I'm Sticking With The Deodorant, Though

Hang on, wait a second.

Since when is it socially unacceptable to shower every other day?

I had no idea my tendency to only do the full-on shower a few times a week was a shameful secret. I thought it was just a dry skin survival strategy. I also didn’t realize that my use of washcloths or baby wipes for the more-frequent-wash-needing areas was something that could get me interviewed for the NY Times.

Then again, I live in Salt Lake, where the air is so thin and dry that instead of coffee breaks, we take nosebleed breaks. I can see where a full-body wash would be more advisable in somewhere hot and sticky and humid—say, Kenya, where I routinely horrified my host families at the idea of showering (or bucket bathing in some of the less plumbing-oriented areas) less than twice a day, because if you didn’t the next thing you know mosquitoes are breeding in your armpits. Maybe this, too, is a local thing. Or maybe I just missed the memo.

Either way, I refuse to start showering more. I like my skin without the dry patches, thanks.