Find Out How Astronauts Wash Their Hair In Space

Washing your hair in space is quite a challenge because there’s no gravity.

On Earth, we use running water to wash out shampoo, but up in the microgravity of the International Space Station (ISS), water acts in a whole new way.

In a video, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg showed us how astronauts wash their hair in zero gravity.

Step 1: To clean her hair in space, Nyberg uses a bag of warm water, no-rinse shampoo, a towel, and a comb.

She says, “These are the things I need – a bag of warm water, a little no-rinse shampoo, a towel, and my comb”.

Step 2: Since water doesn’t flow the same way it does on Earth, Nyberg has to spray warm water right onto her scalp.

She explains, “What I usually do is begin by squirting some hot water onto my scalp. I have a mirror handy so I can see what I’m doing. Sometimes the water slips away from you, and you try to catch as much as possible. After that, I just work the water through to the tips of my hair”.

Step 3: Astronauts have a unique no-rinse shampoo that doesn’t need a full rinse.

Nyberg shares, “Next, I apply my no-rinse shampoo by squirting a small amount onto my scalp and massaging it in, making sure to spread it to the ends. Occasionally, I even use my comb to ensure it reaches all the way to the tips”.

Step 4: Without any running water, astronauts depend on towels to wipe away dirt and leftover shampoo.

She mentions, “I like to grab my towel while the shampoo is still in and just kind of work it in because, without being under running water, you have to use the towel a bit to help get some of the dirt out”.

Step 5: Although the shampoo is designed to be no-rinse, Nyberg believes that a bit of extra water aids in the cleaning process.

“I prefer to follow that up with a little more water. It’s labeled as no-rinse shampoo, but I think it works better if you add a bit of water with it”.

Step 6: After the hair is clean, it dries naturally in the weightless environment.The water that evaporates is captured by the ISS’s air conditioning system and eventually turned back into drinking water.

She says,”Now, as my hair dries, the water evaporates and adds humidity to the air. Then, our air conditioning system collects that into condensate, and soon enough, our water processing system converts that into drinking water”.

Step 7: After washing, Nyberg takes her time to comb through her hair, getting rid of any tangles, and allows it to dry naturally.

She mentions, “In the end, I just do one last comb through to ensure there are no knots or tangles. While it dries, I prefer to let it hang loose – I don’t tie it back in a ponytail during the drying process”.

Washing hair in space takes some patience and a bit of adjustment, but astronauts have come up with smart ways to keep clean while orbiting the Earth.

Nyberg’s demonstration gives us a cool glimpse into everyday life on the ISS, where even simple things like washing hair need some creative thinking.