Can you use body wash as shampoo?

Oh, my friend, did you run out of shampoo?

We’re impressed that instead of just going online and purchasing a new bottle of shampoo to replace the one that just ran out you’re sitting on your computer searching for alternatives. 

Or maybe we’re just shaking our heads that you haven’t been proactive in stocking up on your hair washing products and you ran out in the first place. Tisk, tisk. 

So the question is: Can you use body wash as shampoo?

Whelp, the answer is technically yes if that’s the only thing you have available right now, but in general, no. 

As a grown man, though, you’re better than this and we’re here to give you a little lecture about using the right tools for the job. There’s a reason things are labeled shampoo versus body wash. 

And don’t even get us started on that all-in-one-bottle-for-your-entire-body crap…

Sheesh.

Sooooo, what’s the difference between body wash and shampoo?

A lot of time and effort goes into hair and body hygiene products as well as sciency stuff because your hair and your body are different. Because of this difference, the products needed to cleanse your hair versus your body should be designed for that specific area so you get the best results. 

You don’t wear flip-flops to run a 5k and you don’t see sailboats using rugs to catch the wind. 

Didn’t even think we would go there, eh? That’s our point, it’s illogical. We have things like specialty-designed performance running shoes, for example, that vary based on the size of your foot, your arch, your cushion preference, and your favorite color, so why should wrapping your head around body wash versus shampoo be any different? 

Fine, fine, we’ll answer the question, but we’re still struggling here not coming across like this is a super obvious one here, guys. 

The biggest difference between body wash and shampoo is the formulation. 

Body wash is designed to cleanse your body and shampoo is designed to cleanse your hair. 

They are made up of different things. 

They include different things. 

Your hair is different from your skin. 

Is your mind blown yet? 

In all seriousness though, we feel there are a few main differences to note between shampoo and body wash:

• The surfactant ingredients are different. 

Both products include surfactant ingredients which, when added to water, give you the sudsy suds which tackle the dirt and grime that you wash off in the shower. Body wash is actually designed to have fewer of these surfactant ingredients because your body does not trap dirt, grime, muck, and sweat the same way your hair does, so shampoos are usually stronger in this regard. 

• The pH balance is different. 

People do not give enough credit to the delicate pH balance going on without and on the surface of your body. We’re talking about pH at the cellular level here and since every human has skin cells and hair cells, this is important. pH is a measurement of scale to determine how acidic or basic something is. You’ve probably heard about this measurement in science class when you found out how horrible soft drinks are for your teeth or when you’ve used that cool colored stick for your pool’s chlorine. 

Your skin and your hair have an ideal pH level which body washes and shampoo creators take into consideration. Body washes tend to have a higher pH than shampoos because your hair needs to have more natural oils to stay healthy. A higher pH product would strip away those important oils making your hair dry and then things like dandruff become a problem. 

• Other ingredients are different. 

Shampoo and body wash products both have a solid base of water and ingredients that lather and cleanse, but they also include other active ingredients that have been chosen specifically for the body versus the hair. One example is conditioning ingredients in shampoo. 

Conditioning ingredients like coconut water and aloe hydrate and nourish hair follicles, while also detangling and locking in moisture. These ingredients support strong and healthy hair, making it look shiny and vibrant.   

How can MANSCAPED™ help me out here?

Ah, we thought you would never ask. 

At MANSCAPED™, our lab team not only has the perfect body wash for you, but we have the perfect shampoo. Oh, and because men also have another area to cleanse that’s different, we also have a groin wash that we think you will really like as well. 

Oh, yeah - a groin wash. We understand that the skin, bush, and bits of a man’s groin area are also different from the rest of his body and his head hair. Different products for different places, men. 

We’ve got you covered in this area with three awesome products:

1. UltraPremium™ Body Wash
2. 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner
3. Crop Cleanser® Groin Wash

UltraPremium™ Body Wash

Our UltraPremium™ Body Wash is designed for your skin. 

This product will clean, freshen, and moisturize and we’ve even included our authentic Refined cologne scent so you will smell like light citrus with a hint of sambac, jasmine, vetiver, and light woods. Ah, the scent of a man who is clean. 

This body wash is packed with awesome natural ingredients like aloe and sea salt as well. Aloe protects and hydrates your skin and sea salt helps clean your pores, balance your skin’s pH, and is an exfoliant as well. 

2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner

Our 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner is designed for your head hair. 

This product will cleanse and nourish while also providing hydration and extra protection to those lovely locks of yours. Just get a generous lather going and let the natural ingredients go to work:

• Sea Kelp: Helps promote a healthier scalp and stronger hair.
• Coconut Water: Hydrates your hair for a refreshing look and feel, nourishing and conditioning.
• Aloe: Hydrates and soothes the scalp.
• Saw Palmetto: Helps promote hair strengthening.
• Green Tea & Turmeric: Promotes healthier hair and environment on the scalp.
• Sage: Improves the texture of your hair, imparting shine and luster.

Like we said, a LOT of time and effort goes into making an awesome product. 

Oh, and it also includes our Refined™ cologne scent so you will smell like light citrus with a hint of sambac, jasmine, vetiver, and light woods all over. 

Side Note: Consistency in scents is also important for a man. You don’t want to clear out a room, but you also don’t want to confuse people with conflicting smells. Hence, why our Refined™ cologne scent is included in our product line consistently.  

Crop Cleanser® Groin Wash

Our Crop Cleanser® is designed for your groin. 

Hopefully, you’ve seen the theme by now…different products for different places. 

Anyway, the Crop Cleanser® is also amazing. We know a man’s groin area is a little more sensitive, so this groin wash includes ingredients formulated for below the waist:

• Vitamin E: Vitamin E indirectly helps your saggy baggies stay soft and supple, while acting as an antioxidant to help reduce itching or irritation.
• Aloe leaf juice: The leaf of the aloe vera plant is rich in water, which helps hydrate the skin and lock in moisture.
• Menthol: Because why wouldn’t you want your downstairs to feel cool, refreshed, and invigorated? The tingling sensation is an added bonus.

Oh, and it also includes our Refined™ cologne scent so you will smell like light citrus with a hint of sambac, jasmine, vetiver, and light woods all over. That’s right, use all three products, and your head, body, and nuts will all smell like light citrus with a hint of sambac, jasmine, vetiver, and light woods. You’re welcome. Crazy how that works. 

There you have it, men. Three areas of the body to clean and three amazing products perfect for the job. 

But we’re not done yet…

A little tutorial on using products like body wash and shampoo

When we get questions like this, we get a little concerned that our men's grooming and hygiene best practices are not sticking the way we intended, so it’s worth repeating some things.

Things like how to correctly use products like our UltraPremium™ Body Wash, 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner, and Crop Cleanser® Groin Wash, so here we go:

Step 1: Go to the bathroom. 

Step 2: Take off your clothes. 

Step 3: Turn on the shower and adjust it to the correct temperature. We suggest warm so you get a little steam going. This helps to open the pores and just feels nice. 

Step 4: Step into the shower and rinse off. You always want to start with a wet surface and a general rinse will help get larger pieces of grime and muck off your body first. 

Step 5: Grab your bottle of 2-In-1 Shampoo + Conditioner. Apply a generous amount to your hair and lather up. Massage your scalp while singing your favorite song (debatably the most crucial part). And rinse thoroughly.

Step 6: Grab your bottle of UltraPremium™ Body Wash. Put a few pumps of the body wash in your hands or washcloth, and lather up from face to toes. Get under the underarms and take a moment to clean your feet. Lather up and rinse thoroughly. 

Step 7: Grab your bottle of Crop Cleanser®. Squeeze a quarter-sized amount into a washcloth or your hands, then gently scrub your groin area. We’re talking bush, penis, balls, upper thighs, and getting into the crack. Please wash your butt, men. It gets a little gross there. Lather up and rinse thoroughly. 

Step 8: Turn off the shower.

Step 9: Grab your towel and dry off. 

Step 10: Air dry even more. 

Step 11: Moisturize. 

Step 12: Deodorize. 

Step 13: Style your hair, get dressed, eat breakfast, you know—get on with your day. 

Please note that we intentionally did NOT go into things like shaving or trimming or anything like that because we wanted to focus on how to use body wash and shampoo. Don’t worry though, just search through our other articles and we have full-out tutorials on all the hair trimming, too. We’ve got you covered.