vintage deodorant ad, circa 1935

On October 31st, 2010, the New York Times published a piece entitled “The Great Unwashed” which featured a number of individuals who are a part of a new “natural” movement.  Some of these individuals have chosen to forgo (or moderate) the usage of shampoo, soap and even showers, while others never wear deodorant.

The article begins with the statement “A DAILY shower is a deeply ingrained American habit. Most people would no sooner disclose they had not showered in days than admit infidelity.” This is undoubtedly true.   Showers have long been a part of the American lifestyle, and the term “the great unwashed” used to refer to something else entirely.

In the 1991 book “Washing the Great Unwashed“, Marilyn Thornton Williams writes that “By 1897… public baths were accepted as one of the important services which progressive American cities must provide for their poorer citizens. Personal cleanliness had become a necessity, not only for social acceptability and public health but also as a symbol of middle-class status, good character, self-respect, and membership in the civic community. If slum tenements failed to provide the poor with bathing facilities so that they could attain the proper standards of cleanliness, then cities must provide public baths to wash the great unwashed. Cleanliness had become a right of all citizens.”

Although Williams’ book is really a study on the advent of public baths, it also illustrates the importance and desire for cleanliness that pervades our society.  A walk through any store deodorant, shampoo, or soap aisle  illustrates that this desire for cleanliness is something that has not faded over the years.  If anything, it seems to grow stronger.

According to the 1935 “Odorono” ad above:

“The care you give to that little closed in hollow of your underarm can make an important difference in your social acceptability.”

Do you think that still holds true today?  Or do you think that our “natural scent” is becoming more and more acceptable?  What about after a workout?  Or on a particularly hot day?  What about when you are on a date with someone new, or a longtime beau?  When you are leaning in for that first kiss?

Is natural the way to go?  Apparently, for some, it is.

Pig-Pen was always one of my favorite characters

But is the “unwashed” movement just a fad, or is this movement here to stay?

1. The move to do away with soap, shampoo and deodorant has been growing in popularity in the last year. What are your thoughts on this trend? Umm…. it scares me?  Just kidding.  Kind of.  I think that, like all trends, this will work for some and not others.   Personally, I could never imagine a life without soap, shampoo (conditioner too!) and deodorant.  I have to admit that out of all three things listed, it’s the idea of foregoing deodorant that seems ludicrous to me.  Have I ever forgotten to put on deodorant?  Sure, doesn’t everyone on occasion?  But to intentionally decide to stop wearing it?  No way.

In the NYT article mentioned above, they share that for 55-year old Jennifer Palmer, the chief executive of Osea skin-care:

“a soapy washcloth under her arms, between her legs and under her feet is all she needs to get “really clean.” On the go, underarm odor is wiped away with a sliced lemon.”

Again, that might work for some, but not others.  I know I wouldn’t feel clean with that regime.  It will be interesting to see how long this trend sticks around.  Movements toward more “organic” products and a more “green” lifestyle have been growing for a long time, but this is something else entirely.  There are ways to be “green” without giving up these things.

Image via cartoonstock

The NYT piece also suggests that some choose to follow this lifestyle because of the “good bacteria” that naturally lives on our skin.

“Of late, researchers have discovered that just as the gut contains good bacteria that help it run more efficiently, so does our skin brim with beneficial germs that we might not want to wash down the drain. “Good bacteria are educating your own skin cells to make your own antibiotics,” said Dr. Richard Gallo, chief of the dermatology division at the University of California, San Diego, and “they produce their own antibiotics that kills off bad bacteria.””

The existence of “good bacteria” on our skin isn’t a new discovery – it was something I learned about in my science classes as a child. I believe that over-washing (i.e.: standing under the shower spray for an hour) and using extremely hot water are bad for the skin. I also agree that the products found in some soaps and shampoos and deodorants can be bad for the skin.  That just means I do (or should do) more research into the products I use.

2. Be honest how often do you wash your own hair? I have long, thick, fine hair that gets oily if I don’t wash it every day, so that is what I do.  Every. Day.  (with a few exceptions).  My scalp gets oily if I don’t wash my hair with shampoo every day, so I make sure to do so.  The only time this isn’t the case is if I get it colored.  On those occasions, I’ll use Klorane Brand dry shampoo for 2 or 3 days, and then go back to my regular wash routine.

I wonder if Alexander Skarsgard is using shampoo?

3. Have you tried to go the more natural route by forgoing shampoo? What happened? Or would you be tempted to try it? I did try it, and it doesn’t work for me.  When I first started coloring my hair in college I tried to wash my hair 3 days instead of 7.  I would still rinse with water when I showered, but didn’t use shampoo.  As I shared above, my scalp gets oily, and having fine hair – it looked awful.  Then I tried 5 days instead of 7.  Same travesty.  So now I stick to the routine I mentioned above.

Image via Google Images

Truthfully, I could get away with only washing it 4 or 5 days a week if I used dry shampoo in my “off days” but I don’t want to do that.  I’m not convinced dry shampoo is any better for my hair than shampooing in the shower, although it definitely comes in handy on the days when you might not have time for that shampoo first thing in the morning or after your workout!

4. What products do you use and have you ever gone with more organic alternatives? Through my childhood and teens, I always used Pantene products.  When I entered college I began using AVEDA because I loved the smell and it made my hair manageable and shiny without feeling weighed down. I also liked the fact the line is a bit more “natural” than others and tries to avoid any unnecessary chemical additives.

Today, I generally use sulfate and paraben-free shampoos and conditioners.  I mostly use Alterna TEN and David Babaii for Wildaid products.  The Alterna product is expensive, but a little goes a long way, and my hair has never looked better or been healthier.

I also use a clarifying shampoo once a week and, on occasion, still use AVEDA products, especially for styling.  However, my styling routine has changed since I began using MoroccanOil.  Lately, that is the only styling product I need!

As for deodorants – I use Secret. Body washes – Korres. Soaps – Dove. I am not that picky on these.
5. What about that daily shower? Would you forgo that opting to shower three times a week instead? Absolutely not.  I work out 5 days a week, and there is no way I would ever forgo a shower following a workout.  I’ve even been known to shower more than once a day (gasp!) because of a late workout.  Hey, it happens.

Showers keep me clean and fresh and they help to wake me up in the morning!  The only way I think I could ever forgo showers is if I absolutely had no choice. For example, if I was stranded on a deserted island or in a third world country where water (or plumbing) was scarce.

I would consider giving up daily showers for you...

What I would love, however, is a “greener” way to shower.  Right now, I use a Jonathan Product Water Purification System in my shower (which I swear it also has made my hair healthier).  It’s a nice start, but it is nothing like the experience I had when I visited Roatan, Honduras in March.

My shower at the Santé Wellness Center and Spa was the best I have ever experienced in my life, even though I had to make it a quick one.  Why?  Because they collect, store and use rainwater on the grounds.  I will never forget the purity of that water and how it felt on my skin.  Pure heaven.  I wish I could set up that type of system here, but I just don’t see it happening…

What do you think of these new trends?  Are they here to stay, or just a fad?

To see what other bloggers are saying about this topic, click here;

For more info on ModlyChic’s Friend Friday series, click here.

This week’s Friend Friday topic is a bit more informal.  Instead of focusing on the ins and outs of fashion and blogging, this time Katy switched the focus to us as individuals.  Participants are to share 10 random facts about ourselves  that people may be surprised to know.

I almost didn’t participate this week because I feel like I have actually shared the most interesting things about me here and here.  I wasn’t sure I could really come up with ten more, but here they are!

1. I am a film fanatic.  I have been known to hit the festival circuit over the years and have been fortunate enough to attend both the Toronto and Tribeca Film Festivals.  Being a Cleveland girl, I have also gone to the Cleveland International Film Festival every year for as long as I can remember.  Some might call me a film snob, but I don’t discriminate between blockbusters, independent releases, classics, etc.  I love to watch them all.  If I am flipping channels on the TV, there are certain movies that will make me stop every time:

2.  Some of you may already know this, but I have a crush on Marshall Mathers III, aka Eminem.  I have had a crush on him since the first time I heard “My Name Is…” in 1999. Don’t judge.

3.  My first real Halloween costume was a plastic Wonder Woman outfit. Do you remember those?  Before the days of the fancy-shmancy Halloween costumes children often have today, we wore bed sheets and went out like ghosts, or wore plastic costumes.  I found this photo online of someone else, but this is the same costume I wore! Classy, right? No matter how badly I wanted to, I just didn’t look like Lynda Carter…

4.  I have yet to find a television show that I love as much as I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Every week, I would watch Buffy and her friends battle the demons and/or vampires that served as an allegory to the trials and tribulations of growing up. Genius. Pure genius. And the writing? Phenomenal.

5. I jumped out of a plane once. It was a tandem jump, so I was strapped to a professional skydiver who knew what he was doing. I was fine up until the moment that I stepped to the edge of the plane. We jumped, and then I decided I wanted to change my mind. Too late. I swore all the way down.

Then, after surviving, I wanted to do it again!

This is exactly what sky-diving was like for me...

6. I hate the idea of strangers touching me. It makes me uncomfortable and twitchy. As a result, I have always shied away from professional massages because the very idea of them freaked me out. That is, until this past March. During our vacation, we ended up going to the Santé Wellness Center and Spa in Roatan, Honduras. I had my first real massage that day, and it was – in a word – heavenly.

I don't think I would enjoy a Spock massage...

7. The nicest compliment I ever received was from a former ex-bf who said that I looked like Laetitia Casta. We are both brunettes. We both have blue eyes. We have similar coloring. Unfortunately, that is where the resemblance ends! Clearly, my ex needed glasses, but nevertheless, I smile every time I think of that!

I wish I looked like this...

8. Although I enjoy Strawberry Twizzlers, I hate black licorice with a passion. I can’t stand the taste (I think it’s the anise). I can’t stand the smell. Yuck.

Since I am talking about dislikes, I can also add that I don’t like the taste of rum in desserts. It can be a pretty common ingredient in Serbian desserts, and for the longest time my mother would try to trick me and say there wasn’t any in whatever it was she had made. Unfortunately for her, I could always tell. I could taste it. I could smell it. And I didn’t like it. Still don’t.

Yet I absolutely LOVE Tortuga Rum Cakes. I know, it makes no sense.

Yummo!

9.  I know every single word. to the songs “Baby Got Back” and “The Humpty Dance.”  Can you sing along?

10.  I love watching scary movies.  I’m not taking about slasher movies like the usual Freddy and Jason flicks.  I am talking scary, psychological, get into your head and mess with your mind movies.  My favorites include:

What are some interesting facts that people may not know about you?

To see what other bloggers are saying about this topic, click here;

For more info on ModlyChic’s Friend Friday series, click here.

I don’t like the idea of a stranger touching me. It makes me uncomfortable in a twitchy sort of way.

Taking that into account, is it any surprise that the idea of getting a professional massage has always freaked me out? I mean, that is some pretty intimate touching.

I can handle a hug. A pat on the back.

But a massage? By someone I don’t know? The very idea of it always gave me the hibbe-jeebees.

Until the magical day I stumbled across the Santé Wellness Center and Spa.

Santé Wellness Center and Spa - the main house

I had been preparing for an upcoming Western Caribbean Cruise by researching each of the ports we would be visiting. It was when I started reading about our final port – Roatan, Honduras – that I first heard about Santé. It seemed like no matter where I looked (cruisecritic.com, tripadvisor, or random internet searches) I kept reading about Santé.

So I checked it out. I was intrigued by the idea of a spa visit, but that whole massage angle kept bothering me. Yet I kept reading. And when I started having issues with my back and shoulders, I read some more. Deep tissue massage. Scary. Aztec Stone Massage. Cool but still scary. Swedish massage. Sounded painful.

I was such a scaredy-cat. Me? Get a massage? By a stranger? The thought of it almost made me break out in hives.

Then I read these words: “Caribbean Cooler Tropical Herbal Wrap with Grape Seed Massage Oil.”

The description was – in a word – heavenly:

“A two hour treatment perfumed amidst lush tropical gardens with the soft sound of the sea surrounding your senses.  Includes: Coconut Milk Body Wash after an invigorating Body Brushing, Banana Smoothie Body Scrub, Relaxing Therapeutic Massage with warmed grape seed oil, Warm Herbal Body Wrap with Lavender, Facial Masque with Cucumber, Melon, and Ginseng, Cucumber Eye Soother, Peppermint Lotion Water after treatment body spritz, Herbal Pedicure Foot Bath with Tea Tree Oil, and a cup of herbal tea and biscuits.”

All for $135 plus tax.

Wow. I felt relaxed just READING that. So what did I do? I emailed the link to my (now ex) boyfriend to see what his thoughts were, as he too had never had a professional massage before. I was sure he’d think the idea was silly and suggest scuba diving or something adventurous instead. I was wrong – he decided he’d like a massage as well.

Well OK then!

With that settled, I contacted the lovely Angela Missaggia to setup our treatments. Angela and her husband Leon had left the San Francisco Bay area in 2000 and moved to Roatan. They had visited the island before and fallen in love with its beauty, culture, and people. Angela is a licensed nurse practitioner and aesthetician and began offering spa services shortly after they moved to Roatan because they were – at that time – unavailable on the island. The two of them realized that they could offer something special and Santé was born.

In its current form, Santé is located on a small, private peninsula on Roatan’s southern coast.

A view of the Caribbean and across the peninsula from Santé's private beach

Angela worked with me prior to our cruise to ensure that our treatments were set-up properly. She provided detailed instructions on what we should do upon our arrival in Roatan to ensure we make the most of our visit to Santé. She answered all of my silly questions and calmed my fears about getting a massage.

Finally the day arrived and our ship, the Carnival Legend, docked at Mahogany Bay. As Angela had instructed, we took a taxi to the 200-acre Parrot Tree Plantation. The Parrot Tree Plantation is one of Roatan’s gems. It’s a beautiful high-end resort community surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. It is also the portal to Santé.

Upon our arrival at the Parrot Tree we found Angela’s husband Leon waiting for us on the dock, just as promised. From there he whisked us by boat across the bay to the beautiful home he shares with Angela. This is what makes Santé so special – it isn’t just a business to the Missaggia’s – it is their home.

Heading to Santé from the Parrot Bay Plantation!

Arriving at the Santé Wellness Center and Spa - dock area. Main House visible in the background.

Angela greeted us at the door with a welcoming smile and gave us a tour of the house (it’s more of a villa, actually). This particular day we were the only spa customers. A gentleman was staying on the grounds as a customer of the bed-and-breakfast (I would love to come back as a bed-and-breakfast customer one day!), but save for a brief glimpse of him in the kitchen, we had the whole place to ourselves. Angela showed us the pool, jacuzzi and private beach area – all of which were available for our use. We couldn’t wait to get to our treatments!

The welcoming pool at Santé.

This little guy was hanging out on the balcony

A view of the dock from the balcony.

Angela began working on my treatments on the main floor while her assistant took care of my boyfriend on the floor above me. Since we were the only two spa customers that morning we were able to enjoy a “couples massage” experience, although each of us got lost in the treatments. I closed my eyes while Angela worked on me and focused on the sounds around me. Soft tropical chimes blowing in the warm tropical breezes. The ebb and flow of the Caribbean. The relaxing music. It was sheer perfection.

I feel asleep.

Me. The woman who broke out in hives at the thought of a stranger touching her. The woman who swore she’d never get a professional massage. Yes, me. I was so relaxed I fell asleep.

My two plus hour treatment was pure heaven. My skin felt absolutely invigorated after the body brushing/wash and scrub. The banana smoothie scrub not only smelled fabulous (I could have eaten it), but it refreshed my skin. The wrap was like a warm cocoon and I think it was the lavender scent that led to my falling asleep. The facial masque and pedicure were both top-notch.

And the massage: Oh. My. God.

Angela has magic hands. That is the only thing I can say. The massage was one of the loveliest experiences of my life. She managed to loosen every knot in my body until I felt like a pile of mush (in a great way). I don’t recall ever feeling as relaxed as I did that day, and it was a PERFECT ending to the cruise.

Even my after-treatment shower was heavenly. Angela had requested that we keep our showers brief because they collect, store and use rainwater on the grounds. Although the shower was brief, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I will never forget the purity of that water and the lush surroundings.

My boyfriend had opted for a shorter massage, so while I was relaxing/napping/showering he explored the grounds and ended up snorkeling at the nearby coral reef. When he returned he could not stop raving about the reef and how wonderful his snorkeling experience had been. The waves had been a bit rough, but he said that the experience far surpassed the time we had spent in Grand Cayman and even Cozumel. It turns out that Roatan’s reef is a part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world – the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. We decided to go out again together and he was right – it was a phenomenal snorkeling experience!

See that gorgeous turquoise colored water? Some great snorkeling to be had right there.

We spent the rest of our time at Santé exploring together.

We became friendly with the beautiful scarlet macaw who lives on the property. He greets you with “hello” and “hola” amongst other things!

Isn't he gorgeous? And he loves having his photo taken!

We explored every nook and cranny we could find.

I wish this was MY front yard!

We walked down to the beach.

Look at how clear that water is!

We relaxed and looked out at the Caribbean, all the while wishing our time did not have to come to an end.

It doesn't get much better than sitting in a palapa and gazing out at the sea.

This hammock was a close second though!

But alas, soon it was time to return to Mahogany Bay and say goodbye to the haven that is the Santé Wellness Center and Spa.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Roatan I highly encourage you to visit the Santé Wellness Center and Spa. If you do, you will have a wonderfully relaxing experience at a retreat you will never forget. My only regret is leaving!

Goodbye beautiful Roatan – I’ll never forget you!

Please note: this review and all the content within are the writer’s own personal thoughts and opinions. It is not a paid advertisement or any such nonsense.