This topic is for information about toiletries, ablutions and hygiene in Babylon. The following are a few interesting facts.

Washing

Ordinary workers hastily did ablutions on the banks of the Euphrates river or its canals. If they had one they would do them in water cisterns that were usually in the courtyard of their house. Those with more elaborate houses, usually the more well off had a vapour bath which consisted of pouring water on very hot stones in a sealed room. They would then use a terra-cotta instrument to scape themself.

Soap

Pure, high quality soap was unknown to the Babylonians. Instead they used simple soap that could be bought cheaply or made at home. This soap consisted of ashes, which contain soda or potash, that were then mixed with oil and pure clay. It was less of a detergent than an abrasive, but it had the same effect.

Annointing

All levels of society except the very lowest regarded it essential to annoint the body and hair with oil. This had a two fold effect. It softened the skin which was irritated and chapped from the dry air and sand storms. It also destroyed vermin in the hair (oil stifles nits and parasites).

Hair

Native inhabitants took their styling cues from the palace, though usually on a smaller and less elaborate scale. Foreigners had simpler, less sophisticated hair.

Beards

Babylonian men wore beards unlike their clean shaven Sumerian predecessors. The populous wore them short, while high officials wore them long and cut square.

Slaves

Slaves were shaved so that they didn't have any nits or parasites.

The Barber (Gallābu)

Barbers of course cut hair. They, however, also shaved preists and the devout in the ways prescribed by rituals.

Nebuchadnezzar's Bath

What is known as Nebuchadnezzar's "bath" is actually a shower. As slaves poured water over him he washed with a soap made of ashes of certain plants and fats. Due to the texture of the concoction, his "shower" was probably like a detergent rinse.