One of the many conveniences of the modern world is indoor plumbing, which allows for bathing and showering. The frequency people need to shower is up for debate. One Boston health care worker recently revealed on TikTok that she showers only once or twice a week, which caused a big backlash on the social media site.
Alison McCarthy, 27, was shocked by the amount of attention her post received. "I didn't realize so many people would have such a strong opinion about it," she stated. The internet can always be counted on to give its opinions.
Alison’s original TikTok says, “So I've recently found out that I'm a gross human being. This is because most girls, when they say that they wash their hair twice a week, they literally mean wash their hair – and they shower every day. I only shower like, once or twice a week."
For Alison, it all has to do with washing her hair. "I've gone five days without showering before. Because if I'm getting in the shower, I'm going to wash my hair,” she goes on to say.
“Why would I get in the shower and not wash my hair? But I don't want to wash my hair every day. So I've had to start saying that I 'wash my hair' twice a week (I only shower twice a week),” she concludes.
Alison’s post quickly attracted a lot of attention. One user wrote, “I have a friend like this… we can all tell.” Another chimed in with some useful advice: “Girl A SHOWER CAP.”
"She literally has NO excuse for not showering, she has a skin care routine, gym routine, works as a NURSE," wrote another user. “The amount of people not washing in these comments… is sad,” wrote another.
Some TikTok users found Alison’s video relatable. One user wrote, “finally someone said it i’m sorry.” Another wrote, “If I’m not leaving the house u bet I’m not showering everyday.”
“Showering too much damages your skin barrier/micro biome,” still another pointed out.
Alison spoke to the Daily Mail about her now-viral post. She was surprised by the amount of attention it received.
“I didn't have that many followers when I posted it so I wasn't expecting that many people to see it or comment on it," she began.
"Everyone's body is different too. I know some people who never have to wear deodorant and don't smell. I didn't realize so many people would have such a strong opinion about it,” she went on to say.
“I had a lot of people reach out and message me privately and tell me that they were happy that I spoke about it and that they weren't alone. I was happy that I could make others not feel so ashamed or bad about themselves,” she concluded.
Alison also wants people to practice empathy. You never know what battles someone is fighting privately. "I would say, be a little more compassionate to people. You have no idea what someone is going through and how an 'easy' everyday task for you may not be for someone else,” she said.
“Often not showering is linked to depression or mental illness and it's hard to even take care of yourself. There were people saying they have skin conditions such as eczema and showering everyday dries their skin out. Just be a little kinder and understanding, don't just assume certain things about someone,” she explained.
