Why medieval people didn't wash their hair, and how it stayed clean | Historical Myth Busting

Medieval people didn't bathe or wash their hair, right? Hair care in the middle ages involved no shampoo, but they still kept their hair clean. As a professional hairstylist, I think this historical myth needs to be debunked. Busting this myth comes down to understanding what resources Medieval people had for personal care, and reveals that historical people were actually quite clever about working with what knowledge they had.
Washing hair with soap or shampoo is a modern idea, dating from the early 20th century. Shampoo wasn't even invented until the 1930s! In the Middle Ages, contaminated water, harsh soap, and needing to use some other rather gross things to clean your laundry meant that washing hair to clean it wasn't a regular possibility. Instead, medieval people used a combination of styling choices, headwraps, and combs and brushes to keep hair as clean as possible. Long hair was braided and pinned up, keeping it from getting tangled or suffering breakage, similarly to protective styles in Black haircare. Hair was usually worn in braids and pinned to the head, covered in a clean linen veil or cap which was changed as often as possible, and thoroughly brushed or combed out twice a day, all of which helped to keep it surprisingly clean and tidy!
Medieval people did sometimes wash their hair, although only in exceptional circumstances. The Trotula, a collection of medieval medical texts, has an entire book devoted to personal care and cosmetics, including several recipes for hair washes, conditioners, styling products, and even hair color. A recipe from a 13th century physician was still being used 700 years later in Edwardian times! Even though Medieval people couldn't clean their hair with shampoo and water the way we do, they still took very good care of their hair with the resources they had available.
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[@ldbarthel]

One of my favorite quotes from the Trek novel _Uhura's Song_ applies: "Primitive does not mean stupid."

[@countrymama2839]

Exactly!! Wish I could give you more than 1 👍

[@Heather-xm9ul]

The war in Afghanistan proved that to a lot of us when we got there. Just because they're not modern and formally educated, doesn't mean they aren't clever and good with their hands.

[@bongodave13]

They lived long enough to make us. They lived in a very different world. They made it.

[@susannefischer4445]

So true! Btw, one of my favorite novels of the Star Trek universum.

[@burnttoast111]

@@Heather-xm9ul As the saying goes, 'necessity is the mother of invention'. Very early on, when the US initially overran the Taliban, they had pretty much given up. Only after they had effectively retreated into Pakistan did they begin to figure out how to fight the US more effectively. That was really the point in that war when the US *might* have been able to win. If they had any concrete plans except 'defeat the Taliban'. I.e. a serious commitment to building infrastructure, winning the hearts and minds of Afghan citizens in cities and rural areas, not installing a puppet leader, and getting out ASAP. I guess it just ended up being yet another example of when racism leads one group to underestimate another, which in the end leads to defeat. Germany had the same thing happen to them against the Soviets. I'm not implying the US was as bad as Germany in this example, just to be clear.

[@gaolen]

brave of you to assume we'll still have hair in 600 years

[@William_Porter]

@@fruitygarlic3601 Egyptians still had hair surprisingly... hair actually helps avoid the sun. I shaved my head completely bald and it sunburnt, it wasn't til it was at least 1/2 inch it didnt sunburn anymore. It will vary depend on the thickness of your hair but the hair on our heads does have a purpose as well as it is a part of selection. People find hair attractive (on your head at least). Think of those birds with the huge feathers that impede it's flight to some extent but they use to impress mates.

[@colleentrodge1968]

💀

[@gaolen]

@@William_Porter didnt they shave to avoid lice and then wear wigs?

[@davidbeaulieu4815]

We breed for it because bald is not attractive. Sorry boys a buzz makes you look like a 🐒

[@davidbeaulieu4815]

@@William_Porter exactly body hair don't care if it has a purpose it's gross but head hair is a must.

[@witchflowers6942]

“Historical people were way smarter than we give them credit for” goes up there with the quotes of the century. SAY IT AGAIN

[@historymajor26]

YES. It’s a pet peeve of mine when people assert that people who lived in ancient/medieval/pre-modern societies were dumb or unintelligent. When that happens I typically bring up the genius technological advancements of the Romans and Greeks. The argument usually ends right there 😂.

[@AlystrZelland]

Exactly. Not inherently dumber; they just knew different things

[@heatherriley3963]

@@historymajor26 You're so wrong. They obviously learned everything from the ancient astronauts. There's no way aaaaall those people from aaaaall those years ago were capable of imagination or critical thinking. Only the "sky gods". This was sarcasm, by the way. I despise that stupid show, Ancient Aliens.

[@BEAUTYnIQ]

oK we knew things but some stuff we did Not like "blood letting" before medical discoveries and advancements .. other archaic practices we stopped because of education but yah . as a people we did some reallllllly stupid things lol ..

[@nunnayrbznz3576]

Did they use animal deworming to cure viruses? or is that a 21st century bright idea?

[@DharaGrace]

For such a supposedly "dirty" time period, they spent an awful lot of time and energy trying to keep clean.

[@sophiejones3554]

So, here's the facts of the matter: 1) people of all social stations encountered a lot more dirt in their environment than most people do today. 2) the level of cleanliness someone was able to maintain was much more tied to their social status. Healthy skin and hair, were signs of wealth because they were expensive to maintain. 3) malnutrition and parasites were a lot more common. Both of those things can cause bad skin and hair loss. 4) fashion and beauty was only for the young. After people got married, they were generally expected to spend less time on their appearance: unless they were royalty or nobility (where maintaining a beautiful appearance was a way to project power). 5) straight razors are dangerous. Most people didn't shave (or not very much anyhow: men might shave their facial hair, but little else). Being hairy is often perceived as "dirty" in the modern era: but in fact, body hair can be kept perfectly clean. 6) until the 1300s when the bubonic plague pandemic hit, people did not care very much about body odor. When the plague came, people began to believe that bad smells were the cause of it: and started heavily perfuming themselves. Before that, perfume was not much used in Europe. This is also often erroneously perceived as "dirty" in the modern era. However, even clean bodies do in fact have a natural smell: which will be apparent if one makes not effort to hide it even when one is perfectly clean.

[@DharaGrace]

@@sophiejones3554 Yup. I knew that. I guess the humor was lost in my writing. I might also add that body odors were also lessened by using smoke. This was the method of "cleaning" clothing for quite some time because of the use of natural fibers, like wool and linen, that would shrink. Thanks for the breakdown, though. 👍✌

[@tracymcgrath1192]

My scalp itches after 3 days

[@bigawesomewatermelon9511]

​@@tracymcgrath1192That's because of the way we take care of our hair today. They took care of their hair back then. It wasn't itchy.

[@AlamdaAli]

I thought you were going to say having sex 😂 bc nobody would sustain having sex with a dirty significant other

[@tonieundertwenty]

As a black woman I need to tell you that the picture you showed weren't box braids, those are cornrows. Both are protective styles, just that box braids are individual braids, not braided down to the scalp. I do sincerely appreciate the inclusion of black hair care in this vid, so I hope my comment doesn't sound snarky or critical! Edit: just for added clarification, box braids are made with large square parts, usually around 2in x 2in, but that's not a hard rule. They have that name because the parts are reminiscent of a box 😊 In general the what you call the braids will indicate the size: Box braids > individuals > micro braids Hope this helps folks who are interested in knowing more about black hair 😸

[@SnappyDragon]

Thank you for the correction! There were not a lot of good CC-licensed photos of braids available from my reference photo sources, so I did my best with what they had labeled as box braids. I appreciate you taking the time to point this out

[@coal.sparks]

Thanks for commenting because I looked at the picture and went "huh, so that's what box braids are." Knowledge is power. :D

[@sonorasgirl]

Thanks for the education! This was so kind ☺️

[@sashadee7434]

No shade, but if you look at the picture, only the part is cornrowed. The rest/most of it is in fact box braids.

[@xzigalianisiochfhradha3204]

This is so interesting to learn! Thank you!

[@Kayavod]

As I always say: "People in the past were as stupid as we are today."

[@sigridvanosch1990]

Yes, and today it seems more obvious because of the internet.

[@Dagger893]

This is a mood

[@mom23js]

@@tatumergo3931 I think thats exactly what he said. In opposition the people in the past are as smart as we are today. Same thing.

[@ivoryas1696]

@@tatumergo3931 Nice correction!

[@carmengogeidnas9670]

@@tatumergo3931 yes they had the common sense to worry about sailing off the edge of the earth, to put leeches on people when they got sick and the common sense to enslave women and children because..well, why not??

[@morganahoff2242]

When I was a teenager, I used to wash my hair every day, because I thought that was the norm, and in order to get my hair, "under control" -- it was prone to cow licks, and sticking out funny. Then my father brought a book on hair care home from the library, and it included tests to find out what kind of hair you have, and instructions how to care for that type of hair. Washing it every day made my hair brittle and itchy, because I have dry hair. I started washing 2-3 time a week, depending on activity level, and my hair improved in texture and controllability. People with thin, oily hair are disgusted by this, because they imagine hair would become gross if it weren't washed every single day. But that's the lesson: there isn't one right way to care for hair; figure out what type of hair you have, and what works best for you.

[@g.y.perelechow3587]

I have thin oily hair and I still don't wash my hair daily because I can literally feel all those chemicals damaging me. Recently I had to use a different shampoo than what I normally use and let me tell you my scalp has been out of control. Like literally there was more dandruff than oil, I didn't even think this was possible. And sooooo itchy. So yeah I'm just kinda reinforcing your point, but also be really careful what shampoo you use because those few days have been a living nightmare. Oh and don't forget that there might be certain things your scalp requires and your hair not or the other way round.

[@dontcallmenessy]

I washed my hair daily when I was a kid and it was always dry. I had first year Hermione hair and I couldn't figure out what was wrong so I blamed it on my curls/waves and thought it would behave better if I straightened it. Nope, turns out if I just wash it twice a week it actually retains moisture.

[@jazzcatt]

Even we with thin, fine, oily hair should NOT wash daily, or even every other day. It drys it out, makes it brittle and even more prone to breakage. I should do it once a week but I don't. I go as long as I possibly can, which means sometimes its for very extended periods of time. I find my natural oils tend to protect it much better than if it's constantly stripped of them.

[@matheusrocha8731]

I think only in US there is this norm for people to wash their hair daily (maybe due to a stronger propaganda from haircare industry?). In my country, it is normal for people to wash 2 to 3 times a week. As a kid (in the 00s), I washed once a week, and as a teen and adult (in the 10s and 20s), 2 times a week. Currently I'm doing a no poo experiment, and haven't used shampoo/conditioner for ~5 months. By washing the hair daily, the body adapts itself to produce lots of oil daily, to counterbalance the oil removed with shampoo. Then suddenly stopping to wash daily lead to the accumulation of lots of oil. To prevent this, the washing frequency should be reduced gradually.

[@S0lstickan]

@@matheusrocha8731 I've been using the no poo method as well, since 2012, because as you said, shampoo cleans -too- much. It also cleans away -all- the oils, which actually helps protecting the hair. So when stopping with shampoo it -will- get greasy much faster....... at first.. until the hair gets used to not having to overproduce oils anymore. So stopping shampoo is a bit of a transition phase where you will for sure have greasy bad hair for a month or two depending on hairtype and length and other factors, but eventually it will feel fresher, stronger, and healthier. I had short hair when I started nopoo, so I was lucky on that part. My best friend with longer hair started no poo a few months ago and it was definitely more visible for her, but nowadays her hair is just so much healthier than before. I also wash my hair only 1 time per week, because we don't really need more than that either (at least not my hairtype), and i often ger hairstylists asking me what products I use to keep my hair in such a great and health shape (I do have long hair nowadays), and they are always so surprised when I say that I wash my hair once a week at max, sometimes less, and I only use a regular conditioner, and water, no other products. :)

[@karenm8952]

I spent 10 days camping in the Sahara and quickly learned to wrap my hair in linen like the Tuareg. It was beneficial even for the very hot weather, which seems counter-intuitive. People who live in that climate know much better than we do how best to live there--really a no-brainer. You also see more of the natural, un-dyed linen because once it's dyed it is less absorbent.

[@Wendelile]

As a person who actually lives off grid without running water and really struggles with my hair because I can only wash it at friends houses. Thank you! I can definitely learn to cover my hair and help keep it clean. I'm not sure why youtube recommended this video, but thank you.

[@laurahill9643]

If you can get a wood or bone fine-tooth comb, that will help when combing. The wood/bone will absorb oil from the scalp and then help deposit the oil further down the hair. And if you're particularly oily, a vigorous firm scrub with some clean linen will take some of the excess out. But you have to really do it every day, or the hair oils can start to smell bad. From what I've read (haven't had a chance to try it yet) the linen rubbing works for body oils/sweat too, as long as you also change underwear daily. Most of that smell is from bacteria waste.

[@maggiethedruid9010]

@@laurahill9643 where can I get a comb other than Amazon?

[@laurielegrand3162]

I have no idea what kind of climate you live in :) but rain water is always recommended on hair in old books, I find it also really lovely on the skin. One of the tricks for good simple rain water harvesting is to clean the containers you harvest in often, to prevent algae and other things to contaminate it.

[@jasminflowerz1710]

@@laurielegrand3162 Can you please tell me a little more about this since for a long time I've noticed how amazing rain water makes my skin look and feel! I figured it might have something to do with the oxygen in the water droplets. There have been popular skin oxygenation machines that have been around in the skincare industry and stars like Madonna owned one as well and was/ is one of her top favorite skincare secrets, I recall.

[@AS-tg6ik]

Also idk how long you have been living off the grid but if you used to wash your hair alot ur hair will go through a period where it's transitioning not having the shampoo and will produce more oils until it's back to natural balance if this makes sense

[@carolempluckrose4188]

I'm just 67, with the greying hair that goes with being a Caucasian female. Also, according to one GP, some of my medication might be responsible for my hair thinning significantly. I cannot stop taking the medication, since it's helping to keep me alive. What I have done is not wash my hair routinely, only when it really needs it. As an experiment I only brushed it for 3 months. Result, hair that is now growing again, it's actually half way to my waist again. It's thickening up and NO, it's not dirt. Has anyone noticed, not really. My husband is delighted it's growing long again. Sadly, it's still greying but I can live with that. It's my badge of honour that age and maturity has earned me. I'll take that.😉

[@ashleejones1690]

I know of a multitude of girls and women who are paying to have their hair turned gray, so try not to feel sad that yours is naturally going that way! And it is, indeed, a sign of your success in life! 😄💖

[@lolaWWEWWFpunk]

Hey :). I was wondering did you apply any oils or so?

[@dbwhab4150]

Going grey since I was 16, at 25 like 20% of my hair is grey already 🤣 no need to be sad about it, it’s nature😊

[@cyndirankin]

I am 58 and went through an illness that caused me to lose much of my hair. It has grown back but is now grey and dye doesn't cover it up. I have embraced it, because I still have hair. Yes, it is waist length.

[@SunsetKitty]

I've had grey hair show up since my teens Nutritional stand point, zinc and copper help keep hair from going grey and tend to be deciding factors in it turning grey. Seeing as I was in the throws of severe eating disorder life during my teens it doesn't surprise me that some hair strands turned grey because I was deficient in pretty much everything. Now I'm healthier but still have trouble getting zinc and copper in my diet. Not saying it'll solve all your problems by increasing your zinc or copper intake, just that it may help reverse or prevent it from progressing faster. No guarantees, just some friendly information that may or may not be helpful.

[@kulrigalestout]

1:26 Huh, that explains a lot about something I never gave a second thought about after reading. There was a short story I read a long, long time ago for school about an upper class girl who went to sea for some reason, and a brutal storm hit. Every able bodied man had to chip in to keep the ship afloat. She couldn't abide being useless, so she went out and helped (much to the surprise of everyone aboard). The captain recognized what a great job she did and the eagerness with which she worked, so he let her perform duties as a regular member of the crew for the rest of the voyage. Eventually all that work with ropes and whatnot chaffed and calloused her hands really badly, which for an upper class person in general was awful but was especially bad for a dainty lady like she was supposed to be. But she took pride in her rough, beaten hands and the hard work they represented. Anyhow, when she returned home after the journey her parents noted the sad state of her hands, to which she said one thing; "I had to do my own laundry". Her parents bought it completely and without question, and resolved to send for the best doctors to treat her "condition". At first I thought it was just commentary on how the upper class does not understand what it's like to work an actual job, but now I know it was probably inspired by the horrible soap of the day. Also, as a guy who shaves his head because taking care of hair more than an inch long is beyond my understanding, I have no idea why this video was recommended to me but I'm glad it was. Cheers!

[@thompsonfj1]

Do you remember the name of the story?

[@toilestothewall]

I remember reading a story like this in school, too. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle?

[@elirchi9214]

@@toilestothewall YES thank you!!!

[@elirchi9214]

@@thompsonfj1 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle!!

[@AemiliaJacobus]

Thank you for this! There's a misconception about dental hygiene in the Middle Ages too, but many skulls from that time show adequate dentition. This was before sugar became wildly available. Poor people would "brush" their teeth using tree sticks and grind salt and cloves together if they could afford them. It was thought that bad breath caused the plague back then. Interesting side note: oil of clove is a natural remedy for toothache to this day.

[@SadisticSenpai61]

Yup. Cavities really only became a major problem once sugar became available en masse - especially among the upper classes which were able to afford the new commodity. Cavities didn't explode among the lower classes until sugar became cheap.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Yeh back then poor teeth was a sign of wealth because sugar was expensive

[@burnttoast111]

@@mickvonbornemann3824 Yeah, and gout was considered attractive for a time for that reason, too.

[@LiaMari]

I read that. Years ago I also read that because they didn’t have refined sugars their teeth were less likely to cause problems.

[@SadisticSenpai61]

@@LiaMari Outside areas where they grew sugar cane or were close enough to trade for sugar cane, the primary source for sugar was fruit - typically whatever fruits grew in their regions or close enough to trade for.

[@suzzanahbessette6989]

I only wash mine once a week as well! Curly hair isn't meant for all that washing and harsh products.

[@SnappyDragon]

Also if it's gonna take 6 hours to dry I'm not doing it any more often than I have to 😂

[@lucamannstein2587]

I have short(er) curly hair and to keep it curly despite brushing (my hair is wavycurly but gets straightish from brushing) i wet it in the shower but only shampoo it once a week at most. Dry scalp? Don't know her anymore since i started with that.

[@Wika-jt1rg]

I have straight hair and I wash them only once a week too haha but I wear them in braids all the time, that's a good lifehack, I recommend it :D

[@corasgrove3474]

I started the curly method a few months ago and have gone from washing every other day to about every 5 days - my hair is adapting to it. PrettyShepherd said she does hers monthly.

[@bubblegumlie4918]

I like to wash mine every 2 days- It is just so itchy and dry and I cant even pass my fingers through it bc of so many knots TvT And bc its a bit curly if I brush i look like a bush- Does anyone know if washing hair that often is bad? And if it is how do i make it stay without knots for longer??? TvT I have tried using those white creams to brush hair- they work but i think they make my scalp extra itchy, im now using oils… is that bad? TvT i dont really have anyone i can talk about hair with… TvT

[@user-ud7rf6ft5r]

I found that curling the hair helps it stay cleaner - maybe because it doesn't touch the scalp as much as when it's flat.

[@unrulycrow6299]

Also, the sebum doesn't slide on the hair as much because of the fiber of the hair. Cue curly hair also being on the drier side and requiring oil to compensate.

[@hadbetterdays8118]

True explains why type 4 hair can survive 1 week to evan 2 week I'm proof

[@j_.simonef]

@@hadbetterdays8118 i have 4c hair and i wash it like once a month, and it doesn't get greasy

[@foodlover8003]

Because it is harder for an oil to travel throw the ➿ curls than straight hair. So having curly hair will make your hair less gressy, physics! . 😂

[@CynBH]

It's also because people with curly hair don't touch their hair as much (it gets frizzy). Human hands are gross unless they've just been washed. It's also why you're told to avoid touching your face if you have constant breakouts.

[@heidiemanuel955]

I love your focus on “it can be both - we can appreciate historical ways of doing things and also be grateful for the way we do things now” (paraphrased!). This holistic, flexible, both/and mindset is what we need more of in every area of modern life, PARTICULARLY social media! Thanks!

[@finnian5588]

I just wandered across your channel. My daughter loves historical hair styles because she doesn't wear cosmetics (skin condition prevents it). Recently, I commented on her pretty hair braids wrapped around like a crown and she replied, "Thank you, I was inspired by hair from France and England in the 1500s! In Italy they would've worn a veil." "Oh my, I am outta my league here," I thought. I subscribed and passed on your channel to her all because of your honesty. Thank you

[@possumaintdead]

I remember my mother used to go to the beauty parlor every two weeks for a “wash and set.” She didn’t wash her hair in between. This was back in the 1960’s. I think lots of older women still do that. My stylist where I go has several older customers who come once a week for the same service- a wash and set.

[@lynnb2562]

This has always been a curiosity to me. How did she keep it from being smushed in bed? Did she keep it styled the same way all two weeks?

[@possumaintdead]

As I recall she used a hairnet at night. Besides that, I’m not sure. I was pretty young at the time. There was always a can of Aquanet in the bathroom, so maybe she combed it out as best she could and then sprayed the heck out of it. Maybe someone else can supply the answer. In the 70’s she went to “ a short, curly permanent,”. Which she urged on all her daughters, much to our horror! We didn’t get them.

[@faas0mmer]

@@lynnb2562 Same style the whole time, and curlers with a hair net were used to prevent crushing at night or to reinvigorate the curls. The permed "helmet hair" style was a shortcut way to achieve the same look. I remember visiting my grandma and she and my great-aunt would get together once a week to do each other's hair. My other grandma still gets her hair done like this iirc.

[@ohayouashley9404]

@@lynnb2562 I’m not OP, but my grandmother also always had this done. She would get a wash and set, and for nightly care, she’d put her (dry) hair onto Velcro rollers and wear a silk bonnet to bed.

[@possumaintdead]

@@faas0mmer I don’t remember the curlers, but there were curlers in the bathroom, so that makes sense.

[@fannyduvillage]

Being surrounded by people with mostly short hair and a love for washing hair daily, I stopped telling that I wash my hair normally every two weeks. I have it braided or in a bun and if I do dirty work I have my hair covered. I am so glad to hear that there are more people not washing their hair on a daily basis 😁

[@SnappyDragon]

I know the feeling! I have two housemates with short curly hair and I am mildly pained every time I look at their shelves in the shower 😅

[@JuliasHairJourney]

I do the same thing.

[@dawnlovescouture2644]

Hair shouldn’t be washed every day because it’s drying even for oily hair. But, no matter how many times you tell people, they won’t believe it.

[@amiegamble1678]

I have a pixie and I wash when it gets dirty. (Once a week, sometimes more) I mostly brush it out. I do work in a factory setting, but my hair is mostly covered by a hat. I don't use a ton of hair products.

[@daylightbright7675]

Are you kidding? If I washed my hair every day it would be soooooooo dry and brittle 😅 I usually only wash mine once a week, but I will wash it more if I really need to. When you've got fine hair like I do, washing every day just isn't an option if you don't want a fried, frizzy mess lol

[@KeyClavis]

The egg yolks would actually work quite well. They're an emulsifier, which is why they are used in Mayo. It would allow the excess scalp oils to be washed away with relative ease... although I might add a drop or two of rosemary oil to the yolks to deal with the smell. Eggs don't smell all that good.

[@jamiwhiting4361]

I have washed my hair with egg yolks before, it works well! Almost too well, I felt as though my hair got a little too stripped of oils. But using the whole egg kept it greasy. You also have to pay attention to the temperature of your water because I HAVE had to pick pieces of cooked egg out of my hair 😅

[@dementedtomatoproductions605]

I like to use lemon but I am definitely looking adding rosemary with the egg and lemon now.

[@SingingSealRiana]

Using Rye flour works very well too!

[@mollyunlimited7234]

When I was a little girl (I'm 64 now) I loved listening to my grandmother and letting her brush my hair to get the tangles out. She was born in 1891 and told me all about the 100 brush strokes. It's really fascinating to learn how practical that really was, and also that I should probably have listened more carefully as I would have avoided a lot of tearful mornings having my mother try to detangle my long hair before school! Thanks so much for this information!!!

[@aquatera3815]

It's amazing that you knew someone who was born that long ago, how long did she live and what did she think of all the changes that happened in 20th century, if you don't mind me asking?

[@mendocinogirl]

My Nana was born in 1889 and used to brush my hair too. She also told me about brushing and brushing until it shines, but she also said I was “tender headed” because I complained when she caught a tangle. I also remember rinsing with apple cider vinegar sometimes. It made a great rinse!

[@welcomeUNKNOWNx]

"so does that mean you should throw away all your modern hair care?" "but we're not medieval people, and we don't live in the medieval world" me, half way through braiding my hair up: "too late."

[@KKIcons]

Lol me too, and not looking back. Now it doesn't feel right unless it's up and covered.

[@KKIcons]

Although when I do wash it, I am glad to have the modern products.

[@persephonehades7547]

@Tiger Lilly If you just buy your hair care products at a local supermarket, sure. But there are tons of options that are healthy.

[@beeseekswool2392]

@Tiger Lilly you can find a lot of diy conditioner, shampoo recipes etc. online or dip into your pocket and buy some of the custom made, organic stuff from small business owners. Just look around a bit.

[@ddl4374]

😁🤩🤗

[@annettepohlke205]

Thanks so much, you just fixed one story I remember vividly from my grandmother. I remember a conversation with my grandmother when I was a teenager, where she explained that she didn't wash her hair more often than maybe once a month or every other month and would instead brush it with a hundred brush strokes daily. I was so grossed out in that moment, because I knew how my hair was greasy after a week (the normal time to wash your hair, only obsessive weirdos wash it daily). And I felt like everyone else in the car was a little embarassed by this practice that we saw as the strange quirk of an old lady, who probably found it too demanding to wash her hair as often as it is normal. Through your video I just learned that I got it all wrong and that my grandmother simply followed the hair care practice she had been growing up with, being born in 1899. Just as I still follow the hair care practice I grew up with in the 1970s. I so much wish I had not written my grandma's explanation off as old people becoming more and more strange with old age, but asked her to elaborate. But back than I didn't have the experience and insight to understand that she was a valuable witness to knowledge that was about to get lost. Or rather I knew this, but was only thinking of historic events, like she could still tell stories from both world wars, but it took a lot longer for me to realize how daily routines change so much with time and how they are as historically relevant as wars or inventions.

[@jazzcatt]

I too, do not wash my hair very often. When you do your body produced more oils to compensate for the loss.

[@ravingcuriosity6345]

Damn! Your words just spiraled me into worrying about the future and regretting stuff from the past. It's time to ask a million questions to my parents while they are still around! Thank you for making me realize this while I still have time!

[@wallofgratitude]

When I got my hair cut every 3 months, my hair professional would ask how I kept my hair so shiny. I would tell them that I didn't use "product" and only washed my hair once a month. Some confessed that they did the same. Now I haven't had my hair cut for almost two years. It is easier to wash long hair less frequently.

[@shashameowgaming8664]

As a curly-haired person myself, I find it very relatable to wash my hair once a week lol. My friends always give me ‘that look’ when I say weekly instead of daily. Felt so happy when my other friend, also with long curly hair, said the same thing lol

[@alzychoze6591]

I am so jealous- as I have thin straight hair- so it looks dirty fast.

[@janedoe7187]

I always get "that look" too. I feel like a lot of people assume I only shower once a week because I tell them I only wash my hair once a week. Like seriously??? Yall heard of shower caps right???

[@shashameowgaming8664]

@@janedoe7187 lol ikr!🤣🤣

[@shashameowgaming8664]

@@alzychoze6591 I straightened my hair once, but I still washed it once a week lol. It was fine actually

[@vickymc9695]

Yep, tryed washing mine more frequently in uni to fit in... Oh god no the frizz and damage. Got timed with me being too drunk to say no to hairdryer too. The puffyness was really something.

[@permafrost0979]

Love love love the shout-out to black protective styles. I hope ppl can then understand that cornrows, braids, locs, etc don't stop our hair from being clean, but actually cause our hair to require less frequent washing.

[@ldcraig2006]

And hopefully stop people from ignorantly shaming cultural hairstyles.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@ldcraig2006 I don’t get people who do that. Why do they care if someone has a different hairstyle? It doesn’t hurt them in any way. You can tell if someone’s hair is clean or not by the odor, and as a white person, I can tell you the grossest hair I’ve ever seen or smelled was on other white people.

[@ldcraig2006]

@@evilsharkey8954, I'm with you on this. Many people tend to forget (deliberately) that this country was built on diversity. The U.S. covers nearly 3.8 million square miles. I think there's enough room here for everyone to live their lives peaceably, not hurting anyone. Too bad there are nimrods out there who missed the memo.

[@ratatataraxia]

I’m a man with long hair, I thought brushing was just to get knots out. No wonder my tips are always so dry! Thank you SO much! *Thanks for all the advice!

[@zoelawrence568]

You can also try putting shampoo only on the roots, or maybe leaving more of your conditioner in. Split ends also feel very dry so might be worth a trim if the ends are looking rough

[@toxicjay8562]

For my hair I typically shampoo then conditioner then use a leave in conditioner mixed with different oils ( like coconut/olive ect) and a product called super skinny I wash it every 2 to 3 days maybe this will help❤️

[@vanaa2130]

@@toxicjay8562 what type of hair do you have? The oils might prevent water from getting in causing dryness

[@toxicjay8562]

@@vanaa2130 really thick 2a/ 2b hair ? It’s really thick but with very light waves Both paternally and maternally I have very thick hair

[@vanaa2130]

@@toxicjay8562 sweet texture! Yea the heavier oils may be good for drier types, maybe a lighter hair oil would be good? Moroccan perhaps? A fresh trim always helps too

[@davidserlin8097]

Excellent video! I particularly like the last few minutes where you say that history does not have to be a zero-sum game. A lot of people don’t quite understand that. Thank you for your insight.

[@ellesimmons730]

I actually haven't washed my hair with shampoo in years and basically just use water and a boar brissle brush to distribute the oils. It actually works very well for me

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Yup, when I used shampoo I had to wash my hair every other day or I'd itch so much I'd scratch my scalp bloody. I still use conditioner on the ends when I have my weekly scrub under hot water because I work outdoors a lot and wind dries it out, but my scalp adjusted pretty quickly once I stopped stripping all the oils out every other day! And even though I started colouring my hair again (just streaks), I've got fewer split ends now than I did when I was not colouring but was shampooing regularly. And I wear a ballcap most of the time when I'm out of the house (I must admit, industrial degreaser does a lovely job getting the greasy stains out), it's always braided and I sometimes oil the braid tail to keep it healthy...

[@ddl4374]

That's Wonderful! Is it long?

[@unrulycrow6299]

Curly hair going more "historical" lady here. I checked haircare methods from the Middle Ages to Edwardian era and it led me to modify my own haircare as I was getting it long again. Right now, I have mid-back long hair, always either tied in a lose braid/lace braids or in an Edwardian bun. I do wet shampoo once every two weeks and in-between I dry shampoo with a mix of cornflour and rhassoul (in part to darken the flour because I have brown hair). I also carefully brush my hair daily. At the end of the two weeks, my hair is barely greasy, and _it's after having gone horseriding at least twice over the two weeks + generally running around for work and other regular stuff_ . My hair has never been so thick and healthy, and while the texture is not fitting nowadays' glossy hair trend, however it's extremely easy to style and I don't even need a hair rat for my bun! I also need less bobby pins to hold everything together and I could go Ussain Bolt to catch a bus, not a single pin would be lost and the hair would barely get messy, because the texture alone contributes to keeping everything in place! Also, it's the perfect occasion to use some great oils with a pleasant scent, like L'Occitane oil from their repair haircare line! For those of you who are curious about old school haircare and very long hair, I recommend PrettyShepherd's channel. She's a Hungarian woman with knee-long hair and she only washes it once a month - and her hair is fine!

[@anasonyc3983]

Thanks for that recommendation!

[@heatherb1700]

I love that channel! I used to get compliments that my hair was some of the healthiest hair people had ever seen because I wore it in a bun daily and only washed monthly. I would wear it down or in a loose braid after washing because it is so thick it takes about 6 hours to dry completely. I did get it cut shorter recently, but it was knee length as well

[@denicecarrasco]

Thanks for the rec, I’m going to check that out. My very long hair gets super greasy after two days, and it looks dingy after just one day. I tried going two and a half, three weeks without washing and it was pretty gross. I definitely wore it up all that time, but it never improved. Sounds like I’ll have to start brushing it a few times a day to distribute the oils.

[@mllesamedi84]

@@denicecarrasco During the Lockdown I checked out "Pretty Shepherds" Channel too and now I am up to a two week intervall.

[@csillaracz981]

As someone with curly hair, how do you manage to brush your hair every day without that just making it really frizzy/puffed up or losing your curl pattern if you only wash it once every two weeks? If I brush my hair it just turns into a bush or I'll lose my curl pattern and I have to wet it again

[@melissamenchaca9121]

I’m definitely a protective style convert, since finding Morgan Doner’s elasticless hairstyles I’ve worn my hair in various braided updos. I thought I had good hair but oh my word it has flourished; grown so fast. That combined with a modified curly girl method of cleaning and I don’t think I’ll go back. Never underestimate the wisdom of ancestors.

[@SnappyDragon]

I spent a good chunk of Pandemic Times with my hair up un a ballet bun. It's *finally* growing really long!

[@ragnkja]

Not having to brush out loads of tangles several times a day has definitely done my hair some favours ever since I started to wear my hair in braids all the time about a year and a half ago, and pinning the braids up with the ends tucked away as I’ve been doing for the past six months or so probably hasn’t hurt either. I currently wash it every six days, and will probably not extend the time between washes any further until after the summer.

[@creepydude94]

what's the point of hair being long if it's always in updos though?

[@ragnkja]

@@creepydude94 The updos, most of which only work with long hair, perhaps?

[@SquishyCow]

@@creepydude94 After a certain length having your long hair up is necessary because it gets in the way of everyday life. Then you can wear it down for special occasions and pictures

[@pixiemeg]

I also only wash my hair once a week! And yes, meticulous brushing makes a huge difference. Pro tip to those wanting to brush more and wash less, using a natural fiber brush helps! Boar bristle is famously good for this purpose but i use a paddle brush with wooden "pins"/bristles and it does a great job.

[@cfoster6804]

Yep, I use my wood brush first to help detangle and distribute oil/stimulate the scalp. Then I go in with my boar bristle to further distribute natural oils and clean the hair and scalp.

[@merianyas1162]

I've found that sandalwood combs are also absolutely amazing at redistributing scalp oils through the length of the hair. Even after just one combing, the difference between plastic and sandalwood combs is extremely apparent. My hair is so much smoother and silkier since switching. I'll never go back to plastic combs.

[@MrSmitheroons]

I thought going in that I just wanted to know what they used to do, but your analysis and context added so much. "Why" people do what they do is so important, so talking about the safety of water, and the style trends, and how class/status/wealth/styling plays into it... And the development of modern haircare products and clean sanitation changing how we style... Thanks for the whole rounded look at this topic! There's a lot that can be learned from the "why" and "how," not just the "what" and "who" and "when". But I think you covered them all!

[@ashleyunderwood1574]

I wash my hair every 7 to 10 days. My hair is way healthier now than when I washed it every few days.

[@heatherlowe7330]

My aunt is a hair stylist and she was always telling us that you really only need to wash your hair every three days or so (depending on your hair type/scalp). So I wash one day, condition the next, then just rinse it out on day three. Been working good and I noticed my hair isn't as oily when I do it that way

[@WackyDemonFire]

Would washing be like using shampoo and conditioner? Or is just getting your hair wet considered washing?

[@sprigganpanda]

@@WackyDemonFire For me I just wash my hair with water and that works fine to get rid of the oil. However my hair is fairly dry, if you have oiler hair water might not get it all out.

[@mhavock]

But I dont think the video is about if washing hair is better, its about how dirty it gets between the washes. I think the video author was suggesting that people wore clean linens etc and did not have loose or hanging hair most of the time especially for work. Therefore it was easy for them to avoid washing too often.

[@CrowMeris]

I did the same when I wore my hair long. It was beautiful and healthy - I wish I could still wear it like that.

[@lesleyharris525]

Hi,my great great grandmother never washed her hair, it was brushed daily with ash used like powder, once brushed it was plattied and wound around her head, at one point she became ill and the nurses wanted to wash her hair, she said no and the doctor was called to make her comply, but the doctor looked at her hair and said no, her hair was clean and he sat asking how she cared for it. 💖

[@Distorteddesignshop]

Smart doctor 🙂

[@ddl4374]

What a cool doctor. Thsnk GOD!

[@LilyORileyReviews]

This was a fascinating little video, thank you! As someone with mid-back hair (moderately oily, thick, mid-coarse) who has a contact allergy to _something_ in shampoo I can commiserate with the no-traditional-washing lifestyle. Over the years I've found that washing every week or two with a mix of finely ground rye flour and warm water, then rinsing with _very_ dilute vinegar and cold water seems to do the trick to keep it comfortably clean. Add in a water-only wash if you've gotten particularly sweaty and it's relatively easy upkeep. I've also had it recommended to me to do something called "preening" where you scritch your scalp all over, then take a section of hair and almost squeegee your fingers down the length to help move oil off your skin and to the roots. It's very calming to do in moments when you have idle hands.

[@maggieo]

The hunter-gathers of early homo sapiens' existence had the same brain capacity as current humans. And where we know how to internet, they knew how to read the land, keep from getting killed, and bring home the warthog, so to speak. Speaking for ancient hair, how about Egyptians? Gimme some Anubis Priestess hair! (And with that hair disguise, I will high-tail it to the Promised Land.)

[@JohnSmith-zk8xp]

fake history for fake people

[@cccpsovietunionisnothingbu2402]

I'm so sorry to burst your bubble. Egyptians did cut their hair very short, sometimes getting rid of it completely, in order to avoid head lices and the like. What you see in pictures, which is beautiful, is WIGS made out of natural hair. We have found thousands in the royal burial chambers, surviving in museums all around the world up to this present day

[@TheUkiko]

I love that you mentioned black hair care! When I was still in college a girl heard me talking about my hair and how I don't wash it that often, she then proceeded to tell me that black people's hair is dirty. I wish I could have pointed her to this video.

[@kremove]

I wish you could have slapped some sense into her.

[@deanniematheson1062]

Thats the stupid or nefarious problem right there. Probably the latter. Infuriating.

[@fletcher0411]

I've been on a ton of medicine as a result of my disability and it often causes hair problems so I would ask my black friends and hair tips bc I didn't want to wash, comb or pull at my very fragile damaged hair. Also would use extensions to protect but they're a lot to maintain black women are far more experienced in this so I get my advice from my black friends that I know have worn extensions longer than me.

[@somedingus3222]

I mean being black myself our hair "being dirty" when not washing it for more than 3 days (I only wash mine once a week) is technically true and there's nothing really wrong with that. How would you define someone who only showers once every 3 days to a week? You'd say their skin was dirty even though their skin is technically healthier. There's plenty of research (based on empirical data i mind you) making the case that we should only be showering once every few days (i shower every other day) to almost never. If you want to attach an unnecessary negative connotation to the word dirty thats on you. If the person you're referring to is using the word to associate black people hair with only being dirty in a negative manner thats on them. I don't mean to come off as rude, but please don't act as if someone is ignorant simply because they used words with fitting definitions that you happened to take the wrong way and get offended by. Hair is healthier when you don't wash it as often, but it is by definition getting dirtier the longer we go with out washing it (it is literally accumulating residue throughout the day including dust which EVERYONE considers a dirty substance) and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Now if they were to have used a word like "disgusting", a word that always has a negative connotation attached to it, then you would be right to hold them in contempt due to their ignorance, but that's just not the case here.

[@kremove]

@@somedingus3222 the girl didn't tell the OP that her was dirty, but that Black people's hair is dirty. That's a big difference.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I know a woman who does look after her hair “the medieval way”, though she does put it under the water in the shower occasionally (usually when she’s been sweating), she just doesn’t use anything else on her hair. And her hair is fine. It’s not a soft and shiny as what it would be were she to use modern hair are, but it is easier for her to manage, and it certainly doesn’t look dirty. A lot of people forget that the reason many (mostly white) people have so much oil is because we strip it so often, which leads to our scalp producing more oil. Those of us who wash our hair less (mine is washed every two weeks or so) do t have the issue of excess oil partly because we don’t strip all the oil out every day. That, and I have dry, curly hair, and a dry scalp anyway. If I tried to wash my hair daily, it would break off. So it’s definitely possible to not wash with modern methods and still not have anyone notice. Personally, I like my post wash hair, it’s the only time I’ll wear it down. The rest of the time, it’s safely away in a plait or braid, or occasionally in a bun on top of my head.

[@khaxjc1]

My grandmothers friend doesn't wash much or use products either. For her it started when she was staying abroad and didn't have easy access to a bath or shower. At first she made an effort to wash it in the sink but eventually taking the time to wash her hair like that was just not a priority so she took to twisting it up and wearing a bandana over it. A few months later when she first got home so many people randomly remarked on how much healthier her hair looked and asked what she'd been using that she kept it up and its now her norm. She always insisted the first month was horrible with her hair getting disgustingly oily but after that it stopped producing so much oil and was fine. Hearing this made me do the research and find out more about why it might be and then I tried for myself thinking its winter, Ill sweat less, and wear hats, get through the worse of it and then maybe wash it every couple weeks. I lasted three days. i gave up as it was just so oily and itched and I couldn't bare it. Since though Ive tried so hard to wash my hair less but unfortunately my scalp always freaks out or my ocd kicks in so at most its two days, but usually only one. Still I try my best not to on days Im not going out and I have noticed my hair is healthier since I started. Like you wash days are when I wear it down and am happy with that. The rest of the time its a french braid or I twist it up and stab it with a knitting needle to hold it back. I use less shampoo, its just a little bit greener, and my hairs happier so over all the small change did do some good.

[@michellebyrom6551]

@@khaxjc1 have you tried just rinsing your hair with water for every other shower? No styling products is the reason my 59 year old hair has always been good, I'm certain. A spot of oil (grapeseed, almond, coconut or whatever is on hand) warmed by the fingertips and stroked along the length of the hair doesn't hurt. Minimal use of hairdryers and hot appliances too.

[@kitty79532]

I only wash my hair with shampoo once a week and condition it . My hair isn't curly but it's very dense and dry . I wear it down pretty often and it still doesn't get greasy . I do rinse my hair with hair with just plain cold water if I've been sweating alot . Never looks greasy or unkempt and for most of my childhood I had hair to my butt

[@sakinashakur7431]

Thanks for sharing this. My hair loves when I wash every two weeks. Wondering if you have any tips on scalp care because sometimes my scalp does feel more itchy

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@sakinashakur7431 a yearly, I’ve found using an AHA skincare product (a toner I’d pretty gentle that it Lilley won’t cause any irritation) on my scalp right before I was has made a HUGE difference to how my scalp feels. It’s a chemical exfoliant that I use on my face most days (like I said, it’s gentle- I use the Some Bi Mi toner). And that exfoliation really does cut down on how flaky my skin gets. But it usually still gets pretty bad in winter, and so the day before I wash, I moisturise it. And yeah, it makes my hair look awful, so it’s a night before type thing (and a bonnet so it doesn’t make my pillowcases too greasy). But my major issues are dryness and flakiness, and scalp skin is just skin, so I treat it similarly (though not as often) as I do my face skin, same products and all. That’s not the advice of a professional, btw- just what I do that works really well for me.

[@faithreturns333]

In the 1990s I sat down to have my hair styled and cut by a famous hairdresser who's now dead. She jokingly said that she wouldn't be living too much longer and that the industry joke was why do you never see an old hairdresser? Well the answer is because they let their hair set too long. Meaning that the chemicals that they have been using since the 1930s have been so toxic That You Don't See older hairdressers because most of them died from cancer. The twentieth century was good for many things but it was not good for the use of chemicals

[@nomadak723]

"I only wash my hair once a week." Me too, and people act disgusted when I say that as if I don't wash up! :D No darlins, I'm keeping protective oils in my hair and preventing it from breakage, my hair is healthier this way!

[@daunwilson2669]

This tbh

[@xSaraxMxNeffx]

My favorite is people who think you cannot physically take a bath or shower without also washing your hair. "I only wash my hair on wednesdays" YOU DONT BATHE?! Child, please

[@SingingSealRiana]

​@@xSaraxMxNeffxIT goes further, Like people think ITS Impossible to wash yourself without showering . . . . .Like of cause you can, one really does Not need to shower everyday unless one IS Like really physically active, but one absolutely should wash everyday

[@SingingSealRiana]

​@@xSaraxMxNeffxfor me they are compleatly seperate Things. Bathing IS for confort, I will wash while doing that, while Inam at IT, but ITS Not the Point. Showering IS once a weak or after I got dirty through physical exercise or Something, washing IS every day twice, and washing my Hair IS whenever I feel the need, Most often Not AS Part of showering but Bend over the bathtub. I brush my Hair twice a day, I almost Always wear it at least braided, Most often Up and quite a Bit covered. Since I Work in Woodwork thats plain the Most practical Thing to do, IT keeps me safe, undistracted and my Hair clean

[@hollynotholy]

I think either way we're making a "more natural ingredients" comeback, though, with the realization that some products are bad for the environment (or, at least, polluting the environment that is optimal for survival of us as human beings nowadays; who knows what kinds of creatures might benefit from the mess we're making).

[@SnappyDragon]

Definitely here for more environmentally-conscious haircare. Although, the downside was that I had to swipe my housemate's shampoo to photograph because mine is a bar 😅

[@hollynotholy]

@@SnappyDragon Holding a bar shampoo would, indeed, not have the desired dramatic effect. As I've been going more environmentally conscious, it really does seem like most people around their 30s and younger are starting to do a revival of old wisdom. The amount of people reverting to home-made stuff, growing their gardens, buying less industrialized products and bulk buying on local markets really makes me think back when trade markets were all the rage (y'know, before CAPITALISM) and idk, it surely does feel like we're trying to look at the past and learn a little more from it going forwards, because we're clearly not doing okay. Considering the amount of research power the internet gives us nowadays, spreading knowledge about dying skills and sharing tips on alternative lifestyles is much easier than just a couple of decades ago. Thanks for the amazing content, V!

[@rcamels3042]

Wonderful video! This makes me think of the “no shampoo challenge,” where people who don’t wash their hair regularly with shampoo actually, over time, get less greasiness in their. Because we shampoo so often, our hair is extra greasy when not washed because it is constantly replenishing what is stripped when washed

[@xanfsnark]

I started doing the no-shampoo thing during lockdown (mostly because I had issues with an extremely itchy scalp). It looked terrible for a while, but now it looks and feels good. It does make my hair have something of a mind of its own though. It doesn't need more work, but it does require more judgment about what it needs when.

[@utharasubhod9828]

I rarely use shampoo in the first place 😅

[@qwandary]

You don't really need shampoo unless you have harsh pollution and dirt in your hair tbh. It's a harsh chemical afterall. Even the sulphate free ones, still are detergents. You can use natural products like Apple Cider Vinegar for both shampoo and conditioner! Try it out! 2 in 1, cheap, natural, and you can eat it so you know it's safe. And eh, if it doesn't work for you personally, you can put it back in the kitchen, no problem.

[@rosewater1674]

Personally I’ve never really used shampoo, mostly because I don’t really have much patience for it when my curly hair takes ages to care for. But whenever I do use shampoo it makes my scalp all itchy and it feels much oiler than normal.

[@TheItalianoAssassino]

I tried this like year ago out of curiosity (male). Turns out it's like not washing the hair at all, it doesn't do anything.

[@starrywizdom]

The longer my hair is, the less often I tend to shampoo it, because it takes so long to dry & I HATE hairdryers. It's nice to know there's some historical precedent for keeping hair clean via brushing & covering -- I often do braids &/or wear hats & scarves. Thanks for your balanced perspective & informative video!

[@Aestheticweasel]

Hello! I've got very fine and straight hair so I can't really give up conditioners and stuff for a normal hair routine, but I occasionally use shredded oats and nothing else to wash my hair, mostly when hiking in nature for a long time when I need to wash my hair in lakes and streams. It works surprisingly well! Also brushing it all the time. So yeah, medieval people had the right idea actually. And people before that given as combs are actually a very common artefact of the bronze age and iron age and the oldest combs actually come from the stone age :-)

[@ragnkja]

I also have very fine straight hair, and I either have to use conditioner and brush my hair several times a day, or I have to keep it in braids, in which case I don’t use conditioner because it makes the hair too slippery. For the past couple of years I’ve done the latter, and even though my hair is longer than it’s ever been before (it’s now just about down to my bum) it’s a lot easier to take care of than when I wore it loose.

[@InariDoll]

Makes me wonder if taking a page from the medieval book will help my hair

[@MaridithSmith]

It really helped mine

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

@@MaridithSmith really?

[@margaritamariarodriguez3588]

Try it! Results may surprise you! Brushing with a natural brush and rinsing with water is gentle on hair. My hair got very soft and smelled really good actually!

[@christinewashburn102]

Ever since Morgan Donner taught me how to tape my hair (which is knee-length) it literally never gets dirty anymore. I'm a gosh darn ballet teacher, so I am constantly sweating, and yet my hair doesn't get sticky or smelly or anything anymore. I'm down to washing my hair twice a month (with regular modern products), just because it isn't necessary. My scalp isn't either oily or dry or itchy or anything. Also? Taped hair is pretty much the best hairstyle I've ever tried for dancing! The only hairstyle that can stand up to a petite allegro and not come undone even a little bit!

[@sakinashakur7431]

Thanks for sharing this! Would love to wash every two weeks. Any tips to avoid itchy scalp?

[@christinewashburn102]

@@sakinashakur7431 I brush my hair with care before I braid it and tape it, and then I brush it again after I take my hair out at bedtime. I also use cotton ribbons which I wash after they get sweaty. That's really all I've had to do. Easiest way to take care of long hair ever!

[@kaylee8130]

Are you talking about tape In extensions? Or is that something in the video I can’t watch the whole thing

[@christinewashburn102]

@@kaylee8130 Hair taping is not tape-in extensions. Hair taping is a hairstyle that is secured using a ribbon. Morgan Donner teaches how to do it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqG3aWmwbph4mZo

[@Wormwoodification]

@@christinewashburn102 Thank you so much for the share. Watched the vid. I loved it and the idea. Gonna try hair taping now. 💛

[@YT4Me57]

Years ago, my colleagues and I (teachers) engaged in a conversation about haircare during our lunch period. We learned quite a lot about the different approaches to taking care of one's hair based upon hair type. It was the first time I'd heard that straight haired people most often washed their hair every day! I was astonished, knowing that if I attempted that practice, I'd be bald within a month! It was the first time they had heard that we with curly and afro textured leaned towards washing once a week or even longer intervals.

[@AlexaFaie]

I have straight fine hair which used to be prone to greasiness and I'd wash it daily, but eventually started going longer between washes and now do a month. It no longer gets super greasy, its easier to manage, the ends don't dry out as much... just wins all around.

[@vonniebunny8049]

I've used egg yolks to wash my hair! It makes my hair soooo soft and shiny. But it's a bit of a hassle so I only do it a couple times a year. I also haven't used commercial shampoo or conditioner in... about 5 years. My hair isn't super amazing or awful and disgusting. it's just consistently nice and much easier to deal with. No dandruff anymore either which is a plus.

[@kassandra8973]

What are you washing it with instead?

[@vonniebunny8049]

@@kassandra8973 water. I shower every day but just use water. Once a month/every couple months I'll use baking soda paste and then vinegar.

[@BarbMiltner]

In the late 70's early 80's Suave used to make a product containing egg yolks but it was discontinued. My hair has never been so healthy or shiny since then, until recently when I stopped washing it daily. I now wash it every week or so... but it took a long time to get to that stage by increasing slowly, slowly, the time between washings.

[@TheGothicSunrise]

I wash my hair once a week, and have given up hair ties. It's usually braided or taped (with a ribbon and pins) up into a bun. Ive honestly seen more results for minimizing breakage with giving up hair ties while keeping it tied back/up and using satin (preferably silk, not polyester) pillowcase than I have from any modern product product I've tried. I also use heat styling RARELY. like... Maybe twice a year for a special occasion. Modern life is hard AF on our hair.

[@ShannonLambert]

I have long hair that I color pretty dramatically, and I can manage 2-3 weeks between washes if I'm diligent about brushing it out every day. Even in the height of summer I don't wash more than once a week, ever. But as you point out, I also keep it pinned up most of the time, which helps a lot. When I do a wet set I can make that last about a week before I have to get all the product out of my hair. It's fascinating how much marketing + different style trends have influenced so many parts of our modern lives.

[@jenhalbert3001]

Thanks, this is super interesting. And I feel less weird about washing my hair once a week with nothing but conditioner. My scalp is crazy dry and, hey, it works for me.

[@littlestbroccoli]

Seriously one of the smartest and most well researched videos on hair care I've ever watched. Thank you for sharing. I want to try out older hair care because no matter what modern product I use, my hair is dry, splitting and falling out in clumps. If I could grow long hair, I'd be so happy!

[@louisaruth]

good luck! my hair is long, and i use apple cider vinegar on my scalp with a spray bottle as needed (once a monthish) and then rinse it out using shampoo for horses (Cowboy Magic. their conditioner, detangler, and shine are also excellent). then i twist my hair up in cornrows, french twist all that together, and put it up it hair jaws (SoHo makes super fun styles, but they are $$$). covered with a bandana, this hair style has gotten me through warehouses, backpacking, and skiing with very little time actually spent on my hair; as a result, most people think i have very short hair. i try to find time to brush it more, but never actually do. oh well, it seems fine. when i do, i alternate between a Wet Brush Pro Detangler and a fine tooth comb, brushing out each row of hair and twisting it back in place. i started with rubber bands, but i don't need them anymore. this routine might not be what you're looking for, but it is my own modern version older hair care. in college, i learned about how slaves maintained their dignity and their personalities with virtually nothing at their disposal beyond their wits and traditions; they inspired me to keep my hair long so now it is very healthy and happy. hope you can do the same :)

[@des-astre]

I love your conclusion, I think it’s important to explain to people that there are other things than extremes.

[@jengranneman1036]

I really like that too

[@kattkatt744]

I had to completely stop using shampoo because of allergies, and after that all hairdressers have been in awe of my hair, they always comment how healthy it is. A rinse with water, or using the conditioner with the least amount of ingredients I could find if it is very dirty, is working better than any shampoo I have ever used. If there ever is a scam in the beauty industry, I truly think it is the haircare they sell us.

[@lenabreijer1311]

I have allergies too but to scents. It is so hard to find unscented shampoos. I can get unscented dog shampoo easily but human shampoo cost double regular shampoo. I have been tempted to use the dog's shampoo....

[@arletteschu]

@@lenabreijer1311 try it! Or maybe there's Baby Shampoo without scent? I feel like WE treat Babies and pets a lot better than we treat ourselfs 😄

[@lenabreijer1311]

@@arletteschu I haven't found any unscented baby shampoo, only lightly scented but it is always floral scents which are the worst for me. Oh and sulfates! I can't handle them either. I have tried using the unscented castlile soap but it leaves a dull film and my hair feels dirty and limp.

[@JP-qy6el]

@@lenabreijer1311 try the brand 'Child's Farm' if you can get it

[@ajkious618]

Lena Breijer Look on Etsy! Etsy is great for that sort of thing! :)

[@gabrielgrill234]

It's such a joy to listen to someone who not only not only presents interesting, well structured information with passion, but also speaks at a similar pace to mine! I understand why it's not the norm but it can feel tedious waiting for what feels like a trickle of information in many educational videos.

[@ModernMoonbean]

Thank you! Lovely and informative 🧝‍♀️I I left behind shampoo and cream rinse years ago. Since using shampoo and cream rince strips your hair of its natural oils, your scalp produces more oil or sebum than it would normally. After a while of not using shampoo or creme rinse, your scalp evens out the amount of oil it produces. When brushing your hair use a boars hair brush to pull the oil through. There are a couple of other things I did to get started and do now, like rinsing my hair with apple cider vinegar and water, but it’s very easy to maintain my hair and it has much more curl and body now then when it was weighed down from waxes and other ingredients in shampoo. Thank you again for the video, Blissings

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

There is also a type of wild grass that is insect-repelent, and was used across Eurasia. While in Europe, it was mostly to protect hair from lice, in Eastern Cultures, it's used to protect rice from all types of vermin.

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

@@ah5721 Me to. I also read that their are several other grasses that do that.

[@darthszarych5588]

@@ah5721 yes. That sounds right. I love lemon grass because it smells so nice and goes very well in some herbal teas

[@shy2114]

@@ah5721 lemon grass can also be used as food spices

[@user-bk2xs1ur5k]

insects don`t like the smell but I like it en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_absinthium

[@eric_the_egggremlin]

It's less "caring about my hair" and more "I cannot find the emotional strength to give a shit" but I wash my hair at most three times a week, and sometimes I can go two weeks with just a rinse. I don't brush my hair tho, because I've been keeping it really short for years now and I just h a t e the feeling of brushes/combs on my scalp. Sound good, sensation BAD. Also don't wear wool hats to bed even if you're shaved bald and your room is 60F or less. It Will Not Be Pleasant.

[@SnappyDragon]

I cringed at the wool hat! My hair and I would both die.

[@eric_the_egggremlin]

@@SnappyDragon the weirdest part is that my hair is an eldritch abomination that suffered no damage whatsoever. Cursed Keratin.

[@naufalap]

I'm a dude with short hair and have been trying nopoo since may, my hair looks nice but preening it daily is tiring I don't know if I'll continue this on or go back to shampoo, either my oily scalp have gotten better or I'm just getting used to the feel of it

[@patriciaanderson8556]

This just popped up on my feed for some reason, but it reminded me of my grandmother and her older sisters talking about how they kept clean in a log cabin in Colorado. First, my grandmother was the youngest child of 8 children. Her parents homesteaded in Teluride, Colorado in the 1880's. Yes, that makes me a pretty old woman. She had 6 sisters, and it was too cold to wash your hair during the winter. To keep their hair clean, they would thread a "rope" of cotton through a brush. They would start with corn meal, which absorbed the oil, then using the brush with the cotton in it, they would brush it out onto cloths on the floor of the cabin. When they finished, she said it was like silk, shiny and clean. They would wash themselves and their hair by shaving fels naphtha soap into a container and letting it sit with water. They would keep pouring the opaque water out, filling it with clean rain or melted snow water, until just a jell was left. Used with rain water, it left the hair clean, shiny and not dry. Even as old women, they always had beautiful shiny hair.

[@sofiamelchert7578]

A personal anecdote to add to the concept you mentioned of updos protecting the hair - I have been wearing my hair up in a twisted bun with hair sticks almost every day for like a year and a half now, and my hair is SO healthy because of it. I have mildly curly hair, and so I figured out if I added just a little bit of shea butter to the ends, it makes the curls nice and stay moisturized. With this and the twisty bun, I literally don't think I could even find a split end if I looked for it, and I have not trimmed my hair in like 8 months!

[@Khensani]

I’ve always kept my hair up in braids or a wig most days so I’ve never felt the need to wash it often. I thought I was just being lazy, because EVERYONE is so insistent on frequent washing but glad to know my gut instinct was right. Also I have 4C hair which I think doesn’t require as much washing as straighter textures?

[@SnappyDragon]

Among my clients at least, the tighter their curl/coil, the less often they need to wash. I think, if your hair is happy, then you're doing it right!

[@florivalentina3400]

But why do you always wear a wig?

[@Khensani]

@@florivalentina3400 I don’t have the time to deal with styling my natural hair every day. Plus it’s the safest way to experiment with colour and heat styling without possibly damaging my hair

[@ThePinkBinks]

If I understand right, you make less oil at the scalp so you can get away without needing to wash much longer than, say, me with thin (although very curly) hair and white skin. I have oily skin though. I couldn't get away with needing to wash as infrequently as you. I'm envious of your hair. lol

[@raapyna8544]

@@ThePinkBinks I think straight hair lies flat on the scalp, and the oil takes shorter time to reach the ends because of the form of the hair and gravity. My hair gets oily mostly by the scalp, and then it slides down towards the ends. I have straight hair.

[@adelehorn4422]

as someone with oily hair, I can promise you, no amount of fresh handkerchiefs will keep my hair from being oily and gross. And i own a boar hair brush, and it does in fact not distribute enough oil to be helpfull in keeping the roots less oily.

[@teberikpala7570]

How often do you wash your hair? What products do you use as haircare

[@cookie856]

@@teberikpala7570 I litteraly wash mine 1/month and I have the same problem. Granted, nearly all my skin cells also think they're sweating gland, so could be a me-problem

[@clockworkhearts4085]

I feel like boar bristle brushes make my hair look *more* greasy because it pulls it off the scalp and soaks the top of my hair

[@teberikpala7570]

@@cookie856 that sounds tough i’m sorry! Idk where you live but where i’m from you can get shampoo/ products to deal with that at the pharmacy by describing your problem to the pharmacist. They gave me a shampoo that helped when i had dandruff stuck to my scalp that felt itchy af

[@anyascelticcreations]

You might like a cowash. Basically very mild shampoo with conditioner mixed in. I started using that when my hair was oily and long. I was eventually able to just wash with conditioner some of the days. Or maybe conditioner with a tiny bit of shampoo mixed in. I've never been able to go more than a few days without at least rinsing and conditioning either, though. And I got a boar's hair brush, too. My hair is so thick that my scalp just laughs at the idea of the bristles ever reaching it. So, I don't use it at all.

[@maryjogarascia9790]

What a fun video! I have been experimenting with non-shampoo methods of hair care for years. These days, I rarely even "wash" my hair. I brush it carefully and completely once a day - my hair is thin and fine - and when I do wash it, it is usually just with warm water in the shower, followed by a vinegar rinse (1T vinegar to about 2 C water, with a few drops rosemary oil). When I feel the need for a sudsier wash, I use a recipe that I developed over the years: 1C water with 1T baking soda, 1-2T Dr Bronner's soap, and maybe some essential oils and maybe a tiny bit of Argan oil. That suds up nicely and then I follow with the vinegar rinse. I LOVE feeling free of store-bought, chemical-laden shampoos!!! It is a process, and takes awhile to adjust to not shampooing all the time, but I have found the effort to be worth it. Thanks for this affirming video!

[@jackielou68]

I actually stopped using modern hair ties 2 years ago (maybe longer) and switched to wearing hair up every day with hair sticks and pins. My hair is SOOOO much healthier and doesn't have the breakage it had when I was active duty military for 8 years. It has kind of become one of my soap boxes now. I am a reenactor and vend at Viking, Renaissance, and Celtic festivals so I actually get to demonstrate medieval hair care methods and teach people how to use hair sticks and pins instead of elastics! :)

[@scouttyra]

I've tried washing my hair with an egg and lemon mixture, and I found that it worked well. This (minus the lemon) would probably be attainable by anyone who had access to eggs, so from lowly farmers up to royals. It also explains why famed redheaded children's book character Pippi Longstockings said something along the lines of "doesn't matter, eggs are good for hair growth" when getting egg in her hair while making pankakes

[@helgaioannidis9365]

Actually my mum used to wash my hair with egg yolk when I was a toddler, just as her mum had done with her. I'm German, my grandmother's family were farmers in a Bavarian village and she was born 1905.

[@helgaioannidis9365]

@em ! I have no idea. We don't have anyone in our family who's allergic to egg. And I can't ask my grandmother what other families would do, because she died 20 years ago.

[@mamasgotmoxy2914]

My mother was a cosmetologist. I have some of her books from the 1950's and there is an egg and lemon was recipe in there. We can learn so much from each other!

[@marialagattuta5438]

This is so d**n cool lol

[@Pearl1010]

Her: talking about hair and stuff Me: can’t stop looking at her curls

[@melanietoth1376]

Her hair is beautiful

[@johnmanno2052]

Excellent! Superb! Some of THE BEST historical critique I've EVER heard! Brava!!!

[@sisterspooky]

The Ancient Egyptians used to braid their hair (or wear faux hair) to protect against lice. The information you shared is absolutely historically accurate! Good video.

[@Giraude]

I have noticed that when I'm at week-long historical recreation events, my hair stays a lot cleaner when I put it up and wear it under a head wrap or a coif. Even something as simple as a flour sack towel made into improvised medieval headgear makes a lot of difference...and on a hot day, the light colored fabric actually helps keep my head cooler!

[@kittimcconnell2633]

One very hot day at a living history event (105f with about 50% humidity), I tried putting a veil on and the difference was AMAZING. I felt cooler instantly. I do prefer a straw hat or an umbrella/parasol on hot days, but a white cloth head wrap also helps a lot with heat.

[@KiraBKADestroyerOfWorlds]

And yet, people assume that Muslim women who cover our hair, must be hot all the time🤨

[@fionacreates]

I definately started brushing my hair "100 times" about once or twice a week (not quite a day!) as someone who has dry hair the distribution of oils from just brushing for 10-20 minutes has made a huge difference to the condition my hair, more so than any synthetic product!

[@auditoryeden]

If you haven't discovered boar bristle brushes yet, I have great news for you 😁

[@fionacreates]

@@auditoryeden I have a very close synthetic equivelent! It's majestic... though it puffs my hair up like crazy so I do it before I have to get my hair wet cos unlike these historical folk I am not about to braid it again when I'm done XD

[@tammysummers5892]

My grandmother did this every night before bed and she had beautiful hair to her ankles up until her death at 72!

[@jamesgoogappssmith5359]

I have ZERO interest in styling, BUT your video is superbly expertly prepared + delivered. Kudos to you for excellence.

[@macktruk13]

I wish you had videos on multiple topics because I could watch you all day

[@athelise]

I only wash my hair about once a week, too, but that's because I've had colored hair for almost a year, and am very sparing with washings (My roots have grown out significantly, but it's still deep pink at the ends) and I've noticed my scalp has itched less with not washing it as often, and had gotten less oily the longer I get used to not washing as much as I used to, and my colored hair seems relatively healthy. I tend to French braid my hair often, and just brush it when it gets oily.

[@manekakapoor1612]

Also I'm English on my mother's side, so people in England often washed their hair in some fat or oil and rinsed it off in cider or peary which people were more likely to drink than beer and ale. Also there are soap companies in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy that go back to medieval times. Mediterranean people often washed the way the Romans did, rubbing on olive oil and scraping it of with a stigil.

[@karahershey]

Rich women and poor women washed there hair in different ways rich women could afford to take a bath once a week and have clean water brought to the As Elizabeth I did

[@manekakapoor1612]

@@karahershey my mother's family are from the north of England and were poor and lower middle class farmers. They had clear running streams, and washed their clothes in potash lye. They washed their hair in linseed oil and rinsed it in peary. What they wrote about their daily drudgery goes as far back as the 1660's. Interestingly I have inherited an immunity to bubonic plague from them. I donate blood every year to make a serum to help people who get bubonic plague.

[@ceremonyofcrones3202]

What is Peary?

[@manekakapoor1612]

@@ceremonyofcrones3202 perry. It's like cider but made from pears.

[@yarnpower]

As an aside, I used to wash and condition my long hair daily, but gradually switched to once or twice a week, just wetting it on the off days while showering if it has curled weirdly while sleeping. I brush it twice a day. My hair is healthier. I think all that shampooing removed too much natural and needed oils from my scalp and hair. The scalp responded by making extra oil which made my hair greasy looking after a day or two.

[@coffeewithmia7498]

Cute and fun! Love the blue streaks! I think you’re spot on about our assessment of history. Thank you!

[@LordOfTheFood]

As a fellow licensed cosmetologist and historical fashion nerd, I am SO GLAD that I found your channel. Thank you for posting this!

[@missmeakat]

I would LOVE more historical hair content, especially techniques for curly hair or zero waste. I still haven’t found a method that can do both, so keep looking to history to see if someone else has cracked it!

[@youreokay3847]

Your vibes are absolutely impeccable

[@jaynefranzinoromero1640]

Fascinating material! A very professional and engaging video, you're ready for Prime Time TV. Really, not kidding!

[@oliviamainardi9321]

As a Caucasian woman I've had long hair (below the bust or waist) since I was a child. My mother taught me to wash it every other day but now as an adult I wash on average every 10 days... sometimes 12-14 depending on how dirty it is. By not washing it so often my hair grows faster and is much more healthy with minimal breakage. My barber even commented how she only sees me every 7 months or so haha Highly recommend rethinking your hair care routine.

[@KateeAngel]

I actually haven't been in a salon for over 9 years. My hair is relatively long (hip length), but doesn't grow longer, its quality is far from ideal, but ok I guess

[@karahershey]

I can't do that long hair but I wake up with a very oily hair every morning it's dirty

[@hudanightowl]

@@karahershey Same, it's so oily and greasy and some dandruff maybe I can't leave them more than 4 days, even if I am sick. If I don't wash them after 3 days they become stiff, fall and break alot and the itch is unbearable and I need to double shampoo to clean them properly which makes them drier.

[@mrs.hatfield1451]

I've always had long hair too, right now below my waistline... I wash my hair once a week and that's just right for me. I keep my body washed, but my hair does well my way... I think we know as individuals what is best for us.

[@user-bk2xs1ur5k]

what hairstyle do you wear and what type of hair do you have? May be it`s dry and it`s right way to wash it not often.

[@EamaneEarane]

I went from washing my hair every other day to twice a month, without my hair looking or feeling dirty. I also got my hair to grow waaaay longer (from just below shoulder length to where I can sit on it by accident). How? I started wearing my hair either in a bun or braid at all times, and I wear a scarf when I go outside. Sounds very medieval! I had no idea! Lol

[@eyesofdovesbytheriversofwaters]

How do you prevent greasy hair?

[@canyenguenuevo5432]

One charming addition to the range of hair care products is an old silk scarf or handkerchief, too old and faded for use. But after brushing the hair (yes, the 100 strokes my grandmother told me to do) you can bring up a lustre that modern products can't match by polishing the hair with the silk. To do this, pick up a group of hairs near the scalp (like a hairdresser picking up some hair to put colour in), wrap the hairs in the silk, and pull the hair all the way through the silk loop. Then just repeat until all the hair has been polished by the silk. This works on any animal hair, and it brings up a wonderful polish on cats or dogs for shows. And when you polish horses for dressage events their coat glitters in the sun. By the way, don't try 100 strokes twice a day with a modern nylon hairbrush - it will break the hairs. You do need a real bristle brush for that. The reason why silk and bristle were used in the past is because that is what was available. But the reason they work as they do is that both silk and bristle are protein-based, like hair, and so they don't damage the scales of your hair or break the hairs. They do truly work with you hair.

[@markp6062]

Stumbled on this video. Found it fascinating! Thanks for the history lesson!

[@xiluvOreox]

This is so delightful to watch V! As a fellow curly and someone who's little hobby in lockdown was learning about properly styling and caring for it for once, I too became very quickly disabused of the notion that not washing your hair meant it was filthy. I love hearing someone who really knows both the history and the hair talk about it!

[@historiansrevolt4333]

Great research as always! One small quibble though. Water was only really suspect around cities and towns. Most sources in more rural areas were safe (though not all). But, it was still a pain to transport daily for washing on top of other needs!

[@ragnkja]

The main reason they drank small ale (much lower ABV than the stuff they reserved for the evenings) instead of just water was for the nutrients. A pre-industrial farmer needed as many calories per day as a modern professional athlete, so drinking small ale, which they considered “liquid bread”, was a good way to get enough water, energy and electrolytes to do all the work.

[@blimibarker4089]

I have to recommend Shadiversity's video on the matter. He basically says they didn't just drink ale instead of water.

[@linalibre]

@@ragnkja Research actually seems to indicate that beer was invented and consumed as a grain product long before bread became a reality. My husband loved hearing that~

[@ragnkja]

@@linalibre I don’t know if beer predates _all_ bread, but there’s no doubt that it predates _yeast-leavened_ bread, since bread-yeast is actually beer-yeast. Whoever first thought to take a bit of barm from the brewing vessel and add it to their bread dough changed baking forever.

[@melt.3568]

I love your pace! Quick and informative but not overwhelming 🤘 GOLD 🥇

[@KellyRaila]

I've been amazed how much a simple french braid will keep my hair feeling better between washes. If I do a couple of small braids with the hair that would usually get in my face & put the rest up in a bun, I can comfortably go days between conditioning, a week between shampoos. It makes my hair color last longer! Also super useful when camping, or when very depressed 🤣😅

[@theathenakeene]

Great pacing! Something that always bugged me with other video essays is like they're 30+ minutes to cover one point. You were clear, concise, and still very detailed. This is probably one of the best video essays I've seen on KZbin- ever.

[@lunamequa]

Thank you for mentioning the similarities of protective hair styling. I am a black woman with natural hair and I wash my hair once a week too.

[@dsa2591]

Now that I'm retired, having perfect hair isn't so important to me on a daily basis, so I tend to only wash it when I have somewhere to go. Wearing colorful bandanas keeps it a lot cleaner, and also, using cornstarch to soak up oil in the hair around my face, which gets oily from my hands, works exceedingly well to give me another day before having to wash.

[@paigemclachlan2189]

Extremely informational while being fun at the same time

[@flightsoffancy9722]

Some good points here. Growing up in the 70's, I constantly read advice in sources like Seventeen that we should wash hair daily or every other day (hair product sales probably had something to do with that). I have coarse, thick and very wavy hair and discovered that it's happier when I wash it only once a week.

[@eileenrouhani6294]

I went to washing my hair once/week or less, but I generally rinse it in the shower so it's easier to braid. I've got it to my waist now!

[@andrysramirez2970]

She talks fast, abundant information. Fantastic research 😊

[@axelkolle9994]

This was a look into a very different world. Very informative and intriguing. Full marks ma'm.

[@RikuYuki]

As an anthropology major, I’m so glad I stumbled on this channel 😃💕

[@sandrasears3981]

My grandmother and my mother would use beer as a rinse once a week for extra body and shine.🍺

[@KKIcons]

Might have to start buying a beer once a month now and try.

[@krystlepoulin6382]

Mine would let mayonnaise dry in my hair then rinse it out with warm beer. The smell was awful but it was softer than silk.

[@gabrielpaludo6913]

My grandmother was a hairdresser in her young days and she told me that they used to rinse their hair with beer for curling.

[@mhavock]

mmm beer, she must have driven grandpa crazy LOL What beer was their favorite?

[@kittimcconnell2633]

@@mhavock cheap beer, and best if it is stale so the alcohol evaporated.

[@GrizzneyGames]

This video was suggested to me and one video in, I am now subscribed. Very well done!

[@heyhey-jayjay2189]

Honestly thank you for this video. Not only is it educational, but also I find it really helpful as a person with depression who struggles to build up the energy to wash my hair regularly. I personally find it extremely difficult to deal with the ridiculously long amount of time it takes my hair to dry, not to mention wash and/or style. So knowing that there are other options than just lathering my hair with dry shampoo and putting it in a clumsy ponytail (it’s not long enough for a bun), means that I don’t have to deal with as much shame about not being able to wash my hair as much as I “should”

[@ddl4374]

Womferful'! Should is a word we cam most often be better off without! Hair washing super frequently is a practice imposed o sell shampoo amd products. Many things prodsic folks ignorantly mock are actually more healthy rolled md and sensible. Like squatting to potty. Sitting 'properly' in a chair is terrible for your health. It's the new smoking. I'm so sorry you suffered misplaced societally inictrd SHAME on too of your depression condition! Maybe just dont tell prosaic conventional conformist people when you do what's best for you asa whole', and do your best. Coping and surviving and being sweet is in itself quite a triumph