In the old days before shampoo was invented, what was used as shampoo?

Question

I look at shows like Xena and when they got dirty I wonder what was used in those times or any time before we had shampoo.
What about Queen Elizabeth the first?

Answer 1

There's a naturally occuring soap called a surfacant. Here's the history of shampoo from wikipedia.org: "The word shampoo in English usage dates back to 1762, with the meaning "to massage". The word was a loan from Anglo-Indian shampoo, in turn from Hindi champo, imperative of champna, "to press, knead the muscles, massage". The term and service was introduced by a certain Sake Dean Mahomed (Sheikh al-Din Mohammad),who opened a shampooing bath or what was known as Mahomed's Indian Vapour Baths on the seafront, the site of what is now the Queen's Hotel in Brighton in 1759. He was from a Muslim family in Patna, India. His baths were like Turkish baths where clients in a flannel tent received an Indian treatment of champi (shampooing) or therapeutic massage from a person whose hands came through slits in the flannel. His service was appreciated; he received the high accolade of being appointed ‘Shampooing Surgeon’ to both George IV and William IV. Mohammad is also famed for opening the first Indian take-away restaurant in England - the Hindustani Coffee House.

During the early stages of shampoo, English hair stylists boiled shaved soap in water and added herbs to give the hair shine and fragrance. Kasey Hebert was the first known maker of shampoo, and the origin is currently attributed to him. He sold his first shampoo, "Shaempoo" in the streets of his home, London, England.

Originally soap and shampoo were very similar products; both were often made from surfactants, a type of detergent. Shampoo became the logical evolution of personal hygiene products, and targeted the specific needs of hair and not the body in general. Modern shampoo as it's known today today was first introduced in the 1930s with Drene, the first synthetic (non-soap) shampoo."

EDIT: I found an article about ancient greece. They washed it with water and finished with olive oil.

http://www.fjkluth.com/hair.html

Here is an article on medieval hair care:

http://gallowglass.org/jadwiga/SCA/Hair.html

Answer 2

Most "soaps" years and years ago were made from lye...a strong drying almost detergent like substance....shampoo was probably based from this and fragrance (essential oils) might have been added to improve the smell of the "shampoo" .....All I know is "back then".. people must have reeked of body odor....there were no deodorants, and plumbing was still pretty antiquated. I think oils and powders were used to mask odor for hair and body...and that goes for Liz the First, too.

Answer 3

Probably just water...from the rivers....or something...
I never thought about it!
Oh, Xena...that's a show...they must all be pretty and shiney! Do you really think women dressed like that in the past, women warriors? I don't think so!

Answer 4

Plants...Yucca
I dont think they took baths alot way back when, it the reason so many people got married in June...They bathed once a year i guess and it was in June...

Answer 5

they probably used a less refined version of soap

Answer 6

If u r an indian u can understand it-(multani mitti)
.As shown in the film -(ASHOKA).

Answer 7

Regular soap they use for everyday washing.

Answer 8

A POWDER FROM A PLANT WHICH IS GREEN IN COLOUR WHICH IS STILL IN USE IN SOME ASIAN COUNTRIES

Answer 9

They had soapnut powder for their hair...

Answer 10

Soap I guess !