On longer trips, we think it is a real luxury to wash our hair. I am the expert at this, and manage to wash my hair in just about one cup of water. Here’s how I do it, using only a washrag, comb, Dawn, plastic cup, and towel.
1. Soak your head in water—get it very wet. This has the added value of making you scream out loud when the water is cold enough. Get the washrag wet as well.
2. Fill the cup full of water, and take everything on the list to an isolated spot far (200 feet or more) from the water. Sandy soil is best.
3. Put some Dawn in your hair and lather up. We like Dawn because it is very concentrated, and it is used by environmental agencies to remove oil from birds during oil spills. It’s gentle.
4. Facing down, use the washrag to rinse/rub the soap out of your hair.
5. Use the comb to comb as much of the soap out of your hair as you can.
6. Now take the cup of water and slowly pour it, a little bit at a time, over your head to rinse your hair. Scream again, if you’d like. Repeat until the entire cup is gone, and your hair is rinsed.
7. Dry your hair with the towel.
8. Comb out the tangles. More screaming. Use your mirrored sunglasses to see where to part your hair.
9. Arrive back in camp looking like a million bucks, and ask innocently: “What was all that screaming about?”
10. Feel good for days afterwards.

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

I pack a sun shower. Yours is a more ultra-light solution, mine offers warm water.

Easier still.... just rub 1/4 cup of corn meal into your hair and brush out.

Quote
Dave

Easier still.... just rub 1/4 cup of corn meal into your hair and brush out.

Yup, that works. Oatmeal works too (and it's easier to brush out).

I'll never use soap in the backcountry.


What also works great for a dry bath (or just wiping under one's arm pits) are Costco's Kirkland Signature™ Baby Wipes.

Just pack some along in an airtight Ziploc bag. They also work well as butt-wipes.

Does it work on pink feathers?

Quote
eeek
Does it work on pink feathers?

Yes, but add a little salt, dip the pink feathered thing in buttermilk first, then in the corn meal, then bake at 350 for about an hour.

Nom nom nom!

But seriously... I just rub a Twinkie into my hair. Gives it a nice sheen.

But seriously... it's been years and years and years since found it necessary to
wash hair out in the mountains regardless of number of days out and
I personally refrain from bringing any soap.
Just ask Basilbop... that bird was taking a bird bath every night for 9 day trip...
me... I just do the sniff test... lift wing, sniff... smells good to me... no washing reqd.

But seriously... if gonna wash... just boil some water and dip the hankie in the
water... rub on face... and other areas... done... and no screaming reqd.

Have a good one

---

Quote
Dave
then bake at 350 for about an hour.

How long if I deep fry?

Love the corn meal solution!

Quote
eeek

Quote
Dave
then bake at 350 for about an hour.

How long if I deep fry?

About two minutes. There's not much inside that's edible anyway. Once you gut the thing, there's not much left.

Quote
Dave

Quote
eeek

Quote
Dave
then bake at 350 for about an hour.

How long if I deep fry?

About two minutes. There's not much inside that's edible anyway. Once you gut the thing, there's not much left.

Is that long enough to be safe?

http://www.spinics.net/lists/fda/msg06839.html

Quote
eeek

Quote
Dave

Quote
eeek

Quote
Dave
then bake at 350 for about an hour.

How long if I deep fry?

About two minutes. There's not much inside that's edible anyway. Once you gut the thing, there's not much left.

Is that long enough to be safe?

http://www.spinics.net/lists/fda/msg06839.html

Yes. The meat, what little there is, on the chicken in question is very stringy and cooks fast. Cook it too long and it melts.

This section of the thread, which has drifted a bit off course, reminds me of a TV cook show I watched while in Birmingham AL some years back. The guest chef was speaking of cooking chicken when the host asked him how he prepares the chicken. " I jes tell'em outright they're gonna die."

---

Old Dude

Comb the hair out every morning to keep it and the scalp from getting too bad.
Every few days change my tee-shirt to a clean one and give myself a t-bath ( take the tee shirt off, drench it with water, wipe everything off I can reach, if the shirt wasn't brown before it certainly is afterwards! )
Clean socks every couple of mornings, use lots of foot powder! ( otherwise blisters )

I find it quite enjoyable sitting and dipping my feet into some nice water while taking a break from hiking. I may have to try the hair wash method though



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2013 11:00PM by marmot.

Quote
marmot
I find it quite enjoyable sitting and dipping my feet into some nice water while taking a break from hiking.

Dip away. I'm confident that my filter can handle it.

I just get my hair cut real short (#2 razor) before going camping (usually Tuolumne Meadows). A mid-afternoon dip in the river near the campground is my bath for the week. Of course, my wife doesn't go camping so it is just my two sons and me. Who cares if we stink?

Ah....but my wife joins me on these hikes!

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

So you haven't learned to just tell her she smells wonderful?

(hint: I have)

---

I do. She has not learned to lie to me about this.

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

From the title of this thread, I assumed it was going to be one of those Yelp-type reviews of a Yosemite-area beauty salon...

Quote
PineCone
From the title of this thread, I assumed it was going to be one of those Yelp-type reviews of a Yosemite-area beauty salon...

It looks like he has the same barber as Donald Trump.

Damn I'm smooth.

---

Dawn has toxic chemicals in it. http://forcechange.com/56884/remove-toxic-chemicals-from-dawn-dish-soap/ http://www.yourpurelife.com/healthy-life/toxic-chemicals-in-our-home/

Was trying to gently maybe possibly make ppl think about possibly leaving
the soap at home. Maybe you've helped. But ppl will do what they want to do.
A nice hot towel does wonders. Washing hair doesn't take the stank out of
the rest of you.

Anyway, have fun out there.
And try to LNT

---

I've always used a stream and the sand there as an abrasive. It gets the top layer of grime off. Or, I just proudly wore the stink that I earned over the miles. That keeps the bears away too. They can smell you coming a mile away and run in the opposite direction.

Quote
Dave
Or, I just proudly wore the stink that I earned over the miles. That keeps the bears away too.

Helps if you have to take a Valley shuttle bus too.

I think many of us proudly wear the stink we earn over the miles---up to a certain point. When you crawl into your sleeping bag on the third night and your nose is still working you begin to think,--maybe I should have cleaned up a little this evening? Will I remember tomorrow?

And not just the smell. If you want to use your bag all summer, it really helps to get some of the larger chunks and heavier oils off your body before you climb in....

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

Sleeping bag liner helps keep stink off of bag and is easily washable.
Wearing long sleved jammies to bed usually does the trick too.

---

Yes--we do wear jammies as well. And they work, as long as THEY are clean,...grin

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

Quote
balzaccom
it really helps to get some of the larger chunks

Chunks of what? I don't think that I want to know.

Quote
snorkus

Quote
balzaccom
it really helps to get some of the larger chunks

Chunks of what? I don't think that I want to know.

Feathers?