washing that man right out of my hair

[susandennis]

When I was a teenager, hair washing happened once a week.  Before the dating years, it was washed on Saturday night so it would be clean and pretty for Jesus on Sunday.  (Although, personally, Jesus never even mentioned noticing...)

The running theory was that washing it more than weekly would ruin it.  My Mom's theory was that washing it more than once a week was a waste of shampoo.  Waste not, want not.  Either way, once a week was the rule.

The movie South Pacific came out when I was about 10ish and I was besotted (love that word) by it.  My Mom had seen it on Broadway with Peter Pan (Mary Martin) and had told me that for the run of the show, Mary Martin washed her hair every single night while she was on stage.

I was just amazed by this.  I had seen Mary Martin and I knew her hair wasn't ruined.  I was so confused.

Tonight I watched a PBS special about Oscar Hammerstein and they showed a clip of Mary Martin from South Pacific and all I could think of was how clean her hair looked.

My brain is just for fun these days.

Comments

[sweeny-todd.livejournal.com]

I try to wash mine as infrequently as possible - at the moment that is twice a week, but I trained it out of every second day, because I just did not want to be stripping all the natural oils that often.

[cactus_rs]

So strange! When I hit puberty hair-washing became an every day thing for me because if I didn't, my hair (medium to dark brown, extremely fine strands) would look absolutely repulsive. The slightest amount of oil was instantly apparent, and using something like corn starch just made me look like I had dirty hair AND bad dandruff.

I got snarky comments once in a while even daily shampoos; I'm sure if I only shampooed once a week I would have been an outright pariah.

As an adult I now wash every two or three days and I get by.

I'm surprised she'd wash her hair on stage! Getting it dry and set to go back on must have been a Herculean task...

[viridescence13]

I love that you're sharing these things!

I wrote this whole article once about the history of soap, and how both bathing and washing your hair was done so much less frequently in the past, even the recent past. My grandmother got her hair done once a week, on Saturdays, and slept with a hairnet on. She just had to fluff it up a little during the week and it was fine!

Those shampoo manufacturers convinced us that we were filthy and unclean if we didn't wash our hair every day or every other day. And they've done a good job! But truthfully most people do not need to wash their hair every day. I had really greasy hair as a teenager but as an adult, I can go 2-3 days now and it's fine.

That's so funny about "South Pacific." I love Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals but "South Pacific" is my least favorite. The songs are great though. I think it was ruined by a bad high school production that I saw once. Every time "Some Enchanted Evening" started up again, I'd just cringe. ;) How great for your mom to have seen Mary Martin on Broadway!

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

I haven't used shampoo in about 10 years, since I keep my hair almost completely shaved off. Warm water is enough.

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

Before puberty, I washed my hair every other day or so. But my acne was starting to get worse, and I was convinced that the oils in my hair on my face and pillows was not helping. Now, as an adult, no more acne, but I really hate not washing my hair. Since my hair is super dark and straight, a little bit of oily is difficult to hide. Plus I love dumping hot water on my head. It makes me happy :)

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I hate not taking a shower daily, I hate feeling icky and having oily nose from not showering, and I just love the hot, steamy shower. :-)

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

“Jesus never even mentioned noticing”

Of course not -- he's too much of a gentleman to risk making you feel self-conscious.

FWIW, I do my hair every other day -- when I tried doing it every day it got badly dried out and even conditioner didn't really help.

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure Jesus had head lice.

[catmomma.livejournal.com]

Can't imagine going a whole week, my head actually aches if I go too long. I do have a skin condition though that keeps me washing it about every 3-4 days so twice a week works for me.

As a kid though I did totally fight taking showers or baths. I was happy being "Pigpen" till I was in Junior High. I member even going into the bathroom and running the water, sticking my hand in it and swishing it around so mom thought I was taking a bath. Lol. I also remember going to summercamp for a week and being thrilled that they didn't make me bathe the whole week.

Now I am going to be singing "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair" the rest of the day

[fyremaven.livejournal.com]

That's funny. I remember the same thing from my mom. In her time (had she lived she would be 70) it was once a week for that AND for bathing. And yeah, Saturday was the big day. By the time I came along (with her other 4 kids) she was more modern and we were bathed daily as kids, when we were teens she tried to tell us girls that we could (and should) shower daily but not wash our hair because it would dry it out, maybe just 3 times a week for us.

Turned out, with my type of brittle, wiry hair, 2-3 times a week with the right shampoo is just enough! Weird.

And if your brain can't be just for fun, then I don't know what!! :D

[sea-weed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the laughs while eating my breakfast. :-) And on the pope lasting only one more news cycle too, perfect!