Washing hair in the bath - how did people manage in the olden days?

ripplyuk

I moved in here last summer and there's only a bath. No shower or even a mixer tap, and I can't afford either at the minute. I bought one of those push-on rubber hoses you attach to the taps but I'm now on my third as eventually they start leaking and spraying water everywhere. Before showers existed, how did people manage this?

Someone told me they used a jug, but I'm not sure how that works. Do you need to have both hot and cold taps running to get the right temperature (a bit of a faff) or did they mean to just dunk it in the dirty bath water and pour that over my head? :eek:

Any advice or tips appreciated

Bogof_Babe

I bought a large plastic jug from a charity shop for 10p when my shower broke down. I would wash my hair while in the bath, then fill the jug under both taps (first one then the other - I got to know how much water from each would make the right temperature), and pour over my head. Repeat three or four times until you can tell all the soap has gone. It is a bit of a faff at first, but soon became second nature.

Artytarty

Just have a normal bath, bend knees, slide bum down to taps abut and dunk your head back in the water. Sit up, shampoo, back down and rinse, running your hands through your hair. Condition and repeat process. It's best of you have a lot of water in the bath as it's more clean water.Easy Peasy! done it for years!

PasturesNew

I still do mine like this, this is how it goes. Get a big jug, say 1.5 litres minimum - plastic.

While the water's running hot, fill up the jug and set it to one side.
Wash hair
Dunk in the water, by lying down, to rinse the suds.
Sit up, carefully pour the clean water from the jug over your hair.
Refill the jug and set it aside
Resoap your hair and give it a good rub.
Dunk in the water, by lying down, to rinse the suds.
Sit up, carefully pour the clean water from the jug over your hair.

I say "carefully" as you can't afford to waste any of that water as you've only got the jugful .... unless you refill it.

Frogletina

I used to wash mine in the sink - needed about 3 changes of water to do the rinsing.

Loanranger

Prior to the era of the shower, people washed their hair in the wash basin. Then they would have a bath. The head would be wrapped in a towel. It really is not rocket science!

NewShadow

Same here - I'll wash my hair in the sink sometimes (shower's temperamental in winter).

Bathe as normal, then wet and soap your hair in the 'dirty' water.

When you're ready to rinse off, empty the bath and either duck your head under the tap or use a jug (depends on flexibility and hair length).

prosaver

seriously,
fill about four milk( 2 litre) cartons with warm water ,, should do the trick

boliston

If I only had a bath I would simply wash my hair when I had a bath - there is no way i would faff about with jugs of water.

ripplyuk

The pocket shower looks great. There's some big trees outside but I'd worry what the neighbours would think :rotfl:.

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I must sound clueless but when I've asked people about this, they just look at me like I've got two heads and tell me to get a shower installed.

I've already got a big 2 litre plastic jug so I'll start using that. Hopefully it'll soon become routine. It must have been common at one time.

prosaver

boliston wrote: »

If I only had a bath I would simply wash my hair when I had a bath - there is no way i would faff about with jugs of water.

you could wash your hair in the bath and rinse it will the jugs of water
:beer:
off the point ...
Has anyone had a real hot bath when drunk ..it really weird lol