TIME: "You Asked: How Often Should I Shower?"

plngsplsh said:

Do you have any authoritative data on that?




That's also my experience. I find the smell of old or musty clothes far more offensive than the faint smell of sweat.

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-smelling-test-the-genetics-of-olfaction-2192370.html

Once a deleterious mutation occurs in a certain gene, that gene ceases to produce a working receptor and becomes a "pseudogene". But, Lancet says, although all people may have the same proportion of olfactory pseudogenes, each may have different ones. The result is that every individual has a different genetic "bar code" and a different combination of olfactory sensitivities.

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One compound that people famously perceive differently is androstenone, a substance that is produced in boars' testes and is also present in some people's sweat. "For about 50 per cent of people androstenone is nothing," says Chuck Wysocki of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. "For 35 per cent it's a very powerful stale urine smell, and for 15 per cent it's a floral, musky, woody note."

sleepInsom said:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-smelling-test-the-genetics-of-olfaction-2192370.html

Once a deleterious mutation occurs in a certain gene, that gene ceases to produce a working receptor and becomes a "pseudogene". But, Lancet says, although all people may have the same proportion of olfactory pseudogenes, each may have different ones. The result is that every individual has a different genetic "bar code" and a different combination of olfactory sensitivities.

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That quote doesn't say anything in the vein of "a lot of people have sensitive smelling" or "Washing your taint and pits is supposed to be a last resort".

plngsplsh said:

That quote doesn't say anything in the vein of "a lot of people have sensitive smelling" or "Washing your taint and pits is supposed to be a last resort".

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My quotes and the article absolutely do reveal there are a lot of people with higher sensitivities for certain smells.

I don't think many people have ever showered because they were afraid of getting sick. Obviously most people do it to smell better.

Shower once per day, wear clothing items once before a wash, except I'll sometimes wear jeans twice.

Surfinn said:

Just please

Wipe

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You're not my mom!!

sleepInsom said:

My quotes and the article absolutely do reveal there are a lot of people with higher sensitivities for certain smells.

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Where does the article say that? The quote you cited only states that no two individuals have the same olfactory sensitivities.

I could see skipping a daily shower if I owned a bidet. Don't want to walk around smelling like poop in this sweaty ass weather.

plngsplsh said:

Where does the article say that? The quote you cited only states that no two individuals have the same olfactory sensitivities.

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No shit. Do I have to explain to you like a 5 year-old how that translates to a number of people being more sensitive to your stanky BO?

sleepInsom said:

No shit. Do I have to explain to you like a 5 year-old how that translates to a number of people being more sensitive to your stanky BO?

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But you said that "a lot of people" have those higher sensitivities. The quoted part doesn't really contain that. Not to speak of the matter of "washing your taint and pits is supposed to be a last resort".

plngsplsh said:

But you said that "a lot of people" have those higher sensitivities. The quoted part doesn't really contain that.

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You could put in more effort than you do bathing and, you know, read the article in question instead of depending on me to spoon feed you quotes that you're just going to misinterpret and dismiss. But it's apparent at this you're approaching this argument in bad faith and have resorted to arguing semantics.

Yeah I wanna bet those "doctors" smell like ass so no thank you.

I shower every other day, which I think works out pretty well.

I shower every day at the least. If I swim after work, I end up taking two and a half showers that day. (The half being the pre-swim quick shower, with another full one afterward before I head home.) I try to swim at least four days a week, so that's a lot of showers.

Every second day works just fine for me.

I shower whenever I need to pee.

Shower every day Era, please don't go around smelling like ass.

I shower every morning. Used to wash my hair every morning too, but now I just do every other day. Supposed to be better for your hair?

sleepInsom said:

You could put in more effort than you do bathing and, you know, read the article in question instead of depending on me to spoon feed you quotes that you're just going to misinterpret and dismiss. But it's apparent at this you're approaching this argument in bad faith and have resorted to arguing semantics.

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I have read the article. It doesn't say anything about "a lot of people" that are "more sensitive to [my] stanky BO". It mentions the case of androstenone and also that there are people with "a higher than average general sensitivity", but it doesn't mention any numbers in relation to that.

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion (which may of course be nothing more than conjecture) that your rule of conduct to shower daily is solely based on your anxiety to offend a nebulous and hard to pinpoint group of people that may not even be that common or may be even not worth worrying about. I don't share that anxiety, so showering every other day is fine for me.

plngsplsh said:

I have read the article. It doesn't say anything about "a lot of people" that are "more sensitive to [my] stanky BO". It mentions the case of androstenone and also that there are people with "a higher than average general sensitivity", but it doesn't mention any numbers in relation to that.

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion (which may of course be nothing more than conjecture) that your rule of conduct to shower daily is solely based on your anxiety to offend a nebulous and hard to pinpoint group of people that may not even be that common or may be even not worth worrying about. I don't share that anxiety, so showering every other day is fine for me.

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When did a lot = a specific number? This is literally you arguing semantics. Also, if you did read the article how did you miss the percentages? I shower daily because I can smell BO on people and I don't want other people to smell that on me. From the sounds of it you're placing the convenience of saving a few minutes a day over the good possibility other people finds your odor infavorable. Maybe you simply lack that level of empathy, but arguing that you can objectively gauge your own body odor and can safely assume you don't smell because of that is wrong.

McNum said:

Hm, my scalp has been awful this year. Tried quite a few different products for it and it didn't really change. Maybe the answer is only using shampoo on my hair a couple of times a week, and just water rinse it the other times. It's worth a go, I think.

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do u use a shampoo brush

sleepInsom said:

When did a lot = a specific number? This is literally you arguing semantics. Also, if you did read the article how did you miss the percentages?

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A specific number can tell us if the affected people are a lot or not. Percentages in the article only relate to androstenone, which is only "present in some people's sweat" and offensive to 35 %.

From the sounds of it you're placing the convenience of saving a few minutes a day over the good possibility other people finds your odor infavorable.

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You are now switching from BO being offensive to being infavorable. Should I really use water, detergent, and time so as to not be infavorable to an uncertain amount of people, whom I may not even interact with? If you somehow feel the need to be considerate to that uncertain amount of people, whom you may not even interact with, then please go ahead and rinse yourself clean. But I don't share that concern.

Maybe you simply lack that level of empathy, but arguing that you can objectively gauge your own body odor and can safely assume you don't smell because of that is wrong.

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No, I don't think that I can ascertain my own smell objectively. But I can make an educated guess as to how bad it is. If I did not sweat much or piss or poop all over myself, chances are that my smell is tolerable. And concerning the topic of empathy and being favourable towards other people, it might even be better to let others in on one's body odor: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12717314-700/

Baconmonk said:

1. Those definitely aren't flushable, take it from me and a $250 septic pumping bill.

2. You can buy the ones from the supermarket for almost half the price. You'll miss out on the tingly peppermint sensation though...

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I don't use them at home I have a bidet.

It's super hot here in Queens NYC so I shower like two times a day. Especially if I exercise that day or play soccer. Which is like almost everyday.

I only shower twice a week, but I can get away with it because I never stink. I keep up with my hygiene in other ways too so it's all good.

plngsplsh said:

A specific number can tell us if the affected people are a lot or not. Percentages in the article only relate to androstenone, which is only "present in some people's sweat" and offensive to 35 %.



You are now switching from BO being offensive to being infavorable. Should I really use water, detergent, and time so as to not be infavorable to an uncertain amount of people, whom I may not even interact with? If you somehow feel the need to be considerate to that uncertain amount of people, whom you may not even interact with, then please go ahead and rinse yourself clean. But I don't share that concern.



No, I don't think that I can ascertain my own smell objectively. But I can make an educated guess as to how bad it is. If I did not sweat much or piss or poop all over myself, chances are that my smell is tolerable. And concerning the topic of empathy and being favourable towards other people, it might even be better to let others in on one's body odor: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12717314-700/

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lol not only are you arguing disingenuously, you're now arguing that your smell is helping people quit smoking. Hilarious.

If I'm leaving the house or if there's company coming over, and even on days that neither are happening, I'm showering. That's all there is to it.

Once a day. Sometimes if I'm home alone for a few days, I skip out of laziness, but never more than two days. That's just nasty.

TIME please let me know who asked this question so I can strategically position myself upwind of them

I don't go to sleep without showering. Ever.

sleepInsom said:

lol not only are you arguing disingenuously, you're now arguing that your smell is helping people quit smoking. Hilarious.

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It's not me arguing that, it's researchers in the University of Warwick's chemistry department. Maybe you want to point out my disingenuities? If I recall correctly, then our stances are as follows:

YOU: People should shower daily, so as not to offend a lot of people. Washing your taint and pits is supposed to be a last resort.

ME: It's uncertain if you really offend a lot people, if you only shower every other day. You don't necessarily smell bad, if you don't shower daily.

The problem is that we both don't have authoritative data to support these claims, except our own experience. That is probably because smell - at least in the spectrum that we are arguing in - is very subjective. There may also be a confusion as to what exactly we are arguing about. Is it about a general and dogmatic rule concerning showering and smell? Or is it about my individual habits? The former is probably too broad, and the latter beyond your reach. Maybe we should leave it at that.

Two or three times a day depending on activity and the weather.

SonicXtreme said:

do u use a shampoo brush

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Nah, I don't have enough hair left to bother with that. Been trying some anti-dandruff shampoo and other than making the hair smell pretty nice, it doesn't really fix it, it seems.

those doctors must be era users, you cant fool me

Every other day and sometimes I'll skip an extra day if I'm not going out in public. Come at me.

McNum said:

Nah, I don't have enough hair left to bother with that. Been trying some anti-dandruff shampoo and other than making the hair smell pretty nice, it doesn't really fix it, it seems.

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Try tea tree shampoo! It's been the only thing to work for me consistently.

overcast said:

I'm gonna shower every single day no matter what this article says.

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Basically.

I shower 1-2 times per day and never miss a day.

The key is to always moisturize immediately afterwards to keep your skin healthy and young.

ZiggyPalffyLA said:

Try tea tree shampoo! It's been the only thing to work for me consistently.

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My current plan is more getting it cut really short and use skin care creams directly on the skin instead. It's summer and I wear hats outside to avoid scalp sunburns (even with high SPF sunscreen) Might as well make my hair hat-friendly instead.

I bet that doctor is an Era member.

At least once a day, most weeks it's twice a day due to work and gyming. I love being clean.

Every fucking day. Twice if you work out or after some kind of rigorous activity. Don't be gross.

Pet said:

I shower every morning. Used to wash my hair every morning too, but now I just do every other day. Supposed to be better for your hair?

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It is the one time I washed my hair every day it got fuuucked up. Learned my lesson the hard way. Never before had my hair been that harsh to touch. Felt like it got its soul sucked out.

I shower daily because it's hot and humid here in Texas.

Back in elementary, I used to shower once a week. My brother told me I didn't need to shower if I used cologne daily.

Every day. It's mandatory if you want to function in todays society.

Straight up I used to shower everyday but now I shower every few days and it makes no difference. I don't feel dirtier.

Y'all are really defensive about your showering habits.

Y'all gonna be fucked once the world runs out of potable water.

If you're just staying home by yourself, do whatever.

If you don't shower every morning after you wake up before leaving the house to interact with other people you're a sociopath.

I've showered twice a week since I was a kid.

Doing it any more often will dry out my skin.