Staying clean

[Guest]

Wow, I envy you light ppl with your light hair and white skin. Your hair isn't oily and you only 'perspire'. How nice and convenient!<br>I'm Portuguese - darker skinned, dark thick hair and I do not 'perspire'. I <i>sweat!</i> When it dries, my skin and hair are left with a horrid greasy feeling. I need wash my hair and take several showers a day in the heat and humidity of the South - and <i>I still</i> have to take another shower/wash my hair as soon as I wake up.<br>On weekend desert 4WD camping adventures, I've used the "dry shampoo" you get in the Pet department. (Can't be wastin' water in the desert.) Works ok for me, prolly work great for the people who don't have oily skin &amp; hair.<br>I've seen some guys just use talc powder.<br><br>I was in an Ace hardware store the other day and at the register they had a display for:<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.antimonkeybutt.com">Anti Monkey Butt Powder</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">&nbsp;&nbsp; I've worked with a few guys who need a bucket 'a that.<br><br>

 

[Suanne]

So, I just wanted to check in on this thread.&nbsp; It's been about 2 months since I started just using water to wash my hair.&nbsp; For several years before that, I'd just been using conditioner to "wash" my hair.&nbsp; And before that, I used both shampoo and conditioner.&nbsp; (My hair is shoulder length and very thick; my skin is on the oily side.)<BR><BR>When I went to using just&nbsp;conditioner, I didn't notice that much of a difference in the cleanness nor the feel of my hair after a "wash."&nbsp; (A good conditioner bonds with the oils and is washed out.)<BR><BR>When I went to just using water these past 2 months, my hair is clean&nbsp;but still feels oily while wet.&nbsp; But, after my hair has dried it doesn't feel oily anymore&nbsp;but is a bit more frizzy than when I used conditioner.<BR><BR>The pros of just using water is no longer having to buy or carry around conditioner ... better for the environment too.&nbsp; The cons is the oily feeling while wet and a little extra frizzyness.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I've decided to continue using only water to wash my hair.<BR><BR>Suanne ... YMMV<BR>

 

[Guest]

Glad you all are talking about this because it's on my mind. I have very long, very thick hair. It grows fast and I'd almost be willing to bet that there are more kids wearing my hair than I have on my head right now. Just about every other year I donate 10 inches to Locks of Love. I also color my hair because LOL sells grey hair but colored hair goes to the kids. I like to think I'm growing wigs for the alternative kids out there so I stick with cherry red <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>So, my hair is important to me for a lot of reasons. Not using shampoo and conditioner frighten me but mostly because I only wash my hair every 2 - 3 days as is. My mom is a hairstylist and this is what she taught me<br><br>Use a dime sized drop of shampoo (no matter how long your hair is) you really only need to work this into your scalp and then lightly through the ends.<br><br>A dime sized drop of conditioner worked into the ends and up toward the scalp.<br><br>Works for me. I'll probably continue washing this way since it only takes about a half liter for the whole process and the water isn't so soapy that I wouldn't consider washing my body with it. My face requires multiple washes a day a lot of that is just me needed to feel refreshed (I'm the same with hand washing because I worked a job where my hands were always in gross things)<br><br><img src="http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/hfnikki/Actual Pictures/aftercut.jpg"><br>Picture from 3 months ago after my last 10 inch hair cut. I do my own cutting by pulling all of my hair into a loose ponytail on the very top of my head and then measure 10 inches and cut straight. Neaten it up to make sure its all even straight across and tadaa a long layered hair cut.<br><br>

 

[4x4tour]

<span id="post_message_1270405359">Picture from 3 months ago after my last 10 inch hair cut. I do my own cutting by pulling all of my hair into a loose ponytail on the very top of my head and then measure 10 inches and cut straight. Neaten it up to make sure its all even straight across and tadaa a long layered hair cut.</span>

<br><br>I don't now... looks kinda frizzy....lol <br><br>

 

[gipsyweaver]

Suanne,<br><br>You can put about a tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of warm water and pour it over your hair after you wet it down. Then rinse out. If you do this once every week or two, it might helpt tame the frizzies. I've used this in place of conditioner for years.<br><br>

 

[freenez2]

For the longest time I just used hand soap at Walmart or whatever business restroom I happened to be in. Being half bald and keeping my hair shorter (I cut my own), it's worked well.<br>

 

[Vanimal]

I rinse my hair everytime I shower but wash my hair every couple months or so. Doing so for about 10 yrs. I only use a tiny little bit of soap. Seems like it kinda cleans it with out stripping too much oil out.<div><br></div><div>@freenez2- I've thought about cutting my hair shorter to make it more managable. Thanx for the heads up!-No pun intended. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div>

 

[butterfly]

<P><FONT size=3 face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">looks to me like the frizz in the lower left of pic is part of a second person...</FONT></P>

 

[WanderingRonin]

I've been bathing in a large rubbermaid now for 2 weeks. As it got colder, I began to wonder what next? So I came up with an even smaller setup I can take into any small toilet with a sink...<div>Today, I did a sink bath. It can be done, but you really have to be a sort of contortionist to do it. After tonight's bath, I felt like I did a bit of yoga in there as well with all the postures and poses I had to bend into to ensure the water I poured down on me went into the sink and not all over the floor (floor still got wet, but just minimally). I brought in a cheap plastic pitcher full of water... then I mixed in some hot water from a portable electric pot... the kind you use to make tea or coffee or make hot water for ramen. Mix that up with the pitcher water and I got warm water. A couple of wash cloths and the towel complete the setup.&nbsp;</div><div>I had to lean most of my body into the sink to keep the water from going all over the place. But it worked! I am sure there are even more efficient ways of doing this in the future. Right now, I am just having fun experimenting all the different possibilities. Some people would be freaked out by all the things I try to train myself for this life.</div><div><br></div><div>But I view bathing as a chess game. The goal being clean at the end, there's really thousands of combinations and techniques one can try. We all get so used to just one way of bathing --the exorbitant shower, that we forget all the other techniques of keeping clean which, when done well, have just the same result as having a thorough shower.</div><div>Anyways, my two cents. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"></div>

 

[Ergaster]

YES! Gyms are awesome. &nbsp;I am a member of anytime fitness. &nbsp;So not only can I take a shower anywhere in the country! &nbsp;There are 1300 nationwide, in every state. &nbsp;Also, no one is there late at night so if you want to just hang around and watch tv, take a shower, or even a little nap on a yoga mat it's fine! &nbsp;I pay 30 a month. &nbsp;well, worth it!

 

[Seraphim]

<P>I've done a lot of stand up washes. More expensive, but easier, is a can of wet wipes. If you do a little cleanup every time you change something, it makes the large wash of the day easier. A spray bottle lets you a a little water without getting it all over the place.</P>

 

[Ravensoracle]

One trick I have found that works well for a easy shower is to use a modified garden sprayer. I would give credit to whoever came up with it but I can't remember.<div><br></div><div>The idea is to take a new garden sprayer. You don't want to be spraying yourself with unknown residual gunk from an old one. and cut the sprayer wand off of it. Plumb a ball valve, simple shower head, and a hose extension onto the sprayer hose. And now you have water pressure for a nice shower without having to have electric power for a pump.</div><div><br></div><div>I used to have a setup like this but I left it out one night at the campground and it walked away on me. You can have hot water for longer if you wrap the tank in insulation and place it in a 5-gallon bucket.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>To heat up the water I'd just put a big pot of water on my campfire or use a solar shower. By dumping the solar shower into the jug I could save my back from having to lift the heavy solar bag up higher just to use it.</div><div><br></div><div>It worked very well for the 5 of us last summer.&nbsp;</div>

 

[ped]

<P>I use a camp shower bag. Boil water on the stove then mix with cold to get a good temp. Fill the bag with the water and put on the top of my van. Setup camp shower tent next to the bag and go.</P>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Once again this forum has proven valuable...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I am going to look at joining Anytime Fitness.&nbsp; I love the YMCA but it is crowded and the hours are limited.&nbsp; Anytime is up to over 1820 locations...&nbsp;I need to lift weights anyway.&nbsp; Great suggestion!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Also, I'm going to look at adding a 4" black PVC pipe on the top of the van.&nbsp; It would it in with the "handyman" look and make a nice way to heat some water for a shower in the summertime.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Have fun!</p>

 

[Kisatchieman]

&nbsp;Also, I'm going to look at adding a 4" black PVC pipe on the top of the van.&nbsp; It would fit in with the "handyman" look and make a nice way to heat some water for a shower in the summertime.

<BR><BR>Maybe add a small valve in the side or end cap with a hose and spray nozzle attached. Good idea. Even in winter the black pipe should absorb&nbsp;enough heat to warm the water a little, maybe enough for a cool shower at least.&nbsp;<BR><BR>

 

[Scott_1776]

I shower/workout (barely) at Planet Fitness gyms they are national, most metro areas, and the cost is $20/mo plus an annual admin admin fee of $40(billed in June). The membership is good nationwide and most,I found, are open 24 hrs. No contracts either.

 

[Guest]

<STRONG>Dry Skin Brushing video:<BR><A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=7ANy_2xWLAo" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=7ANy_2xWLAo</A></STRONG>

 

[creationode]

I went ahead and bought a 2 gallon sprayer from HF couple weeks ago, as somebody here suggested.&nbsp; <br><br>I have been using it to much success as a shower in my storage unit.<br><br>The spray just keeps on going, even when I assume it to be near empty.<br><br>I lather up with soap really well, then spray until I am rinsed.<br><br>I have not washed my hair in months, and honestly, I just do not care.&nbsp; Nobody can even tell, and I know I do not smell.&nbsp; I do comb it, though.&nbsp; It is not very long, about 2 inches, and curly.&nbsp; I am a male, BTW.&nbsp; Most shampoos ruin your hair over time.&nbsp; Not to mention the chemicals drenching into your scalp...yikes!<br><br><br><strong>Bradford, how is your Aquacube working out?&nbsp; Seen your youtubes, and I have read most of your blogs.</strong>&nbsp; I really really want one of those.<br><br>The Black PVC should be put width-wise across the back of the van IMO, to ensure a proper weight distribution and to prevent the water from going crazy during turns. Any ideas on that?

 

[FloridaGuy]

In south Florida there is a gym chain called Youfit, they advertise that it's only $10 a month. &nbsp; Another option is using the beach showers. &nbsp;The water is warm most of the summer because the ground water is heated by the sun. So even your cold tap water at home comes out kind of warm. &nbsp;Luckily I still live indoors.