General Cycling Discussion - Soap/shampoo combo.

Using the suggestions of some of the good folks here I have been looking for the soap/shampoo combo. This will make things easier when I do my self contained tour. I found it in a retail sporting goods store but don't really want to spend $20.00 on it.

So my questions are this: What would be the problem with combining my own body wash soap and shampoo in the same bottle? Isn't that pretty much what the combo stuff is you buy at retailers anyway? Unfortuantly places like Wal-Mart, Target, etc don't carry it.

Or what would the problem be with just using body wash as a shampoo as well? I always keep my hair very short, almost Marine Corps short. I hate combing my hair and don't like to spend a lot of time messing with it. So that being the case would there be a problem with wither mixing body wash soap and shampoo or just using the body wash as shampoo as well?

When I commute to work I shower at the gym.

I use shampoo for my hair and body wash. Cheap shampoos like Suave. I'd guess that's alot cheaper than products sold as body wash.

Sounds like I'm going to have to conduct another experiment. This one will not blow me up but it may turn my hair funny colors.

I'm going to mix the body wash and shampoo and use it for a week and see how it works, if it works, whether or not it will dry my skin and scalp, etc.

Wish me luck.

The mad scientist is at it again.

I suggest you look at Dr. Bonner's Pure Castille Soap.It is all natural,biodegradable and can be used as soap,shampoo,shave lotion,laundry cleaner and apparently many other things.It can be gotten at GNC or other health stores and I got a quart size rather cheaply which lasts forever and I use it at home all the time(as you dilute it with water for use ).I just put a small amount in a old plastic despensor vial just be sure to use something with a tight lid as I learn the hard way on my first trip.

I did manage to find a bottle of biodegradable camp soap at Wal-mart. It has no specific brand name though it is manufactured at Coghlan's LTD which manufactures a whole line of camping products. I'm guessing that the Coghlan's ranks up there with the Dr. Bonners. So I'll use it.

Aw darn it now I can't play mad scientist.

I second the vote to use Suave shampoo for both applications. The only problem I ever had was when a bunch of wasps attacked my scalp just after I had used my wife's flower-scented shampoo.

I definatly second the Dr. Bronners suggestion. I have taken it on two bike tours and have loved it greatly. It does seem to leave a slight film on your hair, but that doesnt bother me much. I have never diluted it either, I just use a nice small drop.

i vote for johnson & johnson's baby shampoo.

I guess it depends which is more important to you- clean body or excessive drying of the scalp. If you're more concerned about drying your scalp out, I say get a big ole bottle of shampoo and use it for your body wash also. Hey, Brek just re-released their shampoo, and it's as good as Suave! If you use Brek, let me know what you think of that. I'm wondering why they're making that comeback. They had their time in the 70's. What's up with that?

RWTD, I'm much impressed with your all purpose soap. I have colonics once a month... can you use it for that? Seems like that soap'll be good for just about any of those stubborn cleaning problems you might have....;) :D


Koffee Brown

Koffee You must have been reading the literature on the bottle lol.He does tend to overpromote the product among others things .I am not real familiar with colonics but my philosophy is if I don't want to put it in my body I also don't want to put it on my body but then again I also don't tend to get overconcerned with cleanliness as I prefer live with/develope an immunity to germs/bacteria rather than engage in a hopeless battle to try and fight them polluting myself in the process.I guess what I am saying is that I am just a dirty,stinking slob lol.

If your hair is cut short, just use the same soap you use for the rest of your body. Shampoo is formulated using detergents that tend to smooth out the burrs along the hair shafts. This allows for easy combing and styling.

If your hair is cut very short, you are not likely to gain much benefit from shampoo beyond the basic cleaning properties. So, whether you use bar soap or body wash, try using it to clean your hair and save space (and money).

Originally posted by RWTD
I am not real familiar with colonics but my philosophy is if I don't want to put it in my body I also don't want to put it on my

Dr. Bronner's for a colonic? Geeze, the pepermint must be an experience. It's been years since I've used Dr. B's. I gave it up when I realized that, no matter how long I owned a bottle, I'd never read the entire label. It works ok, but I wonder how the peppermint would affect insect attraction. It would be awful to have a swarm of gnats following you on your trip.

Prosody-

It would also be a pain in the butt to have a swarm of gnats trying to chase you to get up your butt if you used it for a colonic!

Hee hee.....

;)

Koffee

I think you misread my reply I did not recommend it for a colonic I was simply stating I try to avoid soaps/shampoos/detergents etc. with lot of synthetic chemicals for any purpose and I would be concerned with the fragrances in those attracting bugs as well .As most of the time whenI shower I just use plain water anyway I don't worry about the whole issue that much though I will concede on tour you do tend to get dirtier so some cleaning agents are necessary.FWIW for tuff stains like bike grease etc. I use Goop a biodegradable /nontoxic product available cheaply at Walmart though it does have some synthetic chemicals.

No, I understood perfectly what you were saying.... I knew you weren't recommending it for a colonic. I was being funny.... or, I tried to be funny.

But a peppermint colonic for real.... hmmmmmmmmmm..... that's gross!


K

The only problem I ever had was when a bunch of wasps attacked my scalp just after I had used my wife's flower-scented shampoo.


LOL


Suave kicks ass... I love that stuff. I use it all the time... and it's CHEAP too!

:D

Koffee I was replying to Prosidy not you but apparently you replied again before I sent the message.Also I agree with the recommendation of supcom to cut your hair as short as possible before a tour .

RWTD,

Didn't misread. Knew you weren't recommending Dr. Bronner's for a colonic. Just trying to be funny, too. I've used Dr. Bronner's in the past. It's not a bad soap, but undiluted the peppermint certainly wakes one up. I also have a suspicion that Dr. Bronner--if he, unlike Sara Lee or Betty Crocker, really exists--just might be a serious nut case.

Prosidy I think I actually meet him approaching Clermont Fl.Turns out he's a homeless preacher with so many plastic bags tied to his mtn. bike he has to push it rather than ride it.J/K but I really did meet such a character on my last tour lol and I probably shouldn't joke about it because he was actually a pretty decent person.I've had my bottle of it three or four years now if I ever finish it I may try something else or perhaps I just need to think up a few more uses for it lol.

Originally posted by Prosody

I also have a suspicion that Dr. Bronner--if he, unlike Sara Lee or Betty Crocker, really exists--just might be a serious nut case.

Dr. Bronner did exist but is no longer with us. He was a German immigrant and a religious eccentric. He used his soap to spread his religious views. His doctorate was self-conferred. He also held irregular credentials as a rabbi. Good soap, though. I think the family still runs the company.

Additional info:
According to his website (http://www.drbronner.com) Dr. B. died in 1997. This webpage (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_386.html) has some additional interesting information. And, Dr. Bronner's soap is the only soap I carry on tour. I take a small bottle of the liquid soap for laundry and dishes. I also carry a piece of the bar soap for shaving and body washing. No problem with gnats yet.

Johnson and Johnson has a new product out for babies that is an all over soap. Hair and body. I use it when I camp, etc. I also like the fact that it is a liquid and I don't have to keep up with a bar of soap.

You learn all kinds of things when you have a toddler.

Blake