Without gravity, even the simplest tasks like washing hair can become complicated. Retired astronaut Karen Nyberg, who spent 180 days in space, including 166 days as a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013, has first hand experience with these challenges. 🚀👩🦰
To satisfy the curious mind many people who wondered how astronauts maintain basic hygiene in space, Nyberg recorded a now-viral video demonstrating how to wash hair in microgravity.
The Viral Clip
Karen Nyberg’s hair-washing tutorial, filmed during her time aboard the ISS, quickly became a sensation. Posted by NASA on YouTube, the video has garnered nearly six million views.
In the clip, Nyberg carefully explains the process, demonstrating how astronauts manage to keep their hair clean without access to running water or a shower. The video not only highlights the creativity and adaptability required of astronauts but also offers a fascinating glimpse into the everyday life of those living in space.
How to Wash Hair in Space
In space, water is a precious resource, and there is no running water to be found. Instead, astronauts use specially designed foil-and-plastic water bags equipped with straw-like nozzles to dispense the limited water they need.
For washing hair, Nyberg recommends using no more than eight ounces of water. She advises placing the nozzle directly against the scalp and squirting slowly while combing the water through the hair with your fingers.
Any water that escapes needs to be carefully scooped back to the head, as it will otherwise float away in the microgravity environment.
Next, Nyberg suggests applying a small amount of no-rinse shampoo, brushing it through the hair with a comb.
A washcloth is used to rub the scalp, and a little more water is added to rinse. Towels are used sparingly, as there is no laundry in space, and dirty items are discarded rather than washed. Nyberg mentions that she enjoyed letting her shoulder-length blond hair dry naturally, allowing it to hover around her face, creating a halo-like effect in the absence of gravity.
Challenges and Tips
Washing hair in space isn’t something astronauts are specifically trained to do. In fact, Nyberg recalls that her trainers hadn’t been to space and therefore couldn’t provide firsthand advice.
Instead, astronauts rely on tips and tricks passed down from those who have experienced space travel before them.
Nyberg advises future space travelers to consider bringing their own shampoo, as the NASA-issued, no-rinse shampoo she used left an unpleasant residue. However, any products need to be approved by NASA, a process that can take months.
While astronauts can manage to keep their bodies clean with sponge baths, hair maintenance is more challenging. After several months in space, Nyberg noticed that her hair started to take on the shape of a ponytail even when it was loose, and it never felt completely clean. The lack of gravity also meant that water didn’t flow down her body as it would on Earth, making the experience of washing less satisfying.
Final Words
Karen Nyberg’s hair-washing video provides a fascinating and educational look at one of the many adaptations astronauts must make while living in space. Her experience underscores the ingenuity required to maintain personal hygiene in a microgravity environment. For Nyberg, returning to Earth and enjoying a proper shower after 166 days in space was nothing short of incredible.