Post by pinkpeony08 on Dec 4, 2022 15:54:22 GMT -5
Iโm hoping someone might have some ideas.
My 10 yo has long hair, and showers on her own. We intermittently pop in to check or supervise, but often she showers totally on her own. The issue is that her head often stinks. Sometimes I can smell it from a few feet away.
She uses an herbal essence pretty strong smelling shampoo. It looks clean. She has a scalp brush to massage the shampoo in. I just got her a mirror for the shower so she can be sure sheโs really scrubbing her scalp, though it hasnโt yet come in the mail.
She showers every other evening and does smell ok right after showering, but some days I can smell it even the next day.
Itโs the age. We had a hard time with hair at this age as well and it was definitely hormonal. Her hair just got really greasy and hard to manage. Daily showers plus dry shampoo helped. This stage lasted 3-4 months and back to normal now. For awhile I was convinced it was how she washed it but nope. Just hormones. I am pretty sure I made a thread on it, too.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Dec 4, 2022 17:04:55 GMT -5
My husband has an oily scalp and it can get that smell. He uses a dandruff shampoo but at the very least I'd find one formulated for oily scalps. My husband needs to wash his hair daily.
I'll bet her pillow case and pillow are transmitting odors back and forth too.
Has she tried not shampooing it as often? Sometimes over-shampooing, especially during drier months, can cause the scalp to over-produce oil. If this is the case, she can try tapering down to shampooing twice a week, and just use conditioner on the other days (I promise itโs hygienic). If you want to try this, maybe wait till the holiday break from school.
Post by UMaineTeach on Dec 4, 2022 18:05:50 GMT -5
Sometimes when I feel like I havenโt done a good job washing for a couple time I bend and flip my hair over, like you might to blow dry it, and give my scalp, under, and roots a good scrub.
Post by pinkpeony08 on Dec 4, 2022 18:07:29 GMT -5
Thanks, Iโll try some of these.
Anyone found a shampoo that works well for your kids? She has long, straight hair thatโs fairly thin. It doesnโt look overly greasy when it needs washing, only stinky.
DDโs hair smells after a few days. Usually not right after. But I do suspect that it is when she doesnโt wash well. Our hairdresser suggested we wash it for her once a week and she does the other washings. I didnโt keep up with it but that was her suggestion. And it did help those times that I did do it.
The smell seems less lately and she was using the dandruff one, Selsun Blue I think. We also use Kenra for clarifying and a sulfate free shampoo Cantรน for regular use.
Sometimes when I feel like I havenโt done a good job washing for a couple time I bend and flip my hair over, like you might to blow dry it, and give my scalp, under, and roots a good scrub.
along these lines, is she scrubbing the back scalp area well? I was embarrassingly old when I realized you don't just wash the top part of your hair lol.
Post by ilikedonuts on Dec 4, 2022 20:01:36 GMT -5
Is is not fully drying before going in a ponytail?
My 9 year old can get musty smelling hair because sheโs a swimmer and honestly sometimes we just get home too late to brush it out if she hasnโt showered at the pool.
My 10 year olds hair is getting more oily and I donโt think she always washes it as well as she should. Itโs long, straight, and getting thick. Iโm pretty sure she doesnโt always get to the scalp even though Iโve told her she needs to many times, she also doesnโt always rinse well. I usually wash her hair for her once a week to make sure it gets really clean (she usually washes every other day). I can tell a difference in how her hair looks after I wash it and after she washes it. I think it just takes a lot of practice to get good at it.
So, this happens to me when I use Herbal Essence shampoo or conditioner. My hair seems clean but quickly is dirty, greasy, and not right. Itโs odd and I think exacerbated by hormones in some way.
I would try a different shampoo/conditioner conbo. .
EDIT - I use H and S Smooth and Silky along with their scalp scrub. My hair feels so clean.
No help on the smell, we haven't had this happen yet at 9.5, but she uses the kirkland brand shampoo in the purple/silver bottles. Before that she used the dove daily shampoo/conditioner.
I have also told her to really make sure she's scrubbing it in. It's hard because she has a lot of hair, so I just tell her to really spend time on making sure she's getting enough.
I've also stopped worrying about how much she's using, which is why I buy the costco bottles, LOL. Not sure more = cleaner, but wasn't worth the battle.
Has she tried not shampooing it as often? Sometimes over-shampooing, especially during drier months, can cause the scalp to over-produce oil. If this is the case, she can try tapering down to shampooing twice a week, and just use conditioner on the other days (I promise itโs hygienic). If you want to try this, maybe wait till the holiday break from school.
This is what my kids hav done since birth, but around age 10 the hormones hit and they got so nasty smelling and oily. Unfortunately my daughter has to shower daily now, and my son can get away with every other day since he has a buzz.
I have long thin hair and def had to shower daily so I didnโt smell and my hair didnโt get greasy. As an adult I use Aveda shampure and itโs great, but I think as a kid I mostly used Pantene.
Post by starburst604 on Dec 5, 2022 8:55:09 GMT -5
Have her shampoo twice when she washes, my hair stylist swears that a second go is really necessary to get the oils and product out. I only wash once a week myself though so I'm not going through a ton of shampoo.
My kids shower every other day (and sometimes skip on Friday) and my 11 year old's hair (which is shorter too) is getting greasy quickly now. It's super annoying. We've really worked on washing right but I am convinced it's hormones and she needs to start showering more often I'm not pushing the issue right now unless we have significnat weekend plans.
I would have her switch brands and see if the problem persists. Mine uses Aussie Kids but sometimes I have her use my Nexxus clarifying shampoo to make sure she gets any buildup out of her hair.
My 10 yo son went through a stage of his hair smelling like a wet dog. He has super thick hair and doesnt like to get it cut often so there is a lot of it! We had to work with him on scrubbing it and for a while, I would have him come to me to check the smell every evening and send him back to wash it properly if necessary (he swims most days so it is washed most days).
Post by pinkpeony08 on Dec 5, 2022 11:54:26 GMT -5
Thanks all. Iโll start with switching shampoos. I can try to do one of the shampoos weekly, but sometimes that time of day is a bit of a disaster as Iโm also putting the infant to bed. Lots of good ideas, thanks for sharing.
I would suggest daily hair washing paired with the suggestion above to try a different shampoo. A clarifying shampoo every so often might also help if she's getting excessive oil buildup. Washing hair only a few times a week is great for adults, but I would use caution with this approach during the pre-teen and teen years unless you change pillowcases every few days, too. Oily hair can cause facial breakouts.
DS is 9.5 and his head definitely doesn't smell as fresh as it used to. A few times a month I pop in to help him really scrub his scalp. It seems that he's still mostly lathering the top of his head, not working his scalp, and not getting the shampoo onto the sides/front/back.
If bedtime assistance is difficult due to putting your baby to bed, maybe mark on your calendar that you do a pampering session on Saturdays or Sundays? Help her with a really good hair washing, then add in something really small to play it up as a fun experience. Bath and Body Works lotion, blow dry her hair for her, etc. Do it at an off time in the afternoon when you have no plans. Maybe while the baby naps.
DS takes his shower early on Sunday nights due to some meds he's on, and we nailed that down in our weekly routine. That's usually the night I help him with his hair, if need be.
I don't know how many times we've switched shampoo for DD over the last 2 years. I've stopped buying the big bottles because it seems like the oily greasiness comes back about 3/4 of the way through a small bottle of shampoo. She uses a clarifying shampoo once a week and that helps a lot. I really think it is just hormones.
That's a stinky age and one in which kids will absolutely phone it in when it comes to getting clean.
My one niece just washed the ends of her hair which left her scalp greasy/smelly. My kid only washed the back of his hair to avoid getting shampoo in his eyes; he's always had sensory issues. And my BFF's kid just poured a little shampoo down the drain and rinsed because she couldn't be bothered.
With my kid I did a sniff test right out of the shower which did piss him off but led to better results. My sister showed her kid how to wash-- the kid got the idea from some stupid commercial. And my friend cut her kid's hair to shoulder length to make it easier.
Switching shampoos can help. I got DS a tear-free version. My one SIL's kids were swimmers plus she had a well, so she bought special shampoo for that.
Post by ellipses84 on Dec 11, 2022 15:59:42 GMT -5
I think hormones can make hair extra smelly and greasy at this age. Weโve had to coach DS1 (11) through it and switch shampoos every other time. The kid shampoos donโt cut it and he was having flakes on his scalp so sometimes he uses head and shoulders (he and I are prone to it). We explain he really has to scratch / massage the shampoo into his scalp and rinse well. This is harder with long hair. He is resistant to every day showering so we do EOD but if heโs especially stinky or his hair isnโt looking like he washed/ rinsed it well, weโll make him take a shower during the between day.
Post by ellipses84 on Dec 11, 2022 16:02:52 GMT -5
Our current house / neighborhood has hard water and that doesnโt help, so clarifying shampoos are great to use 1-2x/week. Kinds that work well for chlorine hair are great. Weโve used a couple a John Friedas and Noughty Detox Dynamo (which is the most natural one Iโve found that works). The all ๐ฏ natural brands donโt work the best IME.
Post by pinkpeony08 on Dec 11, 2022 22:21:43 GMT -5
Well, she showered with the new head and shoulders last night and still had a stinky head today. Slept on a clean pillowcase last night too. Iโll try to get in there tomorrow night and really scrub her scalp and see if that helps. Next up will be a clarifying shampoo if the mom wash doesnโt improve the situation!
DD uses the same shampoo and conditioner as me. We both use Redken anti-frizz. I get the huge bottles. Not really helpful, but DD chopped off her hair and it makes my life so much easier!
She only washes twice a week. I only wash once a week.
Iโve seriously considered taking dd to a cheap hair place like great clips for a really good wash. She has thick hair and needs a lot of coaching and reminders about how to properly wash it. Sheโs also terrible about sufficiently rinsing it. Iโve learned to check it as soon as she gets out of the shower so I can make her get back in. The worst is not fully rinsing the shampoo but adding conditioner over the top then not fully rinsing that either.
I really did not expect to still be so involved with her hair washing at this age but itโs good to know Iโm not the only one.
Dd uses a decent drugstore brand that comes in a pump bottle. I donโt let her use mine because mine is too expensive to waste on someone who doesnโt wash properly, plus she has a much easier maintenance hair type than I do.
DD uses the same shampoo and conditioner as me. We both use Redken anti-frizz. I get the huge bottles. Not really helpful, but DD chopped off her hair and it makes my life so much easier!
She only washes twice a week. I only wash once a week.
She used to have a cute bob, but she started growing it out during the pandemic now. It was like pulling teeth to talk her into a trim recently. We have had a lot of conversations about having long hair means committing to taking care of it. Sheโs at least brushing it daily now, but ugh.