# Lather, rinse ... repeat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859 "2011-10-26T15:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/1 "2011-10-26T15:08:32Z")
When you wash your hair (or someone else washes it for you), do you repeat (i.e., lather and rinse more than once)? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/2 "2011-10-26T15:12:18Z")
If it’s really dirty, I might do it twice (more likely back when I had more hair). If it doesn’t lather up nicely, I assume that it needs another go (but that’s very rare). ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/3 "2011-10-26T15:12:27Z")
Yup, always. Sometimes several times, if my brain is being wonky and I can’t remember if I already washed it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/4 "2011-10-26T15:28:21Z")
No poo. I either “wash” my hair with just water or baking soda/water or apple cider. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/5 "2011-10-26T15:29:12Z")
I damn sure wish I could have answered that last choice! I have yet to follow the instructions to their logical conclusion, and always stop after that first repeat. Maybe once out of ten times, if I shampooed the day before, I will violate the instructions and just do the first two. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/6 "2011-10-26T15:58:57Z")
No, I never repeat. I scrub my head enough the first time around. I only wash with shampoo every other day (the other days I just scrub with my fingers). ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/7 "2011-10-26T16:03:43Z")
The reason the manufacturers want you to repeat is that way they can sell you more shampoo. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/8 "2011-10-26T16:24:46Z")
Almost always. I have very oily skin/hair. Once usually doesn’t do the job in my estimation. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/9 "2011-10-26T16:24:53Z")
About half the time is close enough. I use less shampoo with each pass if I’m repeating. The second pass requires very little. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/10 "2011-10-26T16:35:06Z")
Did you hear about the computer scientist who couldn’t stop washing his hair? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/11 "2011-10-26T16:42:08Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Did you hear about the computer scientist who couldn’t stop washing his hair? As in BASIC “Go To” loops? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/12 "2011-10-26T17:17:05Z")
First of all, as I learned when I had waist length hair, you don’t really need to wash your hair. You need to wash your scalp. Second of all, after you think you’ve rinsed out the first lather, rub your hair and head again. Changes are there is still some shampoo left. Get it all our, cause shampoo attracts dirt, and will make it even dirtier. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/13 "2011-10-26T17:25:56Z")
I only repeat if I am super-stinkified-dirty. Like after a day of doing house renovations. Or after a camping trip. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/14 "2011-10-26T17:26:49Z")
I have two kinds of shampoo. One is $13, the other about $17. The $13 bottle does not say ‘repeat’ or even ‘repeat if necessary’. The $17 bottle has no instructions. _wipes brow_ _Whew_. (Does anyone actually read directions on shampoo?!) ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/15 "2011-10-26T18:02:24Z")
I don’t wash my hair (with things that lather). I have chronically dry hair. I give my scalp a good rub every few days, sometimes with conditioner, sometimes with just water. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/16 "2011-10-27T02:23:35Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Did you hear about the computer scientist who couldn’t stop washing his hair? He stops when he gets an out\_of\_shampoo exception. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/17 "2011-10-27T02:26:51Z")
Gotta have some way to spend the extra hour from daylight saving time. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/18 "2011-10-27T02:47:23Z")
I always repeat. Always. I had no idea we were not all doing that. I’m blown away. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/19 "2011-10-27T02:49:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I always repeat. Always. > > I had no idea we were not all doing that. I’m blown away. I bet your mattress still has that tag on it that says “Do Not Remove Under Penalty Of Law”, right? Me, too. But I have been so tempted! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859/20 "2011-10-27T02:50:38Z")
If my hair gets long enough and dirty enough I have to repeat. The first wash doesn’t do anything - the soap just disappears. After I get the first layer of dirt stripped, the second wash is nice and foamy and makes me feel cleaner. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lather-rinse-repeat/600859.md?page=2)