Advice about what DS can use for his smelly hair

[BuckarooWithBruceGrobelaar]

I wasn't sure where to ask this, but I'm looking for recommendations for shampoos or other products that will stop my DS's hair smelling. He's 13 and showers every day, but his hair constantly smells. It's a bit like wet dog, mixed with the scent of not washing it for several days. It must be hormonal because it's only been happening since he started puberty a few moths ago. Any advice?

*Months, not moths, obvs

Is it his hair, or his scalp? A tea tree shampoo could be good.

I had this as a teen and used a tea tree shampoo. Mine was a body shop one - no idea if they still make it, but it stopped the smell and wasn't too harsh on my hair.

Is he washing it thoroughly, and rinsing thoroughly? I'd go with something like vosene maybe?

Is he actually washing it with shampoo every day or just getting it wet?

Does he use a fresh towel?

Does he use any orifice in his hair?

Is he drying his hair or letting it dry naturally? Is he going to sleep on his pillow while it’s damp, or the pillow need replaced?
If that’s all ok then try a shampoo for scalp treatment, ginger shampoo is good.

Is he actually washing his hair properly though?
My dd can be like this when she wets her hair but doesn't get the shampoo on her scalp of rub it in properly.

It’s probably dandruff, get him to try head and shoulders or the like for a week or so. Both my DC had dandruff repeated outbreaks at the start of puberty🤷‍♀️

Is it just you who can smell it or can other people smell it as well? I find my 12yo DS's hair smells unbearably strong but DH can't smell anything at all. Apparently it's a mother + teenage son thing.

The only cure for it (in our house anyway) is for him to have his hair cut shorter. When he has a shorter hairstyle, I can only smell it when it's actually dirty.

I will keep watching though in case of any other tips, might try te tea tree shampoo.

Sounds like he's not getting the hair properly clean. Kerastase does those amazing scrubs that might help. Pricey but you only need very little, will last for ever. www.kerastase.co.uk/haircare-products/range/fusio-scrub

This might sound like a strange question, is he actually using shampoo ? My DS used to use body/ hair wash combined products for a while, and they are really not proper shampoos and didn’t get hair actually clean. Also some shampoos have Sulphates in them which as I understand it make them easily lather up but might not suit his hair type? I’d maybe switch to another shampoo product for a week or two and see if there is a difference?

I do wonder if he's not washing it properly when it's long but it looks clean and bouncy.

When ds was at his smelliest I bought him I love juicy from lush, but I see it's been discontinued not where else you can get something so powerful now.

@BlackberryMuncher

Is he actually washing it with shampoo every day or just getting it wet?

Does he use a fresh towel?

Does he use any orifice in his hair?

Don't use orifices on his hair for God's sake!

I would check how he's actually washing it. My teen tends to wet his hair rather than actually wash it

Is he actually massaging his shampoo properly all over his head. I had to have this convo with my DS as his hair was still greasy after washing plus at times he'd been using the conditioner as shampoo because the bottles looked the same

Also it needs to dry properly. If he showers at night he might have to dry it with a blow dryer

Wow! So many replies already! To answer a few questions, yes he's washing it properly. I've actually washed it for him a few times to make sure and it still smells the same.

@BertieBotts That's really interesting. Will have to ask my mum if she can smell it too.

The tea tree shampoo sounds interesting, will look into that. He's using head and shoulders at the moment. I got him a clarifying neutrogena one that didn't make that much of a difference and really dried his hair.

Drying wise, he lets it air dry usually, other than the very odd occassion where I've dried it for him with the hairdryer

@BlackberryMuncher

Is he actually washing it with shampoo every day or just getting it wet?

Does he use a fresh towel?

Does he use any orifice in his hair?

Now I really want to know what 'orifice' os a typo for

And yes, the towel is fresh

I'm guessing 'orifice' is a typo for product

Bit of dry shampoo works for my stinker

This is good stuff
www.boots.com/Umberto-Giannini-Scalp-Scrub-Exfoliating-Anti-Dandruff-Scrub-10286138

Try washing with T-gel oily scalp and drying with a hairdryer.

It’s the only thing that worked for my daughter. Her hair used to smell like a greasy bloke’s hat - if he’d been wearing the same hat everyday to work and never washing it.

Make sure he's really massaging the shampoo into the scalp (not just the hair). Try one of those silicon scalp massaging brushes?

I remember that with DS, I supervised wash, rinse and blow dry. Miraculous cure.

is he actually washing his hair/scalp with shampoo?
my teens have to sometimes be remembered to use soap

and yes, children lose their lovely smell during puberty.
dh can't smell it.