Paleo practitioners do more than just keep a rigid diet. They exercise frequently and engage in physical activities, especially outdoors. They also acquire and use few clothes and shoes and generally keep their lives simple. In doing so, many paleo followers no longer use products like regular soap and shampoo for their daily hygiene.
The thought that drives the ideology is that personal care products on the market today actually strip the body of its natural, healthier components. "I used to be somebody who would shower with shampoo and soaps every day," said Sarah Ballantyne of The Paleo Mom, who told U.S. News she ditched typical skin care products because it only made her psoriasis worse. Now, she uses plants, seaweed and all-natural products and has done so in the last three years with - what she claims - good results.
Ballantyne admits it's not always easy to explain this to people, even as she gets compliments for her good hair and skin. But her practice and belief is backed by some experts who agree that too much soap and shampoo can dry or worsen skin and hair conditions. "Unless you have really oily skin, because you are a teenager or work with oils or gases, you do not need soap to get yourself clean. Pure water does the job to get you clean," said dermatologist Brian B. Adams via Science Daily.
Adopting a paleo lifestyle isn't for everyone, but if you're considering making this small change to your hygiene and grooming routine, here are some things you should consider:
1) Transitioning will be challenging.
You can't immediately see the improvements to your hair and skin when you stop using soap and shampoo. You will also smell bad for a few weeks or more as your body's chemical makeup adjusts.
2) Continue to practice good hygiene.
While you could begin shunning baths without using bath products, you would still need to clean yourself as day-to-day activities won't stop your body from getting dirty. Some do a quick bi-weekly five-minute shower, sans the soap and water. Some use all-natural deodorants or deodorant stone to take care of smelly armpits. Some use baby powder to take care of greasy hair.
"For girls, a little oil on a q-tip can clear out crotch funk (i.e. "smegma" between the labia folds). For men and armpits, I'd think powder of some sort would absorb excess moisture and could provide a little pleasant odor. I use Burt's Bees baby oil and powder and it has a gentle, sweet smell. There are also no-rinse cleaning products that astronauts and hikers use, or truncated baths/splashes where you just do pits and bits [without] immersing your whole body," shared a Paleo follower on Paleo Hacks.
If you're curious how an astronaut stays clean, check out this tour of the International Space Station bathroom!
3) Make realistic expectations.
These alternatives are products that deliver no magical solutions. "Everything you do should be done with at least some semblance that you are confident that this product does something - and doesn't do anything negative," said microbiologist Jack Gilbert in the U.S. News feature.
4) Take good care of your hands.
Infections are easily contracted by the hands, so even if you don't like using soap, you should not skip hand-washing, per The Paleo Manifesto by John Durant. Use organic soap with surfactant, which is a compound from saturated fat, per Paleo Leap. Wash hands thoroughly by rubbing them together, going through the fingers and up the wrists.
"I keep a pure olive oil soap for washing hands, which, even if natural, is still soap and is still drying, so I don't use it more than once a day," wrote Vita Pedrazzi via Vita Lives Free.
