Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

At the moment I face a great dilemma. The lather has been luxurious and foamy, the rinse leaving my hair squeaky clean. But I struggle this time with the command to repeat.

Funny, but this has never been an issue before. Since childhood, and especially since first viewing the commercial of Farrah Fawcett, I have faithfully repeated. I still smile when remembering. As she peeked from the shower, the whiteness of the foam upon her head was eclipsed only by the glint of her glorious smile. She lathered. She rinsed. And in silhouette she gloriously repeated. Since then, so have I. It has simply felt right.

But now I question. Why must I repeat?

My hair feels clean with the lathering of one. The shampoo costs good money and is produced by a reputable company.

"Aha, that is it!". I say to myself. This company doubles its coffers by convincing those gullible like myself to shampoo not once, but twice. The command is therefore, not only needless, but unfair.

Still I hesitate. As far as I know, the Company Of The Moon And Stars has never mislead me with other products. I clean my bathroom and dishes with their products, and none with instructions to repeat. Yet the command is before me in bold letters which I am able to read even without glasses. And the words are not followed by a question mark. The only ambiguity is whether I will obey.

I have never done this before. I've always played it safe, and done what has been instilled in me to be right. But this time will be different. With resolve I cap the bottle and set it aside. There will be no second lather and rinse. As I step from the shower, for the first time I feel in control of my hair. With a swagger I stand before the mirror and with confidence I grab the hairdryer. Time moves swiftly and joyfully, and the next thing I know I am clothed and out the door.

But, the strut does not last. I begin to wonder. What have I done?  My hair just does not feel right, and I am sure there will be a noticeable difference to others. It seems the quality of straw. And, the words upon that bottle were written for my own good.

Why did I not heed those words?
Why did I throw that shampoo bottle aside?

Quickly I backtrack, and re-enter the house. I make a beeline to the shower, and clutch the bottle of shampoo.  Never again, I promise.  And as the spray from the shower soaks the clothes still upon my body, I LATHER, I RINSE, I REPEAT!
09.07.07 (2:20 pm)   [edit]


posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (11:50 am)

Haha..you're goofy.

Never have I repeated. I'm a rebel. I think I'll go run with scissors now, after I tear the tags off my pillows.


posted by: rosietulips (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (12:11 pm)

I rarely repeat! I only do it if I feel like there wasn't a huge lather the first time 'round.
But you gotta do what you feel is right!


posted by: Bob (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (1:16 pm)

I think that once you have lost half your hair, you're exempt from repeating. So you should be ok.


posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (1:43 pm)

LOL PD, do what you feel is right.


posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (2:30 pm)


ROFLOL ~ very loudly as I read this post!
If you inject this sense of humor that you obviously have into your sermons, I definitely want to make a visit to your church some day!!!

Now, as to the 'lather, rinse, repeat theory'
~ I have always felt that it exhausted one's supply twice as fast, resulting in the need to purchase more of said product, thus depleting funds in your pocket, and increasing revenue for the manufacturer!
;) .. *g*



posted by: Barnabus1 (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (2:47 pm)

Repeating also weakens one's hair..course I'm a guy and have never ever repeated a hair wash!!!
Best of luck being a REBEL!!!!


posted by: squirrelzone (reply)
post date: 09.07.07 (3:05 pm)

I myself am not plagued with the taunting echos of rinse and repeat. For I wear my hair so short that I use a bar of soap to wash my hair. I am sitting here at my computer mesmerized by the question you pose. I do not know if I should curse you or commend you for pushing me outside of the box that I was so comfortable in.


posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:14 am)

Reply to: bawdy
You are a bold individualist, my friend. The pressure to repeat is so great, few have the intestinal fortitude of yourself. A t-Blog salute, well deserved.


posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:18 am)

Reply to: rosietulips
Gotta do what feels right? What feels right is to be an individualist, to not be prey to a slickly marketed bottle of shampoo. Yet, the guilt is too great. I have a similar weakness with the tags on my mattress.



posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:20 am)

Reply to: Bob
Lose my hair? You do not know me, nor the power of Rogaine. Never.



posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:21 am)

Reply to: LadyG
What feels right.... What feels right.... What feels right is to unload a ton of guilt, and just lather and rinse again. But, when should the process end? It says to repeat. Five, six, seven?



posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:28 am)

Reply to: auntconi
Humor has its place in preaching and pastoral relations. But I'm not a comic- lot of folks are better at being funny than some preacher. I stick to the scriptures and the gospel, with a few efforts at attempted humor. Stop by sometimes, please. You can meet the family, and we will all find a local eatery after the morning service.



posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:32 am)

Reply to: Barnabus1
Never thought about how repeating has a weakening effect upon the hair. You have provided additional fuel for rebellion. Thank you.


posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (10:36 am)

Reply to: squirrelzone
It is a moral/ethical dilemma, for sure. I don't want to waste money and precious resources. And I don not want to be pushed around by a corporate conglomerate. Yet I want clean and shiny hair. And there is the possibility those instructions are truly meant for my own good. And, my hair is worth the extra time and expenditure. Yet I do not want to be vain. Oh, the wretched struggle that ensues. Perhaps the answer you have found- short, short hair. Hair so short that shampoo is not needed- just a bar of soap. But, do the same directions apply for the soap? There is much to be considered. For sure, wisdom is not gained in a day.


posted by: squirrelzone (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (11:45 am)

Reply to: PastorDave

Wisdom is gained through trial and error. One only needs to touch a hot stove once. It is the simple things in life that can make the most intelligent sit and ponder......things that make you go, hmm?


posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (1:47 pm)

Reply to: PastorDave
~ you got it dude!
When I am heading to the Gulf Coast I will be sure and stop by. Will give you a heads up when I'll be doing such a venture!



posted by: jackum (reply)
post date: 09.08.07 (4:35 pm)

The only time I repeat is if I'm not sure if I did in the first place and my hair gets all superfrothy and then I'm sure I already did. I absolutely love to use the hairdryer while I'm showering.


posted by: heavyarms (reply)
post date: 09.11.07 (10:47 am)

I have never repeated.


posted by: FinalyFree (reply)
post date: 09.11.07 (8:30 pm)

Mine just doesn't 'feel right' if I don't repeat. Never given it a second thought, lol.
:)


posted by: emerging (reply)
post date: 09.13.07 (3:19 pm)

Lather. Rinse. Skip the repeating and simply Repent. You'll be forgiven :)


posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 09.14.07 (6:32 am)

My rule is a simple one that's evolved over the years. If I washed my hair yesterday, I don't repeat. If for some reason I'v gone a day without washing my hair (and here I do almost mean "hair" literally, as opposed to "hairs" - alas...) then I repeat.

Your Name:


Your Comment: