Indeed, bathing is not so much a French thing: it takes time and it's not great for the environment. Though children bathe a lot, adults tend to only do it when they feel stressed and want to relax. It's also true that many smaller apartments in France are not equipped with a bathtub.
While there are numerous stereotypes about the French that are completely inaccurate, it turns out the whole "French people never shower" thing may indeed be true.
Weekly Bathing Breakdown: On average Spanish citizens have 7 showers and 2 baths a week. Weekly bathing breakdown – On average French citizens have 7 showers and 2 baths a week. Daily shower stats – 76% of women and 71% of men shower once a day.
The Himba people live in one of the most extreme environments on earth with the harsh desert climate and the unavailability of potable water. However, their lack of bathing has not resulted into lack of personal hygiene.
An Ifop survey* found that 76% of people in France wash completely “at least once a day”, versus just 53% who said the same in Italy.
Only at the beginning of the 19th century did the idea of taking a regular bath as a part of personal hygiene begin to take shape. It made a slow progress in the upper classes, but the common people remained blissfully dirty.
“French women actually don't tend to re-touch their hair frequently with a brush. They use their hands and massage the roots to get lift, giving it a more organic, softer effect,” says Mallett. “Over-brushing breaks hair and leaves the ends more fragile.”
Great Britain has the lowest rate of showering per week, at 83 percent. However, the English do love their baths: they have the most baths out of every country, with 32 percent of people bathing each week.
When counting people who shower every day, Mexicans and Australians led significantly, followed by Americans and the French. Brits, Russians, Swedes and Germans averaged less, with Chinese coming in the least frequent.
From the most showered country in the world (Brazil) to the most commonly bathed country (the UK), we all have our preferences.
If you currently wash your hair every day, or even every other day, it's time to knock it off. French women generally wash their hair twice a week and upkeep their look with dry shampoo and a lightweight hair oil.
You may have heard that the French drink wine every day, and although we usually like to debunk clichés about les français, this one is pretty accurate. In the US, your average adult drinks 12.4 litres of wine per year, whereas in France the number is 50.2.
A French girl ties her hair up in a bun, uses dry shampoo and volume powder. Most French girls I know wash their hair every five to seven days. That dry look is not a look—it actually happens. They wash their hair so infrequently that the color lasts, and the scalp stays moist because they barely blow dry it.
French women never leave the house with wet hair. “Whenever possible, wash your hair in the evening rather in the morning, so as not to leave the house with wet hair.”
For example, in Europe, most countries are considered to have a unique nose shape that is characteristic. The aquiline nose of a French person has a pronounced bridge structure that gives the nose a slightly curved contour. The area will resemble an eagle's curled beak.
The French tend to use cleansing lotions versus soaps, gels or foaming cleansers to wash their face. I think this has to do with how few people in France struggle with acne. (More on this below.) Because of this, I think they don't see the need to use any products that are harsh or stripping.
Finland ranks first in the world for Environmental Health (99.3) and Air Quality (98.8), as well as achieving perfect 100s for Sanitation & Drinking Water and Heavy Metals Exposure. The country also prioritizes forest and wildlife conservation.
Brazilians are the cleanest people in the world. Their personal higiene comes from the native índios. The índios took showers daily and sometimes even twice! There are many stories about Brazilian's showering habits across the world.
World's Dirtiest Man Amou Haji Who Didn't Shower For 60 Years Passes At 94 After Bathing Few Months Back.
Do you shower or bathe daily? If you do, you're not alone. Approximately two-thirds of Americans shower daily. In Australia it's over 80%.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
Traditionally, bathing is viewed to be a ritual of large cultural importance, although it has evolved into being less ritualistic and more of a common practice. Research by the Kantar World Panel, goes on to say that 85% of people shower per week in China and average 6 showers per week.
It is true that in France, faire la bise is firmly anchored in the habits of the French, and… we kiss each other all day long: it is a must ritual! More than a tradition, it's a habit and even a reflex.
Yes, kissing can be a cause of sexually transmitted diseases like Herpes, Cytomegalovirus or Syphilis, as well as expose you to bacteria through saliva exchange. Your mouth is a route to your gastrointestinal and respiratory systems.
Hugging in France
Unlike Americans, the French do not use hugging as a greeting. Instead, they kiss cheeks (faire la bise) informally and shake hands in formal settings. Because they are not given often, hugs tend to make French people uncomfortable and can easily seem like an invasion of personal space.