Some astronauts are on the International Space Station (ISS) from 4 months to a year, and all this time they not only need to conduct research and study space, but also perform a number of everyday tasks. Many people have always been interested in the question of how, while in Earth orbit, astronauts sleep, relieve themselves, take a shower and wash their heads.
Mechanical engineer Karen Nyberg, while on the orbital station, recorded a video for TikTok, in which she showed in detail how she cares for her long hair in zero gravity.
Preparing to wash your hair
This stage is not much different from the earthly one. The astronaut, of course, uses water, which in zero gravity takes on a spherical shape, she has to catch it with her hands and rub it into the scalp. And for convenience and control of the process, Karen uses a mirror.
Applying detergent
Due to the limited amount of water and the complexity of the process, it is not possible to use conventional shampoo on the ISS. For this, scientists have specially developed a shampoo that does not require rinsing, and will require only a few drops to rinse the scalp and roots. Nyberg gently applies the product to the hair, and then distributes it along the entire length, sometimes using a comb for this. To remove dirt and excess shampoo, the astronaut uses a regular terry towel that is passed through his hair.
Hair drying
Although the shampoo does not require rinsing, Karen still uses a little more water at the end to thoroughly remove the excess product from the hair, and then again passes through the hair with a towel and leaves the hair to dry. The astronaut explained that the water from the hair will evaporate, and the ventilation system will then collect and filter the remaining water, which can then be used for drinking or hygiene.