'm going to donate it to Matter of Trust so it can be used to help clean up oil spills. (www.matteroftrust.org)
6. I use a mix of "natural" and conventional products:
natural shampoo/conditioner; natural, local soaps and lotion; Tom's toothpaste with fluoride; whatever floss the dentist gives me, so probably conventional; conventional antiperspirant, I'm afraid to go natural on this.
7. Only washing my hair every other day is a direct result of trying to live greener so are the natural products.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower everyday...every couple weeks I'll miss a day (lazy Saturdays, etc.)
2. Every Day
3. Once a day (eek! I should do more)
4. Once every/other week (just being honest here)
5. Every 3-6 months...I usually keep a short haircut but get it cut really short then let it grow til I can't stand it, then get cut again
6. Both. I have been using natural products, but frustrated with the fact that when I look them up on Skin Deep they're not getting much better rating than conventional products, so I don't know what I should bother paying the money. I also am still using up the products I had before I 'went green' too.

7. I significantly reduced my beauty products...down to a few simple things. This changes SO much.

I blogged about it too:
http://megancrow.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/from-the-comments-green-beauty-products/

Anonymous said...

1. Shower almost every day
2. Wash hair every other day, but condition every day to manage my curly hair
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss whenever I remember! Usually not more than once a week *shame*
5. Hair cut every 3 months because I keep my hair fairly short
6. I am slowly switching over to natural products for pretty much everything
7. The switch to natural products and shampooing every other day. I also try to wear clothes until they are legitimately dirty or sweaty before I wash - but a lot of this is really just time saving and with a 6 month old in the house my personal grooming time is greatly reduced!

Anonymous said...

1. Shower 2 times a week in winter and as neede in summer more if I'm muddy, less if I've been swimming.
2. When I shower - so about twice a week
3. Twice a day, or more if I've eaten something yucky
4. What are you my dentist?
5. Once or twice a year - when it bugs me
6. Whatever is cheapest
7. No, not really

Christy said...

1. I shower every other day except weekends when I skip Sunday so it ends up being 3 days.
2. Wash hair when I shower
3. Brush teeth in the morning
4. Floss 2-3 times a week
5. Haircut about twice a year
6. I use natural products
7. I switched to natural products.

Chile said...

1. Shower 2x/week (Navy-style) to wash hair. (75% of water captured for greywater use) Sponge bath other days. (90% of water captured for greywater use)
2. Wash hair 2x/week - it's the only reason I shower.
3. Brush teeth 2-3x/day.
4. Floss 1x/week. Should do more often but currently using saline solution in Water Pik for dental issues.
5. Get hair cut 2x/year. Growing it back out so my sweetie can cut it. (I cut his monthly and have for over a decade.)
6. Use mostly natural products.
7. Almost all of these have changed to be more green. Less showering and hair washing. Using more and more natural products. Home hair-cutting is a frugal (and lazy) choice.

Next step: outdoor shower.

Jessica said...

1. Shower every other day - sometimes less on the weekends.
2. Wash hair every other day.
3. Brush my teeth twice a day.
4. Floss once a day.
5. Get my hair cut 2-3 times a year.
6. Use only natural products.
7. I made the switch to natural toiletry products over 5 years ago. Everything else is pretty much the same.

Jen said...

1. 1-2x/week
2. whenever I shower
3. 1x a day
4. nowhere near as often as I should
5. haven't had it cut in about 18 months but usually once a year
6. everything natural.
7. not really. I've never been particularly vigilant about bathing, although before the baby was born I was more a 2-3x a week showerer :)
I used to use all conventional products though.

Chile said...

This article from ME News is one that changed my personal hygiene habits towards far less water use.

Ashley // Our Little Apartment said...

1. Shower 2 times a week. Sometimes 3
2. Wash hair when I shower
3. Brush teeth 1-2 times a day
4. Floss...not enough
5. Haircut usually twice a year (I recently got a shorter cut, so it'll probably be 4 times a year now)
6. Combo of natural and conventional.
7. Nope. I just have an excuse for being lazy and unhygienic. :) (Although, I did try baking soda on my teeth and they felt SO SENSITIVE. That was me trying to change my habits.)

Stephanie said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? Every other day
2. How often do you wash your hair? Every other day
3. How often do you brush your teeth? Twice a day
4. How often do you floss? Once a day
5. How often do you get your hair cut? About every four or five months
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? Slowly using up my conventional to switch to natural
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? Less showers and using less products

Anonymous said...

1. in winter 1 shower per week, summer 2 or 3, only soap on my armpits and butt. my 5&7 yo boys never use soap or shampoo in the shower and look 'normal'
2. wash hair 1x per two weeks (now that i am a professional, i recently started after 8 years no 'poo)
3. brush 2x/day (just up from 1x)
4. floss 1x/day
5. one cut per year
6. weleda toothpaste&deoderant (i would have to shower more if this stuff didn't work so well!) natural floss and shampoo as well, preserve toothbrushesbrushes, never moisturizer or any other products
7. choosing natural products

Anonymous said...

1. shower daily (i teach yoga full-time and bike to all my classes!) during the week. optional on weekends.
2. wash hair ever 5-7 days; it's shoulder-length and thin and likes time to accumulate the natural oils for best health.
3. brush teeth 3-5 times daily; folks pay me to be near them all day!
4. floss daily.
5. haircut 2-3 times a year. good hairdresser means the cut grows out nicely for a long time!
6. natural products all the way! handmade and local when i can find 'em.
7. product choice has become more and more natural and local. frequency is determined by work. i was raised to be careful with water use.

Anonymous said...

1. I shower every day. :/
2. I wash my hair every other day.
3. I brush my twice every day.
4. I floss about once a week.
5. About once every six months - once a year.
6. Mostly natural, still have a few indulgences.
7. Absolutely! New low flow showerhead, military showers which I actually enjoy now, striving for less packaging, natural ingredients, simplifying.

hannah said...

1. 2-3 times per week.
2. If I get more showers than 2-3 times per week, then I wash my hair max every other day. If I only get the 2-3 showers, then I wash when I shower.
3. Once daily.
4. Sporadically. I've never been good at flossing.
5. 2-3 times per year.
6. I use natural products and I've been so happy! Plus it helps that I'm showering less, so the extra cost associated with "natural" products is offset by lasting longer.
7. Well, the showering less is more due to having a child than anything, although I have continued that habit for water conservation. I switched to natural products because I was experiencing a lot of skin irritation from conventionals, and I must say, I have been quite happy with the results. No more breaking out after I shave (IF I shave... ha!), healthier teeth/gums, hair, skin... why didn't I make that change sooner?

simplephat said...

1.shower 3x a week, more in gardeing season unless jumping in creek regularly, less in winter
2.hair everytime, gets pretty greasy
3.brush teeth once a day, if i remember (I do love the feel of an electric toothbrush or water pick but such a consumer hore sort of thing)
4.once a day, if i remember
5.once a year i'll hand my husband the scissors and he'll take a couple inches off the bottom
6. stocked up at costco on some shampoo that didn't have sodium laureth sulfate, not sure what i'll do after that runs out, curious about the shampoo bar. make my own bars of soap. been using your recipe for toothpaste lately. costco floss.
7. dirty-hippy look came easy,use to cry when my grandma and mom would try and get me in the shower. shaved once when i was a teenager, cut myself,thought it was over-rated. only wore make-up for ballet recitals, too much work, hard enough to just comb hair.

Anonymous said...

Shower: twice a day! In the morning to wake up and feel refreshed, at night to wind down and relax.
My hubby only showers like once a week so that makes up for me. lol

wash hair: once a day

brush teeth: 2x a day

floss: rarely, just lazy

haircut: every few months

All natural products: Terressentials castile soap and shea butter for face, Toms toothpaste and deoderant, oatmeal soap from co-op, kinda natural "whole foods" brand shampoo and conditioner

ruchi said...

1. Shower every day
2. Wash hair probably once a week? Sometimes twice a week?
3. Brush teeth twice a day.
4. Trying to floss once a day, but I get lazy.
5. Haircuts ... maybe once a year? Twice a year?
6. Toothpaste is natural. Everything else is still left over from before I started "going green." (One bottle of shampoo lasts me about a year.)
7. I use waaaay fewer products. My shower basically contains soap and shampoo. No more shave gel or conditioner. (They ran out, and I realized I didn't need either, nor do I need the waste.)

Akkire said...

1. shower every other day...or sometimes twice a week.

2. see above

3. brush teeth once a day

4. floss once a day (but sometimes I don't cuz I'm lazy)

5. Haircuts...hm...once every 4 or 5 months. I have long, straight hair. i like no hassles and no maintenance.

6. Toms of Maine...but looking to switch since coca cola bought them out. dr. bonner's soap/shampoo/cleaner. or other natural or shampoo bar. floss is conventional. home made hand soap.

7. i think they were all slight responses to trying to create my own sense of cleanliness, self, and create less waste. especially the bar shampoo - trying to move away from more plastic containers. i've also stopped shaving as much. i don't want to feel like i have to to be "clean" or "beautiful." and I also want to stop creating waste.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day.
2. Same time as the shower.
3. Brush teeth twice a day.
4. Floss... should be daily, usually a few times per week. Healthy gums are important, don't want to lose teeth!
5. Hair cuts 2-3 times per year for most of it (I have bangs). If I had all short hair it would be more often, otherwise it looks funny. Or, why I'm growing the bangs out...

6. Mostly natural products, except I guess the dental floss. Just switched to baking soda for shampooing this past week, and so far it's going all right.

7. Only really new thing is trying out different shampoos (Jason Organic, then locally-made shampoo bars, and now baking soda). The rest we've been doing for quite a while now... well, except sometimes I floss more often than other times.

Ashley said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? Every day
2. How often do you wash your hair? Every other day
3. How often do you brush your teeth? 1-2x a day
4. How often do you floss? 1 x a day
5. How often do you get your hair cut? Uh...MAYBE 2 x a year?
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? both. Depends on cash flow and the product. For the most part the main conventional one I use is toothpaste. And - I'm still trying to find a decent shampoo and facial cleanser.
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
I started using different products...

Segwyne said...

1. Shower on Friday or Saturday. In the summer, I shower midweek as well. That is also when I shave my pits.
2. Wash hair when I shower. If I wash more frequently than once or twice a week, I get pretty bad dandruff.
3. Not nearly as often as I should.
4. See 3.
5. I usually get a trim once every one or two years.
6. Soap is castile soap, shampoo is local liquid castile soap, toothpaste is for kids (we get them Tom's), laundry soap is homemade from castile bar soap.
7. These products have changed over the last couple of years. I have always tried to use natural products, but I learned that many "natural" products still used SLS or other things we don't want. I know Tom's toothpaste has SLS, but I can't get the kids to brush properly without toothpaste. They brush every night before they go to bed.

Anonymous said...

1. i shower every morning I go to work. I need it to wake up. I feel I smell more now that I have kids (Hormones?).
2. I wash my hair 2 or 3times a week. Get itchy head if I don't
3.brush twice a day
4. every night
5. twice a year but agonize over the expense. But have been cutting my husband's and 2 kids hair for years - does that count? I just don't want to turn the tables and have them get the scissors...
6.hate the chemcical and parfum smell of anything but natural stuff
7. with kids pulling at the shower curtain, a two minute shower is a luxury. Before kids, I used to collect the water before it warmed up and watered all my plants with it. Now I have no plants, they saddly died when I had kids..

Anonymous said...

how about clothes ? how often do you wash your pj's or nightgown? How often do you throw the after- work lounge around clothes into the hamper? Bedding? How often do you change sheets? Wash the quilt?

Carla said...

1. Shower every other day, sometimes not on weekends. Save "starting & stopping" water in a bucket; use for flushing.
2. Wash hair when I shower and when I need to look presentable to others when I've not showered.
3. Brush teeth twice (am & pm)
4. Try to floss every day but manage at least every week.
5. I have been cutting my own hair for so long now that I just cut it when I want to/feel like it - since the 70s, I think.
6. Using up my stock of Tom's deodorant & toothpaste and the shampoo that I have on hand. Use apple cider vinegar/water spray to combat 'bedhead' when I don't shampoo. Use only a few cosmetics: eyeliner & lipgloss (currently using a tube of conglomerate: ends & scrapings of random tubes & pots (some homemade, others are Burt's) that I melted together).
7. Showering & shampooing less. W/switch to homemade toothpaste, deodorant, etc. when I run out of stash. I'm much more conscious of ingredients in toiletries now. I really try to watch my water usage, try to conserve more.

Carla in North Idaho

hoorayparade said...

1. 3-4 times a week
2. 3-4 times a week
3. 1 time a day
4. Don't.
5. Maaaaaybe twice a year
6. Natural bar soaps for hair and body. Tooth powder and gum & tooth elixir for oral care
7. Trying to use products with less chemicals and trying to use less water when I wash/use water.

Do I smell a challenge coming on?

Melissa said...

1. Shower 3 or 4 times a week, military style.
2. Wash hair 2 -3 times a week.
3. Brush twice daily.
4. Floss 5 - 7 times a week.
5. Haircut once, maybe twice a year.
6. Phasing out my stockpiles of conventional stuff & replacing w/ homemade.
7. Showering less often & shorter, same w/ washing hair. Using products that are better for me & the environment.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day during the week, stretching to 3 days occasionally on weekends. If I need to shower before then, I'll do it but not wash my hair.
2. Wash hair when I shower, no more frequently than every other day. It dries out my scalp!
3. Brush teeth in one long session (like 2 minutes) every night, and beyond that I'll do a quick brush during the day or after a meal if I feel like I need it. It's funny, but I really think these things by person. I never get cavities, but my sister who brushes 3+ times a day still gets them every now and then. And I have to echo the comment by equa yona- my dentist always gives me tons of praise for my clean teeth and happy gums at checkups. :)
4. Floss about once a week, or when I feel like I need it. My mouth feels sooooo much cleaner after a flossing; I just love it!
5. Haircuts every 1-2 years. I like growing it out and donating it to Locks of Love. They use it to make wigs for chemotherapy patients.
6. Natural soap and conditioner fr me, natural deodorant and (sometimes) toothpaste for the hubs, and conventional everything else.
7. I grew up only showering a few times a week because that's what my family did, but was shamed into showering more often when I went away to college and discovered daily showering was more "normal". But it is just so unnecessary! Thankfully, I converted my hubby to the every-other-day showering, and he likes it too. So we can be freaks together!! We're always trying to use more natural products with less packaging (like good ol' bar soap from the local farmer's market). And, we try to keep these same things in mind if we're buying bath or body products as gifts for others. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're improving. :)

Tara said...

1. Shower about 5 times/week (workdays), weekends are optional
2. Wash hair about 3 times/week
3. brush once a day
4. floss almost never (one cavity in 36 years)
5. Haircut about every 2-3 months
6. I use all natural products, husband uses natural shave cream, conventional everything else.
7. My big change was the switch to natural products, for other reasons besides a greener lifestyle (sensitive skin, don't like "sweet" toothpaste, etc.)

camp mom said...

1. 2 out of 3 of us shower every other day.
2. Hair every other day (again 2 out of 3)
3. 3 times a day all of us
4. once a day..all of us
5. 3 times a year 2 of us....
6. We use local made natural soaps, baking soda and alotof natural personal care products.
7. We changed alot of our conventional personal care products out because we all have sensitive skin...so we tried to get rid of stuff that aggrevates flare ups w/allegies and skin issues. But it all ends up better for us and the enviroment.

Anna Marie said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?

Used to be everyday, because I felt dirty; however once I cut my hair really short, I don't have that greasy-hair thing going on. Now it's more like every 3 days or so. Maybe I've just stepped out of puberty?

2. How often do you wash your hair?
Once every three days or so

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
When they feel like they need it...I've never had a cavity and my dentists love my teeth.

4. How often do you floss?
Never

5. How often do you get your hair cut?
I cut it myself, generally once or twice a year

6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? Typically herb based, but can't always afford it.

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
Not directly, no. I think I shower less because I'm finally out of the teen-aged years' overload of oils and, uh, smell. Cleaning clothes has changed- I typically use cold water, very little soap, and line-dry everything.

Erika said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? 'bout three times a week... but "spit bath" as a minimum daily (wet washcloth all over)
2. How often do you wash your hair?
'bout twice a week
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
With toothpaste, twice a day, without toothpaste whenever I feel like it
4. How often do you floss?
Take the fifth
5. How often do you get your hair cut?
once a year or so... I don't really schedule it
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? I'm trying a castile-type shampoo bar, which I love; and I've quit conditioner. We use Tom's of Maine toothpaste, and we're working through our Costco toothbrush pack from 18 mos ago (we only change them when we've been really sick); we're also working through our conventional deodorant stash.
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? I've switched shampoos, left conditioners behind, conquered my body-wash addiction, learned to live without perfume (I still use it, but RARELY, and it's stuff I still have). I'm conscious of my time and energy usage, but splurge and leave the water on when I shower (a.k.a. no Navy showers)... it's just refreshing... and this winter it's been an escape from the 58 degree house...

Kerry said...

I take a whole shower once a week, I wash bits every day

I wash my hair once a week

I brush my teeth twice a day

I floss maybe 4 times a day

Haircut twice a year, I trim my own bangs when they need it too.

Soap, shampoo and toothpaste is natural. I alternate between no shampoo (baking soda and vinegar rinse) and a natural shampoo over the course of the year.

My tooth floss is in a plastic box and is cheap waxed stuff i get at the coop. I go through a lot of that.

I use totally conventional toothbrushes.

We use a flouride free homeopathic non sls toothpaste.

Our soap is always locally made.

My environmental awareness has made me look for local low impact solutions wherever possible. I take a shower a week rather than several baths a week now and that was part environmental (we only had a HUGE soaker tub in our old place and it took a lot of water so i switched to showers) and part health - my skin is in much better shape with less bathing.

Jennifer said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
Once a week

2. How often do you wash your hair?
Once a week

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
Twice a day

4. How often do you floss?
Once or twice a week

5. How often do you get your hair cut?
Every month or two, by myself. (I buzz it super short... it grows out too fast to leave it longer than every month or so)

6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?
A mixture... trying out natural body wash, use natural toothpaste. Use conventional floss and mouthwash.

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? The body wash is new... we haven't tried it before. Everything else is the same.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower 3 times a week, or more if I've exercised that day
2. Wash hair 3 times a week
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss once or twice a week (I know, I ought to do it more often!)
5. Haircut 3 times year
6. All products are conventional
7. I cut my cotton eye makeup removing pads in half so as to use fewer of them

Rachel said...

1. I shower 3 out of every 4 days (based on what my hair needs), skipping occasional weekend days when I don't plan to leave the house. I'd shower every second day but my hair can't always take that.
2. A 4 day cycle: With shampoo, don't wash, just water/conditioner, just water/conditioner.
3. Brush 3 times a day, usually.
4. Floss pretty much never.
5. Haircut Every 3 months, maybe.
6. Mostly conventional for things that touch my body (I've been allergic to most natural products I've tried), natural toothpaste and shampoo/conditioner.
7. I've tried washing my hair less, but this is as far as I've been able to take it. I take much shorter showers, though. I've been trying to switch over the natural products, but I've had some serious allergic reactions to pretty much every deodorant/soap/moisturizer/shower gel I've tried.

jessy said...

1. shower every day.
2. wash my hair every other day (unless i've been to bikram yoga class).
3. 4+ times a day.
4. every night.
5. once every (3) months.
6. i use natural products: bar soap, solid shampoo, organic conditioner, toothpaste, floss. i do use conventional deodorant 'cause i stink.
7. all of them have changed since being more green. shorter showers, less hair washing, solid shampoo, natural toothpaste & floss!

Tina Cardone said...

1. shower 3x a week
2. when i shower
3. 2x a day
4. rarely
5. its been 7 months, but i'll cut it a few times over the summer
6. switching to natural as they run out. i love the smell of dr. bronner's
7. shorter showers, natural products.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower maybe twice a week, sometimes once. It's tough with 2 kids following me everywhere!
2. Same as above. Wash hair in shower.
3. Brush twice a day.
4. Floss once a day.
5. Haircut maybe 3 times a year.
6. Natural- shampoo bar and tooth powder. Kids get no shampoo at all. Don't use soap either. Use baking soda for depdorant.
7. Natural products with no toxins, filter for shower.

Jessica
www.practicalnourishment.com

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every day. Maybe even an extra quick shower if I work out.
2. I wash my hair every other day. Sometimes every three days.
3. I brush my teeth at least three times a day. I'm a brusher.
4. I floss about 4 times a week, as needed.
5. Hair cut about 3 times a year.
6. We use all "natural" products except for deoderant.
7. I used to wash my hair everyday. Now I let it go a day or two extra, and it looks much healthier. I used to use "natural" deoderant, but now I am a teacher, and I really don't feel comfortable with pit rings. I do without during the weekend.

rosiegirl said...

1. Shower every other day.
2. Wash my hair every other day.
3. Brush my teeth twice a day.
4. Floss once per day or when something gets caught in them.
5. Haircut when I can no longer stand my own hair.
6. I use 'natural toothpaste', and have been looking for a natural shampoo that is in bar form (less packaging) that does not leave my hair either looking like straw or like I took a shower in oil.
7. I used to get my hair cut (and coloured) once a month without fail. It has now been 5 months since my last cut and colour and I am trying to strenghten my resolve keep from colouring my hair. This and really examining the products, and the amounts I use are some of the things I have been doing.

Anonymous said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? everyday I also go to the gym everday
2. How often do you wash your hair? 2-3 times a week
3. How often do you brush your teeth? 2X daily
4. How often do you floss? once a day
5. How often do you get your hair cut? 1-2 times a year
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? Both
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? Wash my hair less often saves time in the shower and its better for my hair

Anonymous said...

1. Every other day
2. Every 4 days
3. Twice a day, for five full minutes
4. Not enough, but I have never had a cavity so I must be lucky.
5. Every few months
6. Natural or homemade or non
7. Yes. I make my own tooth powder. I use olive oil to remove makeup and as a nighttime moisturizer. I use organic or natural skin care stuff.

Anonymous said...

1 shower every 2-3 days unless doing itchy yardwork or hard exercise.
2 wash hair when I shower
3 brush 2-3 times
4 floss daily
5 hair is short, so it gets trimmed at Super Cuts about every 2 months. I started getting highlights because it makes my hair look cleaner longer. Without them, I would need to wash more frequently.
6 tea tree oil and emu oil for skin care, tea tree shampoo, botanical soap, Ballard Organics handsoap, California Baby products for kids that is bought by the gallon
7 switched to the crystal antipersperant

C and G said...

1. Every 2-3 days
2. when I shower
3. 2x/day
4. i floss when i get popcorn kernels stuck in my teeth :)
5. hair cut 2x/year
6. natural, conventional and homemade
7. changed brands of toothpaste, make my own shampoo, use natural products on my face. the showering is the hardest for me - i can conserve water left and right everywhere else in the house but I loooooove hot water pouring over my body! so instead of taking a 15 min shower every day i do it every 2-3 days - that's better right?

Anonymous said...

1. Usually shower every other day.
2. Wash hair every 2 or 3 days.
3. Brush and floss once a day (I'm blessed with great enamel; I've never had a cavity)
4. Haircut...when the mood hits me. It's been many months!
5. Conventional toothpaste, soap, and shampoo (though I'm about to change that - see here: http://tinyurl.com/5m8szf)
6. I just started showering less recently, it was to conserve time (I've got two young kids). Now I realize it was never necessary to do it every day, so now it seems wasteful.

Carrie said...

1. Shower every 2-3 days.
2. When I shower.
3. Brush teeth twice a day.
4. Floss once a day.
5. Hair cut once a year.
6. Products are mostly conventional, but we're down to bar soap (totally depends), toothpaste (sometimes natural) and regular floss.
7. Getting rid of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, daily showering, and deodorant were all partly efforts to be more green and simplify my life. My hubby is European and he bathes way less than I do but I was always ticked off he never smelled bad! Figured I was doing something wrong.

Anonymous said...

1. When it's chilly out or I'm feeling stressed, I take a hot bath every day. When it's too hot for a bath, I shower, 1-3 times a week. I use soap when I shower, but not when I bathe - then I just soak, and end up just as clean.

2. Believe it or not, I wash my hair only every few weeks. Sometimes it's 1-2 months. It doesn't get greasy/yucky til it's been more than a month.

3. Brush teeth morning and evening.

4. Floss a couple of times a year -- I keep meaning to do it regularly, but I just don't!

5. My hair hasn't been cut since 1987. However, I fiddle with it a lot and it breaks, so it's only down to my middle back/shoulder blades.

6. I use storebought soap and shampoo, natural-but-storebought toothpaste. I have several years' stash so haven't decided whether to switch to baking soda now and save the stash, or use up the stash so I don't have to buy any for a looooong time.

7. Only real change I've made lately is to use cloth handkerchief to wipe when I pee (washed regularly). Also, you didn't ask, but I use a crystal deodorant stone, and I use it at a minimum on work days (3 days a week) and also on home days if it's hot or I'm gardening or doing anything sweaty. One stone lasts years, if you don't drop it and chip or break it.

Anonymous said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? Every three days, unless I got exceptionally sweaty
2. How often do you wash your hair? Every three days or unless I have a fancy night planned and want to do my hair different
3. How often do you brush your teeth? twice a day
4. How often do you floss? once a week?
5. How often do you get your hair cut? once a year
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? conventional
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
I used to shower every other day, but after having to go for a longer period, I now try and stretch it out some. Luckily I live in an air conditioned atmosphere (school) and it hasn't gotten too hot yet, so I can shower less than I probably will in the summer.

Sweetpeas said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? It varies depending on the kids, but approx every other day. Kids, once a week.
2. How often do you wash your hair? not a set schedule, I've "weaned" my hair off all hair products so now I only wash it with water, and that a little less than once per week.
3. How often do you brush your teeth? Daily
4. How often do you floss? Not as often as I should LOL
5. How often do you get your hair cut? It's been at least 2 years, I might have my mom trim the ends this spring, it's giving me headaches more frequently & we're going into summer heat. . .
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? Natural, if I use any (water only in the shower, natural soap for hand washing. Baking soda & Bronners soap for teeth . . .
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? They've changed, but my emphasis started out as time savings (if cutting out shampoo means I don't have to wash my hair as often, I'm all for it. . . etc), and progressed to be more health based (not putting dangerous chemicals or unneccesary drying soap on our bodies/hair/in our mouth). So the ecological benefits are there, but weren't my main focus.

katecontinued said...

First let me say that one of the nicest aspects of menopause is not being so fluid filled. Yes, dry has been put down, but not excreting as much has advantages too. I can now get away with the following:

1. How often do you shower/bathe? 1 time a week w/PTA bath if needed.
2. How often do you wash your hair? 0 -since the end of February I only use water to wash my hair several times a week.
3. How often do you brush your teeth? 2 times a day w/baking soda or Tom's for sensitive teeth.
4. How often do you floss? Every eating event. Still using up floss picks.
5. How often do you get your hair cut? Once or twice a year.
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? natural
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? All of these have changed (except flossing). The most dramatic experiment is with the hair, but I am happy to report it isn't as bad as you'd imagine.

It really makes me realize how corporate driven all of our habits have become. This is freeing.

Jenette said...

1. Bathe 1-2 times a week in winter and every other day in summer.
2. Hair same as bath.
3. Brush teeth with water daily and conventional toothpaste once a week.
4. Floss once a week.
5. Hair cut every 12 weeks.
6. Mix of products
7. Habits have not changed except deodorant which didn't work.

Anonymous said...

I have a question for all the moms who line-dry...what do you do when your kid gets the pukes?

I think mine has more stomach issues than most kids, but he's sick again today and every sheet in our house (2 sets for his bed, 2 sets for our bed) is dirty. So I'm running the dryer so we can all go back to bed.

How do y'all cope with this? Own more sheets?

And for the people who don't shampoo their kids - what do you do when they rub glue/paint/dog poo on their heads? We bathe our toddler once a week, sometimes twice (twice in one day today) and there's always a big chunk of something in his hair by bath day.

(man, these questions make me sound like a bad mom.)

Anonymous said...

1. Shower twice/week
2. Wash hair 2 or 3 times/week
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss - rarely
5. Haircut - once or twice a year
6. Right now I'm using conventional products until they run out, then will switch to homemade or natural.
7. Yes. Hot water is a major user of our propane, so showering less frequently (especially in the winter) has helped to halve our propane usage.


Rosa - when my kids are sick with vomiting, they get a bowl stationed close to them at all times. I stick close by, and hold the bowl for them as necessary. They don't always make it, but it sure helps.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day
2. Wash hair with shower
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss: every month or two.
5. Haircuts have been every 6 weeks with a pixie cut, but am growing it out so it can be less freqent.
6. Natural products--not away from the plastic bottles yet, though.
7. Yes. I take navy showers and actually like them (though if I'm especially tired or grumpy I stand there for a bit at the beginning); switching to natural products has nothing to do with skin sensitivity.

Anonymous said...

What are your personal cleaning habits?

1. Wash down with a washcloth once a day
2. Full wash once a week (this is with hair down almost to hip level), maybe a rinse after vigorous (sweaty) work/exercise
3. Once or twice a day (trying to do it more often, I'm forgetful with my teeth, bad me!)
4. Not often, toothpick is more effective (I have a permanently attached bar on my lower front teeth that doesn't allow for flossing)
5. Haven't had it cut in 3 yrs, intending to shave it to raise money (& donate the money to a wig making company) as well
6. Natural shampoo soap bar, natural/homemade body soap bar, conventional deep leave-in conditioner (I use this only once a week after I wash my hair), natural toothpaste, lanolin + Vit E moisturiser. Nothing is tested on animals, all 'organic' or locally produced.
7. I stopped having daily showers to reduce my water consumption. When I do shower they're short (between 3-10 mins depending on how difficult my hair is being), I either turn the tap off or use a bucket while shaving, I use a bucket in the shower to collect runoff (I just have to remember to empty it on my plants ready for next time). Done all for environmental reasons, but have also found that it's helped me simplify my life just that little bit more & that's a major plus! ^_^

kat

Sam said...

1. Shower when I smell: about once in 3-4 days.
2. Wash my hair about once or twice a week.
3. Brush teeth twice a day.
4. Floss about once a day. Usually once in two days.
5. I cut my own hair. When it gets annoying: which means it gets too heavy...when it gets slightly below my shoulders. About thrice per year.
6. Soap for body is made by a woman who sells handmade soaps at the farmer's market. I don't use soap on face. Instead I use a face mask that is a mixture of chickpea flour, lemon juice and milk. For hair I usually use conventional shampoo (now its a shampoo bar) although sometimes I use soap nut powder.
7. I shower less because of my eco-nuttery. I've never washed my hair any more frequently. I used to use Irish Spring soap for my body as I liked the smell. Everything else is the same.

Anonymous said...

MEA (who realized that she might be her own personal hazmat zone)

1. How often do you shower/bathe?

shallow bath 1/week. Cold water sponge bath other days.

2. How often do you wash your hair?

Weekly -- with baking soda

3. How often do you brush your teeth?

2x day, with baking soda

4. How often do you floss?

Daily -- with a pulled out hair. Only thing that gets bewteen my jammed together molars.

5. How often do you get your hair cut?

Once in a while my dad hacks a bit off, and it goes in the compost. In 1993 when my brother got married and I couldn't get inot the dress my sil wanted me to wear at the reception without an elastic waist (the small sized had real waist) I got my hair cut in some sort of strange compenstation.


6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?

natural

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?

Sharon down on the farm turned me onto baking soda for hair washing. Before that I used dishwashing liquid becase it was cheap.


I shave with soap and my late grandfather's safety razor.

(No, I'm not in a relationship.)

Anonymous said...

1. Shallow tepid bath with Dr. Bronner's and baking soda about every two weeks. Spot cleaning as necessary.
2. Wash hair with bath, it self regulates once you get it off nasty shampoo chemicals and doesn't get greasy.
3. brush teeth every night (i didn't eat any sugar as a child and don't now, between that, not smoking and my vegan diet i have super strong healthy teeth, never had a cavity. i used to overbrush, my dentist actually told me to cut back a little)
4. floss... when i remember.
5. cut hair myself when i want to. varies.
6. dr. bronner's, baking soda and cider vinegar are my toiletries.

Clare K. R. Miller said...

1. Shower every day, occasionally skipping a day
2. Wash hair every 5 days--this is after three years of stretching out washes
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss once a week ::hides:: I'm working on it!
5. Haircut whenever the ends are ratty or full of splits
6. Natural as much as I can
7. No, actually. The hair habits have only changed as I've tried to take better and gentler care of my hair.

kai said...

1. Every other day or so - more often if I'm exercising or working really hard (in the dirt).
2. Every 2 days or so.
3. 2x a day
4. everyday if I'm good
5. 2x a year or so
6. natural - turns out I don't need conditioner if I use natural stuff
7. Instead of lovely long hot showers, I take "Navy" showers. Mostly.

Michelle said...

1. Bath every day
2. Was hair every other day
3. Brush teeth twice a day
4. Floss once a day
5. Do not cut hair (I Cor 11)
6. Kids do natural products (Jason, Burt's Bees, California Baby), but the grown ups haven't made the switch yet (need to)
7. I find myself going more natural everyday, most of our food and cleaning products are organic.

Anonymous said...

1. Shower every other day (unless I've done something that has made me get really gross and/or sweaty).
2.) Wash hair every other day.
3.) Brush teeth once a day.
4.) Floss... oh, almost never.
5.) Haircut about every four-six months.
6.) Conventional, but I read the ingredients lists and go for the least petro-heavy products I can find/afford.
7.) I'm wavering on the verge of switching to natural products, particularly petro-free ones.

maria said...

1. just about every day unless i'm lazy/in a hurry
2. every other day
3. twice a day
4. *mumble*
5. once every couple of months, or whenever it starts looking too uneven
6. "natural" - bar shampoo, no conditioner, all-natural veggie oil soap, etc
7. i used to use a bottled shampoo and conditioner and a face wash in a plastic tube. now i wash my face and body with the same soap. i also used to swear i needed conditioner, because i have dry hair, but i found that washing less frequently helped with the dryness. a few years ago i also used to use body wash, which was the first thing to go.

we use a shower shut-off valve for navy showers (although my husband is better about using it in the winter) and collect gray water in buckets to flush the toilet.

when i was a kid i only used to bathe once or twice a week. thorough brushing usually kept my hair clean enough. it wasn't until i went through some...bodily changes that i began to feel the need to shower every day.

my stepdaughter is going to sleep-away camp this summer and they have the kids shower every day. when i went to a camp run by the same council in the early 90s, i think we showered once the whole time we were there. it wasn't a big deal--it's camp! you're supposed to be "roughing it". i think our culture has definitely become more fixated on cleanliness.

Holly U said...

1. Shower twice a week, one short (hair and body) and the other long (shaving too)
2. Twice a week in the shower
3. Once a day
4. Whenever I eat popcorn. I know, not nearly often enough, but before that it was 'whenever I remember' which was a lot less often!
5. 3-5 times/year
6. shaving cream is natural and local, soap, shampoo and conditioner are from the health food store.
7. We switched to more natural products to be greener. Use California Baby products for the wee one, and only use them on him when he actually needs them. Most of our green efforts are elsewhere: line drying clothes, using cloth bags, turning off appliances and lights, etc.

Maggie said...

1. I take a very short shower (3 minutes) every day.
2. I wash my hair every three days.
3. Brush my teeth twice a day
4. Just about never (oops!)
5. I get my haircut every three months or so.
6. I use mostly natural products.
7. Washing my hair less frequently and taking short showers has definitely been a choice to conserve water. Switching to natural soap, as opposed to body wash, has as well.

Kelsie said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?

I bathe (in the tub) every other day. My tub time is a luxury.

2. How often do you wash your hair?

I wash my hair every two or three days. I used to have really greasy hair (when I washed every day), but now that I've cut back on washing, I've also cut back on the grease. The lady who trims my hair (every six months!) always comments on how healthy it looks.

3. How often do you brush your teeth?

Once or twice a day.

4. How often do you floss?

When I have something stuck in my teeth? *sigh*

5. How often do you get your hair cut?

Trimmed every six months.

6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?

Natural all the way!

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?

I started switching to natural ingredients about four years ago. It started with an effort to use only products that had never been tested on animals by companies that vowed to never test on animals. From there it snowballed into avoiding artificial, chemical crap. Now, I just basically use Dr. Bronner's for everything soapy and call it good. :) Except for my teeth, of course. They get Tom's of Maine. And my armpits get tea tree and clove oil. I should probably soak in the tub less, but since I wash with Dr. Bronner's, I don't feel bad about scooping the bathwater up in buckets and using it to water my garden in the heat of summer, so I suppose it all evens out in the end. :)

Anonymous said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
Bathe every other day, sometimes shower in the in between day.
2. How often do you wash your hair?
Every 3 to 4 days. The hair is unmanageable the first day (too soft) so it would never work out for me to wash my hair everyday!
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
Everyday, most of the time.
4. How often do you floss?
Everyday. I am shamefully addicted to the little toothpick flossers.
5. How often do you get your hair cut?
Oh... Once a year at most.
6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones?
Switched to a lot more natural and local products. The only thing still lingering is my toothpaste, I use Sensidine and a natural product (alternating).
7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
Oh yes! I used to just have a bath just to relax, even if I had already had a shower or a bath that day. I used to use conventional products and buy way too many products for cleaning! I use a wash towel instead of those horrific plastic puffies. And I use only one light in my bathroom when having a bath. Still a long way to go (have to cut that addiction to toothpicks/floss).

Kristijoy said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
2x a week, unless I did yard work.

2. How often do you wash your hair?
2x a week.

3. How often do you brush your teeth?twice a day

4. How often do you floss?
maybe one a week. prefer to eat foods that aid in tooth cleaning.

5. How often do you get your hair cut? maybe twice a year.

6. Do you use "natural" products or conventional ones? natural, if I use a product at allll. I.e. baking soda/vinegar for hair, natural toothpaste until I run out then I plan on making my own. No deodorant.(eat a healthy low meat diet with low sugar and you really don't smell much anyway, nothing to feed the bateria with) no makeup. no hair products. no shaving. all natural lotion because my skin is dry in winter but I have started making salves of my own instead. Local made soaps.

7. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
boy howdy. almost alll of them have changed. Chemicals are bad. We didn't evolve needing shampoo and deodorant or makeup, it's all enculturation. We need it because we are conditioned to think we need it. The only thing I might argue is a boon is tooth care but you can get around using purchased products pretty easily. I mean, you can make a toothbrush out of a twig. and many foods help clean your teach simply by eating them, eat them at the end of your mean, like hard crunchy fruits and veggies. Then rinse with water. Floss with string from an old towel or something, why buy nylon? I can go on!

Anonymous said...

1. Shower: Depends; in summer when I'm at school/work it's at least six days a week, but in winter, or when I'm hanging out at home during the holidays, it's more like every second day.
2. Wash hair: Once a week.
3. Brush teeth: Twice a day.
4. Floss: Um... never. Got to do something about that...
5. Haircut: Whenever it gets really desperate - maybe three times a year?
6. Semi-conventional (that is, organic, recognisable ingredients, etc., but still commercially made) shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, chapstick, etc. I use olive oil on my face.
7. Most of them I started out with because they worked better or they were vegan or they were easier or cheaper or whatever, but the environmental benefits are definitely a bonus.

Anonymous said...

1. I shower or bathe no less than four times a week.
2. I wash my hair when it needs it (depends on time of year and what styling products I've used)
3.Brush twice a day.
4.I floss when I remeber (I used to do it at least twice a day).
5. I cut my hair when is starts to look messy (my hair is straight and blunt cut so no more than once every six weeks).
6. I use both natural and conventional, but have been trying to replace the conventional with the natural when I run out of them.

7. Most of these habits haven't really changed since trying to live a greener lifestyle. I have been thinking about my water usage and how to reduce it. I'm moving to an tropical island where showering more often may be nessicary but the cost of water is so much more. Baths are my biggest indulgance and I'll be cutting back on those for sure. Cutting my hair will proably not be as much of a priority for me living in a rual area (who will see me). I can't switch toothpaste so easily, I can't have gluten so I don't have many choices. The biggest change will proably be switching to Burts Bees products. I figure I can buy them from one very well stocked store on island or buy enough for several months and have them shipped in bulk. The packaging is recycled and can be recycled agian, important on an island with limited landfill space. I also like how the soap I'll be rinsing off my body won't hurt my new home!