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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shampoo Pettiness AIBU?

69 replies

EndisinSight · 08/03/2018 14:20

I keed to now whether AIBU to mention something or not..

We're not a well off family, we get by. The one luxury I have is my shampoo. I have very long, thick hair so I like to treat myself to a decent shampoo. Now the problem is, we have a relative staying with us temporarily for a few months. He has short hair but seems to be using my shampoo every day and a lot of It!

When I went to wash my hair this morning most of the bottle has gone! I only bough it a couple of weeks ago and do not wash my hair everyday. There's 2 other 'men's shampoos available so why the hell is he using ALL my shampoo? I did point out to him when he first arrived which things were mine and which things to help himself too.

AIBU and petty? It's genuinely annoying me that he's using my expensive shampoo everyday and it's almost all gone. Should I tell him to get his own in the future?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 08/03/2018 14:49

What's he been doing with it, drinking it Confused A whole bottle, even a small one, in a couple of weeks is madness, should last a good while more than that.

My shampoos and other stuff last ages and I can't get over how fast some people use things up. So wasteful, using loads more than necessary. Depending on the relationship with your relative, I would mention it, how expensive it is and how you said you didn't want them to use it and see if they offer to replace it.

Trinity66 · 08/03/2018 14:53

I think stuff left in communal spaces is fair game unless stated

She did state though

littlemisscomper · 08/03/2018 14:55

Fill it with hair removal cream and replace! Grin

bunbunny · 08/03/2018 14:55

As soon as it's gone I would ask him to buy another bottle of that specific shampoo - without mentioning the price. Point out that it usually lasts you for a couple of months rather than the couple of weeks that it has done with him there.

Even if you buy another bottle that you keep in your room, keep asking him for the bottle replacement. If he says no, then you get to very nicely ask him why not, when you had specifically asked him not to use that one thing, that you are doing a very nice thing in having him stay with you, that it feels like a real slap in the face.

If he then says it's too expensive, point out that he knew that it was your special shampoo and that's why you asked him to use the other ones, that is why you are asking him to replace it as he used it. if he wants to carry on using it, he will have to buy it for himself as you can't afford to.

If he does get you a replacement bottle make sure you keep it in your room.

If you don't want to talk to him about this, maybe you could get your dp/one of the other family members to have a gentle go at him along the lines of 'mate, you've committed the cardinal sin of using mum's special shampoo and I'm getting a lot of grief about it. It's mother's day coming up, you better make sure you replace it for her properly otherwise we're all going to be in deep deep trouble and it would be a really nice surprise for her. I know she told you not to use it, and none of us would risk our lives by using it, it's really not worth it, please just replace it and peace will be restored...'.

Roomba · 08/03/2018 14:59

YANBU, OP!

I remember my friend buying some expensive shampoo that stated it gradually added a hint of red over several uses. She left it in our communal halls shower - so of course, 11 other students on her floor (plus guests) just had to try it out just the once, no one would notice one small drop gone... Next time she showered, there was about 10ml left and she was justifiably enraged!

LondonHuffyPuffy · 08/03/2018 14:59

I would have to say something! I would be polite, but firm and say that it's expensive, it's mine and it's not for general use. Especially as OP had already told him that.

Pleasebeafleabite · 08/03/2018 14:59

mynameismrbloom
I would have probably cried

mynameismrbloom · 08/03/2018 15:00

BarbaraofSevillle

"What's he been doing with it, drinking it confused A whole bottle, even a small one, in a couple of weeks is madness, should last a good while more than that."

Perhaps he's hairy all over. Shock

mynameismrbloom · 08/03/2018 15:02

Pleasebeafleabite I know. I had Christmas tokens, bought it in the January sales, and it was still really really expensive. It was my treat and I don't treat myself very often.

KarmaStar · 08/03/2018 15:02

Cheeky devil.they must really love your shampoo too.😃
Yes I'd remove my bottle from the bathroom too.
Filling the empty with an alternative,cheaper one is a good idea too,I wonder if they would have the cheek to ask where the nice shampoo had gone?😀

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/03/2018 15:03

Yes definitely move it. I'm the same in that I have a specific shampoo for my hair and if I forget to move it everyone will use it. It's from the hairdressers and is £18 which I know is ridiculous but it's so good.

Springtrolls · 08/03/2018 15:11

When I have guests staying I put anything I don't want them using in my room. I learned the hard way.

expatinscotland · 08/03/2018 15:16

'AIBU and petty? It's genuinely annoying me that he's using my expensive shampoo everyday and it's almost all gone. Should I tell him to get his own in the future?'

Of course tell him to get his own! Why isn't he already? He's a mooch. I'd be furious because you told him it was yours. Don't put any more in there. If he comes and tells you there's no more shampoo, tell him to go buy some more, you're not running a hotel.

Eliza9917 · 08/03/2018 15:23

Make him buy you a new bottle! And a conditioner too.

poisoningpidgeysinthepark · 08/03/2018 15:25

When my stepkids stay over I hide everything. Particularly my sponge Envy

WeirdCatLady · 08/03/2018 15:26

I don’t see why you wouldn’t just tell him that he is using your expensive shampoo, to please stop doing so and that you expect him to replace what he has already used. You pointed out to him to begin with that this was not for him to use, and he has chosen to ignore you 😡 so tell him he needs to replace it (and don’t leave it in the bathroom again).

Dungeondragon15 · 08/03/2018 15:27

I don't suppose everyone would realise that shampoo can be really expensive. Why would it occur to him if he normally uses standard shampoo? My DDs and DH know better than to touch my shampoo or conditioner but if anyone else was in the house I would hide it.

JamieLannisterToMyBedchamber · 08/03/2018 15:27

I've heard of someone in a shared house using expensive shampoo as body wash in the past - maybe he's doing that.

Still, sounds like you have a solution in removing it to the bedroom.

GnotherGnu · 08/03/2018 15:30

Ask him when he's going to replace it.

Charolais · 08/03/2018 15:35

He might be using your razor to shave his balls. Hide your stuff.

Charolais · 08/03/2018 15:45

When I was a divorced mum every penny counted. One of the few luxury’s I had was expensive bath oil. Half a cap full every night in my bath, a bottle would last me ages.

One evening I noticed the whole bottle empty and asked my little boy why-what ?? He told me his baby-sitter took a bath! The stupid girl must have thought it was bubble bath and dumped it all in expecting bubbles. She must have slipped around in all the oil and looked like a greasy chip when she got out.

My son told me what else she’d been up to and I fired her.

expatinscotland · 08/03/2018 16:16

'I don’t see why you wouldn’t just tell him that he is using your expensive shampoo, to please stop doing so and that you expect him to replace what he has already used. You pointed out to him to begin with that this was not for him to use, and he has chosen to ignore you 😡 so tell him he needs to replace it (and don’t leave it in the bathroom again).'

This ^. With bells on. Why are people so silly they'll seethe about this rather than telling the person, 'Oi, I told you that was my shampoo. You used it all up. I expect a replacement by close of play tomorrow.'

UserSnoozer · 08/03/2018 16:29

Take it to your bedroom after each use

hellsbellsmelons · 08/03/2018 16:32

I would honestly just take the bottle to where he is and tell him..
'This is MY shampoo. It's bloody expensive and I am poor. Please do not use it again. There are other shampoos in there you are welcome to use but this one is off limits. OK!?'
Job done!

RB68 · 08/03/2018 16:35

If you are feeling mean Tesco's 80p shampoo is just awful....