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!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Personal cleaning habits?

Every couple of years I like to ask these personal hygiene questions since I'm always curious to see the answers. I do this because there is such a huge focus in our culture on bathing and bath products and sterilizing everything that I wonder how much that advertising infects our consciousness. And our pocketbooks.

One thing that always sticks in my mind is the commercials from the late 1970s for Mitchum antiperspirant. 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 bathing "standards"? That is: showering, shaving, shampooing and getting all gussied up every single day?

So, with that in mind...

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. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
9. Where do you live?

47 comments:

Michelle said...

1. 2x/week winter, a quick rinse daily in summer but a 'real' shower still 2x/week
2. 2x/week
3. 1x/daily
4. Floss? Oh, before dental cleanings.
5. Aussie shampoo, Mary Kay skin care, a natural shower gel from the UK that doesn't give me eczema
6. Something else - white vinegar. Have used for 8+ years.
7. I wax legs and bikini, shave armpits maybe 2x/month?
8. Chucking deodorant was a greener choice. The shower gel was due to skin sensitivity. Waxing is personal preference; shaving is due to laziness.
9. Western Massachusetts

swiggett said...

1. 2x/week. More if I am working out.
2. same as above
3. 2x/day
4. When I remember?
5. Most of the time, but am currently working through a staff of hotel and sample toiletries. I use Tom's or Trader Joe's deodorant and local soap for my face and body, followed by tea tree and jojoba oil.
6. Tom's and Trader Joe's. Prefer deodorant.
7. armpits - most every shower. Legs - in the winter, I will go months between shaving. In the summer, more like 1x/week
8. partly due to trying to live greener, partly due to frugality, and partly due to trying to eliminate chemicals in my personal care regime
9. South central Indiana

Carrie Huggins said...

I wash my hair once a week (curly and dry so it works) shower or bath every few days (in winter), shave when I bathe, do a PTA bath daily. I brush my teeth for 5 full minutes twice a day, don't floss enough though. I use Tom's of Maine deodorant, and mostly natural or homemade products like coconut oil for face and body moisturizer.

Carrie Huggins said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aimee said...

I recently moved to Oaxaca, Mexico, where certain issues such as availability of water and the fact that seven people are sharing one bathroom have changed my habits somewhat. The main issue is that back at home, I bathed daily, whereas here:

1. I shower once or twice a week, with a few of what my dear old mom used to call "whore's baths" in between. That's a soapy towel run through the crotch and pits, y'all.

2. wash my hair every time I shower, though sometimes I just use conditioner, no shampoo.

3. brush teeth every day.

4. Floss three or four times a week.

5. I'm pretty sensitive to most products, i have hivey, blotchy reactions, so I use as little as I can get away with. Plain soap. Unscented moisterizer like eucerin.

6. I don;t use deodorant, though in this climate I probably should.

7. I just shaved pits and legs for the first time in about a year last week, and now am once again reminded of why I hate shaving. Sensitive skin. Stubble. Not a good combo.

8. There's a big one you didn't ask about - laundry choices. Since we live with a septic system in a sensitive watershed - at home, here all graywater runs right into the ditch - I always choose my detergent carefully, using no phosphates. Again, I use unscented for health reasons, but those smelly chemicals can't be good for the water either. No fabric softener, and I wash in cold water only unless there's something that seriously needs hot.

9. Oaxaca, Mexico.

Bootzey said...

1.How often do you shower/bathe?
Daily, in the summer possibly more frequently

2. How often do you wash your hair?
Every other week. In the summer every week – I exercise a lot and a lot more in the
Summer. Also, I’m Black so more frequent washing than that is damaging to the hair

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
2x a day (I’m a dentist!)

4. How often do you floss?
1x/day (and y’all really need to as well)

5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
I use Black soap. I have VERY sensitive skin it is one of the only products that doesn't irritate my skin

6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
Depends

7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
As needed, I’m not really hairy

8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
Nope… My parents were pretty green and old fashioned about hygiene and my skin has been sensitive all my life

9. Where do you live? Atlanta GA

Lizzie Bordello said...

I'm kind of a dirty hippie (except for teeth - you CANNOT neglect your teeth), so...
- Shower once a week, under protest. ;p
- Wash my hair...um, well, I have dreads - I assure you they are not gross stinky ones, they are very clean and nice, but still, I only wash my hair, uh, well, once a month might be a generous estimate!
- Brush teeth after every meal.
- Floss every night.
- Always use natural/organic soap, body wash, shampoo, etc. Except when, like another commenter, I'm using up sample size items I've ended up with along the way.
- I swear by the Crystal Stick deodorant. Love it, feel like it really works, and it lasts forever.
- Don't shave armpits, ever. Shave legs in the Summer, mostly because I have a full lower leg tattoo on one leg, and a portrait tattoo on the other, so I like a smooth canvas to show them off. :) Too damn cold in the Winter to spend even more time in the shower shaving!
- I've been doing all of the above the same way for so long, it's kind of hard to answer this question - I guess the product choices are the most recent evolution, as I learned more about gross chemicals and stuff that are in so-called everyday products...
- Central Minnesota.

Adrienne said...

1. Almost every day, tho I might skip a day on the weekend.
2. Every day in the summer, every other day in the winter.
3. Twice a day.
4. Daily.
5. A mix, and a lot of things that are not the most natural but not totally conventional either- my shampoo is basically conventional as far as how you use it, but it's free of parabens & sulfates and is made by company that doesn't test on animals.
6. Mostly use conventional antiperspirant/deodorant, but only b/c I became sensitive to the baking soda in the homemade one. It worked fantastic but gave me a rash. Store bought natural ones haven't worked so well so it's back to Dove.
7. Pits weekly, legs when I feel like it, probably every couple weeks on average.
8. Well, I used to use all conventional stuff, but it's been years. My first motivation for being "greener" was actually looking for products from companies that don't test on animals. Most of these also tend to be a bit more eco friendly. Over the years I've tried various things like washing my hair with baking soda & vinegar, bar shampoos, homemade deodorants, etc. Basically I've settled on using what works, if it's natural, great, if it's not, well I'm not willing to have greasy nasty hair and b.o.
9. Eastern Kansas

Carrie Huggins said...

Forgot to mention I live in Atlanta, GA too... so in the summer when it's super hot and humid I bathe more often (pits maybe twice a day), and shave daily.

Anonymous said...

1. I bathe daily. Sometimes twice a day if I've exercised and gotten sweaty. I refuse to stink up my bedding!
2. I wash my hair 1-2 times per week. I have long super fine hair and washing it much more often than that dries it out and I get major split ends.
3. I brush my teeth twice daily.
4. Flossing happens when I remember, or there is something stuck in my teeth that only floss can get to.
5. I use a mix of both natural and conventional bath products. I have started making my own natural products, & have switched to coconut oil as my all over lotion.
6. I use deodorant, but not everyday. If it's hot out, I certainly apply it. But in the winter, I can usually skip a day or two.
7. I shave, but it's not every day, especially in winter. Shaving is a great way to slough off those dry dead skin cells!
8. I've changed one habit - using more natural items for bathtime. Switching to coconut oil for lotions and making my own bath products like sugar scrubs has been interesting.
9. I live in western Pa.

Robin Follette said...

1 and 2: Every other day in winter; daily the rest of the year (very outdoorsy, I get dirty and sweaty daily). I don't do anything to get sweaty or dirty in the winter unless I'm shoveling snow, then I have a shower after.
3. Daily, sometimes twice a day.
4. 2-3 times a week.
5. I've been making soap for 19 years.
6. A deo/anti combination.
7. Pits when I shower, legs weekly in winter, daily in summer. I use soap, not shaving cream.
8. We're have a well so I'm careful about water use in summer. I turn the water off between lather and rinse. The rest of the year I'm in and out in 3-4 minutes and don't turn off the water.
9. Maine

Carrie said...

1. Every other day or so.
2. 1-2x/ week with eggyolk or shikakai powder. 1-2x/ week with water only.
3. Once daily
4. Not often enough
5. Natural products (+ things you keep in your kitchen like honey)
6. Natural deodorant, homemade
7. Once a week at most, but I'm not a hairy gal
8. Yes. I went no-poo almost a year ago and switched all of my products to natural. I want to minimize the number of untested chemicals I put on/in my body.
9. St. Louis, Missouri

Unknown said...

1. I shower 3-4x a week on average.
2. I usually wash my hair when I take a shower.
3. I brush my teeth at least twice a day.
4. I floss every night.
5. I use both conventional and natural product.
6. I use an antiperspirant because I really need it.
7. I shave once a week in the winter time and every other day during the summer.
8. I have tried more natural product since living a greener life style.
9. I live in IL

Milla said...

Another "dirty hippie" here...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
Sauna about once or twice a week and smelly bits (underarms, btwn legs) when needed, about every day
2. How often do you wash your hair?
Because I have dreadlocks I avoid wetting my hair and try to wash only the skin (scalp). It takes forever to dry wet dreads :P
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
At least once a day, usually more often because I just like it
4. How often do you floss?
Never...
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
For the body I hardly ever use anything but water. For armpits and scalp I use whatever happens to be there, preferably something with no scent
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
I try not to, but cannot avoid it because thanks to hormones my armpits stink. I have crystal deo, salt deo, Bodyshop deo (no alum.) and whatnot.
7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
I don't shave, and neither does the hubby... Hate the stubble
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
Not much. Avoiding body shampoo or soaps on my skin is more about keeping the skin healthy and less about the environment. Also most hygiene products have such a horribe smell that I get a mild allergic reaction when using them :P
9. Where do you live? FINLAND! (Northern Europe, Scandinavia)

Elizabeth said...

1. Every day. I work in a very hot kitchen environment that always makes me sweat.
2. Every time I shower in the summer, every other in the winter. (same reason as above)
3. 2x a day
4. Not as often as a should!
5. I make my own soap and moisturizer and use those.
6. Conventional deodorant on work days (which is the only thing that works in that environment) , homemade or nothing on non-work days.
7. When needed. As I get older I hardly need to anymore.
8. Making my own products was a natural changeover, trying to avoid the chemical crap and I have a great sensitivity/dislike of artificial scents.
9. Ontario Canada

queenlispet said...

1. Shower 1x/day or more if i've been in the garden or working out.
2. wash hair 2x/week
3. at least 2x/day with SLS-free toothpaste
4. at least 1x/day. i've never had a cavity, so this seems to work
5. I use a SLS- and pthalate-free shampoo or shampoo bar, pure olive oil soap, fragrance-free everything including lotion and i condition with coconut oil
6. rock crystal deodorant. haven't used anything else for over ten years.
7. i sugar pits, legs, and bikini maybe every two months winter or summer. have been for nearly twenty years.
8. some changes in recent years due to increased sensitivity to fragrance and SLS products
9. Alberta

Jessi said...

1. Everyday.
2. I condition it everyday but only shampoo about once a week. I have curly hair and it needs lots of moisture.
3. Twice a day.
4. Once a day.
5. Dove bar soap, Cetaphil on my face. Generally I go for unscented stuff made for sensitive skin.
6. Homemade deodorant in the winter or if I'm just hanging out at home. Days that I'm traveling or if it's really hot I use antiperspirant.
7. In the winter, not very often. Maybe once every 10 days or so. In the summer 2-3 times per week.
8. Hmm... I've made changes based on trying to be greener and healthier, but I think in the long run, it's mostly just about what works for me and my lifestyle. Like, I try to avoid things that are bad such as aluminum and phthalates but sometimes I use them anyway because it's just more practical and, you know, I don't want to offend people with my stank BO in the summer.
9. Tennessee

Wendy said...

1. I shower just about every day - if only to get under the hot water to warm up in the winter and rinse off in the summer (wood heat and no AC means showers are very much valued ;).
2. 3x to 4x/week.
3. Every night; in the morning if I'm going somewhere.
4. A couple times a week.
5. Dr. Bonner's for both my hair and body.
6. Make my own deodorant.
7. I used to shave, but recently, I've stopped. It's weird, after a lifetime of no armpit hair to have it. I don't know if I'll start shaving again in the summer, but right now, it doesn't matter whether I have hairy pits and legs.
8. Most of the changes have been about making different, more conscious choices.
9. Maine.

Robj98168 said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe? Almost daily.
2. How often do you wash your hair? Never- Do not have hair.
3. How often do you brush your teeth? twice daily
4. How often do you floss? once daily
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones? Use homemade hand made soap, or Dr. Bronners.
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?No, no, no.
7. If you shave, how often do you shave? Daily. Usually use an electric. Sometimes I use a safety razor and soap.
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how? Shaving- found using the electric razor appears to be "greenest" choice
9. Where do you live? Seattle- Western Washington

City Girl said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
I shower every morning and sometimes bathe at night to relax.

2. How often do you wash your hair?
Every morning. I know it's not good for my hair but it's a hard habit to break.

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
Every morning.

4. How often do you floss?
Uh, let's see...whenever I have something stuck in my teeth.

5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
Dove soap and salon shampoo. I tried Trader Joe's natural shampoo but it dried my hair out and made my scalp very itchy. Probably wasn't meant to be used every day.

6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
Antipersperant every morning.

7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
in the winter, I shave my legs once per week (if I remember) and my underarms once every three months. You guessed it - I don't wear skirts or sleeveless shirts.

8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
I was washing my hair every 2nd day for a while and taking lukewarm showers, but that faded away. I don't wear makeup or use body lotions, so I feel good about that.

9. Where do you live?
San Francisco, CA.

Did I pass? ;-)

Annie at Haphazard Homestead said...

1. Every 2-3 days in winter; every 1-2 days in summer. Prefer baths in winter, but will sometimes shower in summer.

2. Every 5-7 days.

3. At least once daily.

4. Very rarely.

5. Mostly natural. Homemade soap and shampoo bars, coconut oil and baking soda for toothpaste, olive oil for skin, etc.

6. Using up commercial anti-perspirant. I don't usually need it daily and will try something natural or homemade when I need more.

7. Summer as often as needed. Winter as seldom as possible.

8. We make and use more natural products now.

9. Missouri

Delora said...

1. Every-Other day
2. Daily or Every-Other day (use homemade dry shampoo on it if I don't shampoo that day, I am severely oily)
3. Once daily
4. 5x/week
5. Natural ones. I adore the "Everyday Shea" bodywash (get it at Whole Foods), and various other natural shampoos, conditioners, and cleansers.
6. Trade off between crystal rock, homemade deodorant, and conventional antiperspirant
7. Pits 2x/week. Legs in Summer weekly, in winter monthly.
8. Only things that have changed have been the products I use and the length of my showers.
9. Suburb of DC

Natural and Healthy Parenting said...

I don't really feel influenced by ads regarding beauty and cleanliness, I just like to be fresh and clean.

1. Shower daily in winter and twice a day in summer. I workout daily and it is humid in summer. Since I was 14 yrs old I have shut the water off while I soap up and shave.
2. Wash hair 2 times a week in winter and 3x in summer.
3. Brush teeth at least twice a day. I am 35 and have n,y had two small cavities that happened after age 30.
4. Floss every night.
5. Use conventional and natural products. I like the crystal deodorant stick and Whole foods face wash and Shea body wash.
6. Use deodorant daily. See above
7. Shave armpits 1x week and legs 1x month in winter. Twice that in summer. My hair grows slowly. I would prefer to sugar if I could afford it.
8. I use less products overall and less water. I have always used natural products.
9. Storrs, CT (originally from Seattle)

Dani said...

1. 2-3 x a week depending on winter or summer and cat baths - At my age, more is just too drying
2. 2 x week
3. After eating
4. Once a day
5. Natural all the way
6. Crystal deo or natural stick
7. Shave more often in summer, but not often enough ever ;)
8. Water usage directly related to conservation mindset
9. U.S.

Kris Bordessa said...

1. Every other day.
2. Every other day.
3. Daily
4. Daily
5. Giovanni shampoo, natural soap, coconut oil for conditioner/lotion.
6. Natural deodorant that doesn't work as well as I'd like it to. ;)
7. Pits, 1-2x per week. Legs, 1-2x per month, as needed.
8. Most of my habits have changed over the years, moving from conventional products to more natural, using fewer of them.
9. Hawaii

Dani said...

Oh, and I use organic coconut oil to brush my teeth. I have a small bowl of it in the bathroom and use it for moisturizer, too. I even use it as a scalp conditioner. Great stuff!

Frugal Pursuit said...

1. I shower two to three times a week.
2. I wash my hair same time as bathing.
3. I brush my teeth every day
4. I rarely floss.
5. I clean with conventional bathing products.
6. I primarily use antiperspirant but sometimes deodorant and sometimes skip applying when I will be working at home.
7. Legs are shaved only for special occasions in winter; once or twice a week in summer. Underarms are not shaved at all.
8. I used to shower and wash my hair more often. I have reduced bathing and shaving for many reasons including going greener.
9. Southern Wisconsin

miamaslegi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
miamaslegi said...

What are your personal cleaning habits?

Huh, apparently I'm too wordy, so...
Comment, Part the First:
1. How often do you shower/bathe?
I have a quick shower every night (turn on water, get wet, turn off water, scrub, turn on water, rinse), using water only, no soaps or other cleansers, scrubbing myself with an ayate scrubby thing and using a washcloth for the tender bits. I oil-cleanse my face usually before my shower. I have become biased against soap after I stopped using it experimentally and found that my body acne disappeared, my eczema got much better, and my pits and bits didn't stink!
In the mornings, I wash my hands, splash warm water on my face, and run a wet cloth over pits, bits, and feet.
2. How often do you wash your hair?
I wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar usually once or twice a week or so, whenever I feel like it needs it. I usually only wet and wash my scalp, braiding the length of my hair and holding it out of the way. Maybe once a month, I'll use a mild, organic soap to wash my scalp rather than the baking soda, also using it if my hair has actually gotten dirty from, say, napping on the ground, or that one time a mockingbird pooped on my head. I oil my hair and scalp fairly often, and usually keep it up and covered to keep off lint/fuzz/dirt/dust/fur/grass/leaves/slobber/bird poop which means I can wash less often.
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
I brush every day with a homemade toothpaste - I'm testing different recipes for powders and pastes, trying to mix and match to find what I like best.
4. How often do you floss?
I don't floss often - I'll take a length of thread, run it over a block of beeswax, and use that when I feel the urge.
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
I do only use products that I make myself from organic/natural ingredients or simple, natural, organic products purchased from places like Chagrin Valley or Mountain Rose Herbs. The only personal products I currently buy ready-made are an organic shampoo bar and a seabuckthorn oil salve for my eczema.

miamaslegi said...

Comment, Part the Second:

6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
I don't care about being completely scent-free, as I feel that's unrealistic - normal "human-smell" is fine (and kinda sexy), but I don't want to walk around in a cloud of rank BO. Therefore, I use a deodorant I make myself from coconut oil, kaolin clay, baking soda, and essential oils. Works well, though I may stop using it since bathing in water only has transmuted the once-terrible BO into ... well, that human smell that isn't stinky at all. I generally use a crystal deodorant for travel as they're small and not so heavy.
7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
I shave my armpits about twice a week with my safety razor and coconut oil. I'd like to get over my irrational fear of pit hair and just stop shaving because stubble sucks. I shave my legs as little as possible. It's a pain in the butt, it makes my eczema flare up like crazy, and it's a waste of time since my legs never see the light of day anyway, always being covered by pants or long skirts. And stubble there sucks, too. As for the bits ... well, that's just really creepy and weird to me, plus the stubble would really, really suck there, so no, no razors down below.
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
About 10 years ago or so, I was using all conventional beauty products - makeup, shower gel, deodorant, hair junk, and a gajillion other things every day. I slowly replaced one thing after another with greener/safer products, then tried making products of my own. Now, I have pared it down to the essentials - vinegar, baking soda, a salve, a few organic oils, clay and a shampoo bar plus a few essential oils. I've been becoming more and more of a minimalist in all areas of my life which is very liberating, traveling or even just getting up and going in the mornings is much easier when not using five thousand different creams and sprays and stuff, I feel better about what I put on my body and what I put out into the environment, and I get a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from making my own products (and making/doing/learning anything else that helps be be more self-sufficient and more gentle on our only home).
9. Where do you live?
I grew up and live in rural southern Arkansas, soon to be migrating out to the woods to work on becoming a (more) full-fledged-crunchy-dirty-hippie-homesteading-backwoods-mountain-woman. :)

Round Belly said...

. How often do you shower/bathe?
Somewhere between 2 and 5 times/week. When ever I think I am stinky or going to church.

2. How often do you wash your hair? Never- ever. I gave up on shampoo 5 years ago due to a pregnancy sensitivity. I brush and braid every day and hair has been beautiful every since.

3. How often do you brush your teeth?
Every Day
4. How often do you floss?
Every Day

5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
Natural soap and moisturizer and almost nothing else.

6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
They are evil- I avoid like the plague- except when applied to teenagers- they need something!

7. If you shave, how often do you shave? a few times a year

8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
I keep using less and less stuff- I am very sensitive to chemicals and seem to only get pickier.


9. Where do you live? Northern MN

DK said...

1. every 3-5 days unless otherwise necessary
2. hair gets washed with homemade soap and rinsed with diluted vinegar every shower
3. 1-2 times per day
4. usually every other day
5. I have really bad chemical sensitivities and eczema so I use as little as I can get away with and make my own cold process soaps
6. varies on a daily basis; sometimes deodorant, sometimes antiperspirant, usually nothing or homemade coconut oil/cornstarch/baking soda/essential oil deodorant depending upon what activities are planned where
7. every couple of months or so; basically, whenever I anticipate possible uncomfortable conversations surrounding my having hairy legs or for special events
8. I shave a lot less now than I have in the past and worsening eczema forced me to change from conventional soaps and other products to homemade.
9. south central US

Rachelle said...

1. Shower/bathe? 2-3x week, plus a daily wash of face, underarms, crotch.
2. Hair? 2x week
3. Teeth? 2x day
4. Floss? 2x week
5. "Natural" or conventional? Both
6. Deodorant, antiperspirant? Mostly deodorant, occasionally antiperspirant
7. Shave? 1x week, less in winter
8. Have any of these habits changed? Yes, I've reduced showers & hair washing, switched from antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, and started using liquid castille soap.
9. Where do you live? Canada

bodygeek said...

1. I run/ride 6 days a week, so I generally have to shower every day - that said, I keep it under four minutes, and use an outdoor shower year round to remind me of the resources I'm using. Oh, and it's way prettier to stare at mountains than pebble walls.
2. I wash my hair every 7-10 days or so, but rinse it through with water when I shower. My head sweats a lot when I run.
3. Teeth, at least 2x/day.
4. Floss, once a day. I might miss two days a month.
5. Products - a bar of soap - as additive free as possible, since my shower drains to the land. Shampoo, when used, is also one of those non lathering non chemical things. Moisturizer is oil - emu for my face, coconut for my body. Stuff I could eat. :)
6. Deodorant is natural stuff. I use Oyin Handmade funk butter. That stuff is amazing.
7. shave legs every day I see boyfriend - damn new relationships. wax armpits.
8. I shower way more now than I did several years ago - since I discovered running and cycling. But I'm more conscientious of water spent. As for products, the past ten years have shifted it, yes. I used to be drawn in by the pretty smells and claims, and now I think they stink.
9. Central Coast in California

Nicole L said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?

I hardly sweat and my hubby says I never smell, so I only shower 1x a week.

2. How often do you wash your hair?

I use a shampoo bar made by a family member (hopefully made by me soon!), and then an apple cider rosemary rinse to condition - 1x a week.

3. How often do you brush your teeth?

1x a day unless I cannot stand the texture of my teeth, then more! I use a natural Trader Joe's toothpaste, although I am really interested in the benefits of a natural tooth powder (looking into it).

4. How often do you floss?

Not as much as I should... :-(

5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?

I am in the process of switching... I started with the shampoo and conditioner, now I am starting to make my own homemade body products, so I should be switching soon. My mom raised me to not waste, so I am trying to use up my "conventional" as fast as possible because I did purchase them myself. (Thanks a lot mom! :-P)

6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?

Usually nothing (again, don't stink!), but during the summer I use a crystal.

7. If you shave, how often do you shave?

My armpits almost every shower, unless I'm feeling lazy. Legs, maybe once a month...

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

I take shorter showers, and now bathe both of my children at the same time to conserve water. The homemade body products was a good change, after reading about the chemicals, etc. in "conventional" products that FREAKED me out!

9. Where do you live?

Southwest Washington State

The Pences said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
About once every 3 days.
2. How often do you wash your hair?
Usually once a week, though I get it wet more often than that to restyle
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
twice a day
4. How often do you floss?
I try for once a day, but it's probably more like 4 times a week
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
I really like Kiss my Face soap. I don't soap every inch of my skin when I shower
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
I use Arm & Hammer natural deodorant, but only when needed -- I actually keep it in my purse
7. If you shave, how often do you shave?
armpits probably a couple times a week, legs only when I need to.
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
Yes, I'd say all except the teeth. I use less product, shower less.
9. Where do you live?
Houston (and it's winter now; in the summer I wash more often I think)

Anonymous said...

1. 2 - 3x per week
2. 2 - 3x per week
3. once per day
4. once per day
5. natural, handmade soap for body; natural homemade shampoo soap bar for hair; vinegar for hair conditioner
6. a "natural" deodorant, not antiperspirant unless for special occasions
7. never during winter, light brush up with electric razor periodically during summer
8. all of them have changed. used to shower daily, use conventional/commercial products.
9. southwest coast of british columbia

Kai said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
3x a week
2. How often do you wash your hair?
with soap....3x/wk
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
2x a day
4. How often do you floss?
not enough
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
homemade soap bars
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
homemade spray of water gfs oil, tto, and eucalyptus mixed with water
7. If you shave, how often do you shave? haha not hardly ever
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
these are my changed habbits
9. Where do you live?
wa

Kai said...

1. How often do you shower/bathe?
3x a week
2. How often do you wash your hair?
with soap....3x/wk
3. How often do you brush your teeth?
2x a day
4. How often do you floss?
not enough
5. Do you use "natural" body cleansing products or conventional ones?
homemade soap bars
6. Do you use deodorant, antiperspirant or something else?
homemade spray of water gfs oil, tto, and eucalyptus mixed with water
7. If you shave, how often do you shave? haha not hardly ever
8. Have any of these habits changed as you've tried to live a greener lifestyle? If so, which ones and how?
these are my changed habbits
9. Where do you live?
wa

Kayla Pins said...

What a great post! I learned the "No Poo" from you and love it.
1. Every other day in the winter, daily in the summer
2. Once a week
3. Every morning, usually every night
4. Usually every night
5. Ivory soap
6. Crystal
7. Whenever I need to wear a skirt :)
8. Yes! I used to use a lot of products for my face. Now I wash with just water and moisturize with coconut oil.
9. Iowa

Farmer's Daughter said...

1. I take a bath with my kids every other day right now. We all hop in the tub, but it will be more often in summer if they get dirtier, unless they swim. I also have started swimming laps and I shower after that to get the chlorine off.
2. I have a new baby, so not as often as I'd like to! Probably every 3 days, but I'd prefer every other day.
3. Every morning and most nights.
4. When there's something stuck.
5. I used natural for a long time, but now I'm just cutting them out altogether. I've gone back to commercial shampoo/conditioner because it's so much cheaper and I'm on unpaid leave :)
6. Antiperspirant. This is one of those things I know I shouldn't but I just haven't found anything better.
7. It's been winter so, maybe once a week.
8. Yes, a lot has changed over the past 5 years since I started my blog. I first switched to expensive natural/organic products, then moved away from them altogether. For example, my skin care routine involves honey, lemon juice, sugar scrub and coconut oil. And not on a daily basis either.
9. I live on the shoreline in Connecticut.

Farmer's Daughter said...

1. I take a bath with my kids every other day right now. We all hop in the tub, but it will be more often in summer if they get dirtier, unless they swim. I also have started swimming laps and I shower after that to get the chlorine off.
2. I have a new baby, so not as often as I'd like to! Probably every 3 days, but I'd prefer every other day.
3. Every morning and most nights.
4. When there's something stuck.
5. I used natural for a long time, but now I'm just cutting them out altogether. I've gone back to commercial shampoo/conditioner because it's so much cheaper and I'm on unpaid leave :)
6. Antiperspirant. This is one of those things I know I shouldn't but I just haven't found anything better.
7. It's been winter so, maybe once a week.
8. Yes, a lot has changed over the past 5 years since I started my blog. I first switched to expensive natural/organic products, then moved away from them altogether. For example, my skin care routine involves honey, lemon juice, sugar scrub and coconut oil. And not on a daily basis either.
9. I live on the shoreline in Connecticut.

Jesse said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jesse said...

I do each of those twice daily. It's a really interesting point that you wouldn't see "you can skip a day" as a positive reason to purchase a hygienic product. I probably wouldn't buy most deodorants anyway because of the aluminum and other chemicals - but it does bring up the problem of how much water/packaging/resources we use just to keep "clean." I remember sheepishly admitting to someone that I washed my hair just twice a week, and they were flabbergasted! I just love following your website - and would love to contribute a guest post if you allow it. I work for Humble Seed, a company devoted to non-GMO/organic seeds for the home gardener. I can write a post on a variety of topics - including the importance of growing your own food with non-GMO seeds. Let me know if this is something you're interested in. Thanks! -Jesse, Humble Seed (humbleseed.com)

A little about us: Humble Seed specializes in premium garden seed kits that are packaged and themed for convenience and ease. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality heirloom, non-GMO, non-hybrid, and organic seed varieties to those who choose to start from seed.

shecouldbe said...

1. Wash up w softsoap and water on folds every single day, shower once a month<<extreme water conserver here.
2. Once a month but I have african american hair and we CANNOT wash it often because it will dry up and break off.
3. Twice a day.
4. 6 times a day.
5. Convential. Natural stuff does NOTHING ha ha
6. Tom's with anti/deo. I think it has the bad stuff in it. I don't care, it works. I use it every single day, sometimes in body folds too.
7. Legs, never, not a lot of hair so I can get away w it. under arms once a mo.
8. No, I'm a total sell out since most of my toiletries come free or money maker with extreme couponing. I figure we're all gonna die, and i'm not going to drive myself crazy trying to be eco on every thing. What changed is learning about the french way of living/travelling to france. I have to use the strong non eco stuff since it's so infrequent that I do a full shower. Natural deo works about 2.439502 hours on me then EWWWW!!!! I'm only eco in the extreme water conservation practices I use.
9. Oz, WA USA but I'm very french about it all.

shecouldbe said...

1. Wash up w softsoap and water on folds every single day, shower once a month<<extreme water conserver here.
2. Once a month but I have african american hair and we CANNOT wash it often because it will dry up and break off.
3. Twice a day.
4. 6 times a day.
5. Convential. Natural stuff does NOTHING ha ha
6. Tom's with anti/deo. I think it has the bad stuff in it. I don't care, it works. I use it every single day, sometimes in body folds too.
7. Legs, never, not a lot of hair so I can get away w it. under arms once a mo.
8. No, I'm a total sell out since most of my toiletries come free or money maker with extreme couponing. I figure we're all gonna die, and i'm not going to drive myself crazy trying to be eco on every thing. What changed is learning about the french way of living/travelling to france. I have to use the strong non eco stuff since it's so infrequent that I do a full shower. Natural deo works about 2.439502 hours on me then EWWWW!!!! I'm only eco in the extreme water conservation practices I use.
9. Oz, WA USA but I'm very french about it all.

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