Mums hair smells strongly of ammonia

[Bettycheese]

My Mum is 76. She has silvery/grey, thinning hair, which in recent weeks has taken on a strange green patch that seems to be spreading. Her mobile hairdresser (who is pretty useless to be honest) had advised her to use silver shampoo so we wondered if it was this causing the odd colour.

I was chatting to her yesterday while she was washing her hair, and was overwhelmed by a strong smell of ammonia coming off her wet hair (to the point it was making me gag). She now tells me that it’s been like this for ages when wet, but hadn’t thought to mention it.

I’m now wondering if the two things might be linked. I’ve advised her to go and see her GP as soon as possible and discuss the hair colour and smell issue but will probably have to keep nagging her to go. I’m worried sick, particularly by the smell. Has anyone else had experience of anything similar, and did it turn out to be anything serious?

Thanks.

How odd. Are you sure she doesn't have some kind of skin infection of her scalp?

I recently had some highlights and I wasn't happy with them, so I got the hairdresser to correct them he put a rinse on my hair to tone it down, (ash and a lot of toner) everytime I wash my hair at the moment it smells of ammonia. I hope it's nothing much, how worrying for you.

kidney problems? diabetes?
she needs to see a gp.

The scalp looks OK MissWilmottsGhost. Thanks for the thread KarmaNoMore.

Yes YellowLawn, I did some Googling last night (never a great idea when worried) and found some pages suggesting that. I guess I jjst need to make sure she goes to the Doctor soon.

Yes make her go to dr - sounds like an infection or a symptom of something else.