My sons hair smells.

[Kakey1294129]

Sorry for not being aibu but never get many responses elsewhere.

My son is 10. He showers daily. Previously hair would be washed every other day. Now it's every day because of the smell.

It's not a terrible smell but can smell it when sat nearby to him . I can't really explain it. Smells like when you've not washed tour hair for a few days and you've been a bit sweaty, musty. He has got quite a bit of hair - longer than just bits but not really long. We wash his hair too (I know he's 10 but he's autistic and struggles to do it himself).

His hair appears to look pretty clean. It's white blonde but has got darker. No sign of dandruff or anything.

Anyone know what it could be?! What I can do?

@Kakey1294129 when my brother was growing up, he smelled "off" no matter how much he showered. Mum ended up buying him tea tree shampoo and that worked after a week or two.

Confession time:

I have smelly hair. My hair is really thick, like hairdressers shout other hairdressers over to look at it . I think, and I've tried every top shampoo in the world, that it just has a natural greasy thing going on so I just do my best washing it properly.

Is his hair really thick? Is he getting right down to the scalp when he washes?

My DS 13 is the same, I got him a shampoo for greasy hair (even though he washes it daily) and that helps.

If he's happy with it try to blow dry it quickly after washing, it may be staying damp for too long. Use a tea tree shampoo and a bit of a light conditioner. If his scalp isn't dry or irritated a light dusting of dry shampoo might work on his roots.

There are foam shower soaps he might get on with better, or clear unscented shower gel in the bath instead of bubble bath- unless it's the bubbles he doesn't like?

If he hates shampoo and shower gel but will tolerate bars of soap, you could look into solid shampoo bars. I think Lush do them. It might just be about finding the product he can tolerate well enough to use liberally.

@MutteringDarkly

Is he brewing a cold or a bug? Sounds bonkers but I can smell it on DC heads when they're coming down with something.

Otherwise: medicated shampoo? New pillow needed? If he wears hats, do they need a wash? If he has sensory needs is he wearing ear defenders that might be making his head sweaty?

Not bonkers, I can smell when my DCs or DH are unwell.

If he showers at night, I'd check his pillows, in addition to the suggestions of tea tree shampoo. I realised that the stale head smell was coming from an old pillow that needed replaced.

I have thick hair that gets smelly quickly. Oily skin doesn't help. Over the years I've found that double-washing extends the interval between hair-washing, and on the second wash leave the lather on the hair for a few minutes, to help break down the oils.

kids approaching puberty and teenagers do smell sweaty and unwashed even if they are washing frequently. Mine bath or shower every day and I still think they smell a bit funky within a few hours.

Try a dandruff shampoo - T-gel or Selsun should do it. Also rinse very thoroughly and blow dry the hair so it doesn't remain damp.

My DS tends to smell like wet dog if I lapse from this regime!

Puberty is hitting soon, his scalp will be producing more oils. I can always tell when mine haven’t actually taken time with it. A nice clarifying shampoo should sort it, make sure he knows how to get right in the scalp with it!