this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2025
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This was a time when people had massive bushes and, once shampoo was introduced to Europe, it was quickly normalized for use of cleaning pubic hair too (particularly once it was commercially mass produced).
Soaps/body washes today have a much better pH balance so they don't completely wreck hair but back then they were so alkaline that long term use would be damaging.
The high pH opens the cuticle, which can increase friction, cause tangling, and make hair feel rough. Repeated use can lead to split ends, especially on coarse hair. It also caused significant skin irritation by stripping the body of protective oils.
There's no doubt that genitalia became less off putting for Europeans when commercial shampoo (the original intellectual property having come from India, specifically ayurveda) became widespread. The legacy of which is clear in the fact we continue to use the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word champo to refer to it, even to this day.
Champo is Hindi, not Sanskrit.
You're right it's derived from the Sanskrit capayati चपयति
High pH for the wash, low pH for the conditioner. Baking soda'n'water, water rinse, vinegar rinse.
Works great.
You will certainly strip the hair of natural lipids with this approach. Likely irritate the scalp as well.
Ayurvedic/Indian shampoo (the precursor of current day shampoo) contained antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids, emollients to lock in moisture and surfactants to create a lather. All of which are key components of the shampoo that we use today.
When I was doing it, I did it maybe once a week at most.
I tried the bicarb no-poo stuff for a couple of weeks, it was disgusting. Left my scalp feeling manky and gross. It's way too alkaline to be good for your scalp. Soapnuts/soapwort worked better. The vinegar rinse was good stuff though.