Most French People Don't Shower Every Day, Study Shows (2024)

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.

A new poll conducted by BVA and published in French newspaper Presse-Ocean reveals that only 57% of the French shower daily.

24% said they shower once every other day; 11% said once every three days. The remaining 8% shower just once every four days... or less. And when the French are in the shower, it's not for very long, either. The study found that a French person spends, on average, nine minutes a day in the shower. That's like, the amount of time it takes to finally register that you are no longer sleeping and begin to lift up your bar of soap.... so....

Lucy Meilus is a staff writer for Thrillist. If she lived in France, she'd be too busy eating to remember things like showering -- so, she gets it. Follow her on Twitter at @Lucymeilus and send news tips to news@thrillist.com.

Most French People Don't Shower Every Day, Study Shows (2024)

FAQs

Most French People Don't Shower Every Day, Study Shows? ›

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. François Kraus at Ifop said: “We can see that it's not the French who wash the least daily, but rather their neighbours across the Alps.

Is it true that Europeans don't shower everyday? ›

The only nation that comes close to Italian hygiene is Portugal , where the daily shower is a prerogative of a segment of the population that oscillates between 85 and 94%. Just below Spain and Greece, while elsewhere the three out of four inhabitants are not reached.

Why did French not bathe? ›

In nineteenth- and early twentieth-century France, Zdatny writes, many people simply never washed. Peasants often considered dirt protective and sweat cleansing, and they viewed strong body odor as a sign of health and sexual vitality.

What percentage of people don't shower daily? ›

Approximately two-thirds of Americans shower daily. In Australia it's over 80%. But in China, about half of people report bathing only twice a week. In the US, the daily shower tends to start around puberty and becomes lifelong.

What do experts say about showering everyday? ›

Experts typically recommend showering several days a week. The decision is personal, but knowing your body and routine is key. Showering every day is not bad for you (yay!), and showering every other day or even a couple of times a week isn't either.

How often do French people shower? ›

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.

Which country bathes the least? ›

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.

Do French wear deodorant? ›

This statistic shows the usage of antiperspirants and body spray deodorants in France from 2014 to 2021, by type. In 2021, an estimated 8.1 million men used aerosol spray deodorant in France.

How often do Americans shower? ›

In the United States, most people bathe daily but, in other countries, many people bathe only 2-3 times per week or less. Many times it can come down to habit and ritual, as daily showers can help people feel more awake, avoid body odor, relax tight muscles or simply because that's what they've been taught to do.

How often should a woman shower? ›

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.

What happens to your body if you don't shower everyday? ›

Keep in mind that showering twice a day or frequently taking hot or long showers can strip your skin of important oils. This can lead to dry, itchy skin. Skipping showers for a long time can also cause infections, acne, and dermatitis neglecta.

How many days can a human go without showering? ›

Generally, she says "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.

How often do Germans shower? ›

Around 60 percent of people in Germany take a shower every day [1]. However, an independent study on the pleasurable and extensive counterpart, bathing, is still lacking in Germany.

Which country showers the most? ›

According to research conducted by Kantar Worldpanel, Brazil's the keenest country when it comes to hopping in the shower. On average, they shower 14 times a week - to put that into context, the average for the rest of the world sits at five. And for those wondering, most of us Brits take six a week.

Is showering before bed good? ›

Research suggests a warm bath or shower an hour or two before bedtime can help you unwind and fall asleep faster. Why? It will help lower your core temperature, and that's a circadian sleep signal.

Should females take baths or showers? ›

Your personal hygiene priorities should determine whether you take a bath or a shower. If you're interested in promoting relaxation, easing fatigue, and treating chronic pain, a bath might be the right choice for you. If you're more interested in an efficient daily cleansing, a shower might be the better choice.

Do British people shower every day? ›

Do you shower every day? Or do you wait a bit longer before having a wash? A new study has found that 68% of British people wash themselves every day – which means around a third of us don't. Meanwhile, 76% of French people and 77% of Germans reported daily washes, in the research conducted by polling company Ifop.

Do Italians shower every day? ›

The personal shower is an action that everyone does at least once a week, 42% every day, 93% at least 2 or 3 times. For Italians it is better to have two bathrooms with two showers rather than one with a bathtub.

Are there cultures that don't shower? ›

In some cultures, daily showers may not be the norm, and individuals may only bathe on specific occasions. This does not necessarily mean that these individuals have poor personal hygiene; it is just a cultural difference.

Is it normal not to shower every day? ›

Showering daily is not necessarily "unhealthy," but you may not need to. For many people, a full-body shower every other day or even every third day is enough. That said, just because you don't shower daily does not mean you want to skip out on personal care.

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