A TikToker has caused a stir after revealing that she showers ‘two to three times a week’ because she doesn’t like getting her hair wet and she ‘doesn’t smell.’
Allison McCarthy, a 27-year-old from Boston, said she recently found out that she was ‘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,’ she said in her video.
‘I’ve gone five days without showering before.’
Allison McCarthy, 27, says she’s even gone five days without showering. Her TikTok video has been viewed more than 6.5 million times since she posted
Thousands of viewers responded to Allison’s revelation about her showering habits with mixed responses.
At the time of writing, her video has been watched more than 6.5 million times.
Some viewers have branded the TikToker’s lack of showers as ‘concerning’ and ‘dirty.’
‘As a person working in retail, I can smell that a lot of people agree with you,’ one person wrote.
Another comment read: ‘I CANNOT go 24 hours without showering. I refuse to believe this is real.’
Some viewers also berated Allison over other videos she posted where she mentions going to the gym and the fact she works in healthcare.
‘She literally has NO excuse for not showering, she has a skin care routine, gym routine, works as a NURSE,’ someone else said.
Responding to criticism, the TikToker says in a follow-up video that ‘I don’t smell and I don’t need to wash my hair so why would I shower?’
Initially Allison said she showered ‘once or twice a week,’ but she later clarified in another TikTok it was ‘typically two to three times a week.’
She continued: ‘I got a lot of hate on my other video where I said I go to the gym three to four times a week – which realistically is three – and then if I shower three times a week, that adds up to me.
‘I shower when I go to the gym, which is three times a week.’
Allison also points out that she does work in healthcare but she works in outpatient and she’s a technician so she ‘runs the machines’ and has little interaction with the patients.
While some have slammed the TikTok creator for her hygiene rituals, many have actually thanked her for her honesty and said they do the same.
‘I work from home, so I go days without even stepping a foot outside so same. Sorry not sorry,’ one person said.
While another rejoiced: ‘Team 2-3 showers per week unite!’
Pointing out some of the benefits of less showers, a third TikTok user wrote: ‘Not showering everyday is ACTUALLY good for you!! Your skin gets to produce natural oils and absorb it!’
Allison says she has been ‘very surprised’ by the amount of attention her videos have generated
After receiving abuse, Allison purchased a shower cap and posted a video of her wearing the shower accessory, but she says she is yet to use it
Asked if she has been surprised about the traction her showering videos have caused, Allison told DailyMail.com: ‘Yes, very surprised, 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.
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. 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.’
To her haters, she added: ‘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.
‘Often not showering is linked to depression or mental illness and it’s hard to even take care of yourself.
‘Also everyone’s body is different too. I know some people who never have to wear deodorant and don’t smell.
‘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.’
After receiving abuse, Allison purchased a shower cap and posted a video of her wearing the shower accessory – but she says she is yet to use it.
The debate sparked by Allison’s video echoes that of a 2019 Twitter poll that asked if people often washed their legs when they showered.
It was first posted by Twitter user Conor Arpwel who asked: ‘Do you wash your legs when you take a shower?’
Responses poured in as people argued one way or another about if you should wash your legs every time you step into the shower.
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