Yes, in a pinch. Shampoo will clean your skin fine. It's just not ideal every day, especially if your skin tends to be dry.

Shampoo is made to remove the heavier oil your scalp produces, so it usually cleans a bit harder than body wash and leaves out the moisturizers body washes add. Use it on your body now and then and you won't notice much. Use it every day and people with dry skin often feel tight or itchy afterward.

Can you use body wash as shampoo?

For a day, yes. But the moisturizers in body wash can leave hair limp or coated, so it's not a long-term plan.

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Can you use conditioner as body wash?

Not really. Conditioner has little or no cleanser in it, so it won't get you clean. Some people use it as a shaving cream on their legs, since it helps the razor glide, and that works fine.

What to pack

If you're traveling light, a small bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap covers everything. If you're stocking a guest bathroom, put out all three (shampoo, conditioner and body wash) with labels, so nobody has to guess.

We go into more detail in shampoo vs body wash vs shower gel. For the bathroom, see our 3-piece refillable dispenser set and the rosemary shampoo.