You can buy these items at OCS, but I strongly suggest you bring your own.
SHOWER ITEMS
Get one of those zip up shower caddies. You can hang this in your locker and bring it to the shower. OCS is a great time for that Bachelor Pad 3-in-1 soap. Here's what I brought:
2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner
Anti-microbial wash
Loofah :)
Deodorant
Baby Wipes (copious amounts, bring a big pack, and a travel size for the field)
Razor (for liberty, but men, you'll need this everyday)
Shaving cream (same as above)
SHOWER SHOES! (you can buy them at OCS, but they are huge. You may need to cut them)
HAIR ITEMS
This is for the ladies. For TBS, I cut my hair short, a couple inches below my ears. I still wear it like this today. Before OCS, I did not cut my hair because I was afraid if I got dropped, I'd be stuck with a haircut I didn't like. I wish I had cut my hair. My hair looks cute short, it's so low maintenance in the field, and I never get chewed out for having busted hair. If you aren't going to cut your hair, please please please learn to style your hair before you get to OCS. Hair must be free of fly-aways and hair pins or ties can't show.
For long length hair you will need:
Bobby pins (match your hair color)
Hair ties (those clear plastic ones are the best)
Hair gel, strong
Hair spray
Sock bun sock (optional. I hated the sock bun, didn't wear it, and it sucks with the kevlar)
Fine-tooth comb
Here is an example video of a Marine doing her hair in a bun with twists.
Here is an example video of a Marine doing her hair in a bun with a braid.
Here is an example video of a Marine doing her hair in a sock bun.
Here is an example video of a Marine doing her hair in a sock bun with braids around the bun.
You can also do twists and locks, but I need to find videos for these !!
You're allowed to bring a hair dryer. I brought it and only used it on liberty. I used it another time to dry some gear over liberty, and my rack-mate, an African-American lady, asked to use it once after she braided her locks for the week. She was a prior Drill Instructor and always had everything squared away.
OTHER HYGIENE ITEMS
Q-tips
Lotion (for dry skin)
Saline solution (you can't wear contacts, but this was handy after the Quigley)
Chapstick
Toothbrush (bring an extra)
Toothpaste
Tampons (for ladies...duh. Though most ladies don't get their period at OCS. I didn't)
Glide Stick (for chaffing)
I took three "showers" a day. I'll explain.
#1- After PT- You'll have like 10 minutes to hygiene after PT, and it's a cluster-fuck of naked bodies scrambling to get ready. Honestly, just take care of where it smells with baby wipes. Get used to being gross. For this shower, I maybe rinsed off my body, but usually not. It helped that I went in the winter. I mostly used baby wipes, touched up my hair, and applied more deodorant. I can't imagine going in the summer hahhahaha
#2- Before Hygiene Inspection- When I went to OCS, we were allowed to get out of our racks for an hour after lights. This was changed after I went. Us ladies were allowed to wear our wet hair in ponytails for bed, and during inspection. At the end of the day, before lights, you have to get cleaned up and stand on your foot lockers. You'll be wearing just skivvy shorts if you're a man, and skivvy shorts and bra if you're a female. The instructors inspect for blisters, bruises, etc. You'll have like ten minutes to shower before this one. If you can take a real shower, do it. Toward the end of the cycle, when there's less people, or if you're a man, this can be your night time shower. But for this one, I just rinsed off my hair and then got out so someone else could get in.
#3-The real shower- When I went, we were allowed to get out of our racks after lights. Some nights, if my showers that day were inadequate, I took a real shower, 5 minutes, where I got everywhere. Ladies-don't shave your legs. It's time consuming and I got irritating bumps. I then realized I should just unleash the beast. Towards the end of OCS, when you have more time and there's less people, you can just do this shower before lights.
Ladies-wear your hair in a loose pony-tail at night. You are allowed to do this, and your scalp will thank you. I should have just chopped off my hair, because this was my morning routine.
0500- Lights. You have like 10 minutes to get ready. Those with short hair just rolled out of bed. The ladies with long hair woke up earlier to do their hair. My platoon had a weird rule where no one could be in the head from 0430-0500. No idea why. So I was waking up at 0400 to do my hair, and it still looked like shit. I could have slept an hour more per day, maybe more.
After lights at 0900, I got out and showered for 5 minutes and had to get all the tangles out.