Help - my kid stinks

[NCgoingdry]

DD 11 is going through puberty at what seems to be a rapid rate. She looks like a young woman which is terrifying.

But she smells of BO no matter how much washing. Predominantly her hair and armpits.

I feel dreadful saying this - but even though I'm instructing her to wash her hair at least 3x a week, even when it is freshly washed I can still smell a horrible greasy BO smell coming off her head.

Straight out of the shower she still has this musty cloud.

I know the obvious answer is that she isn't washing properly - but she is. I've gone over it time and time again, and observed how she does it so I know she's doing it properly. She uses the same products as us so nothing particularly gentle.

I clean the hair brushes, change her pillow cases every couple of days, clean towels, always clean clothes daily. She wears deodorant.

Is there a super strong shampoo that won't break the bank that will be really tough on her hair?! Although it's such good condition I don't want to strip it.

What can I do?! I don't want her to be the smelly kid at school.

[Ambi]

Shampoo twice, only small amounts and use soap rather than shower gel.

[Bunce1]

A bit of fry shampoo at the roots before bed might help in between washes as well.

[Simianwalk]

We use an shampoo for greasy hair. And wash with real soap. What deodorant is she using?

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Is she allowing her hair to dry naturally? If she is she might not be getting the underneath layers to get dry.

[TheGriffle]

She needs to wash with a bar soap and use flannels or similar to ensure she scrubs everywhere. Could you get one of those scalp massagers for her to rub in the shampoo with? That should help get her head clean.

[NCgoingdry]

She does shampoo twice, and I got a scalp brush so she can really get in there.

But yes she normally let it dry naturally, could that be a problem?

Currently using Mitchum cream deodorant. I make sure she's dry before she applies.

Would a real soap bar make much difference? What about her face, she's greasy and breaking out in the hairline.


I have used dry shampoo out of desperation but I'm reluctant to use it as it just clogs her scalp more.

[Butterflybutterflies]

Imperial leather bar soap really cleans properly. If your DD likes shower gel encourage her to wash with bar soap first and then shower gel.
For hair find shampoo for greasy hair.

[myhairisnotcurly]

Could you take to the hairdresser for a wash and restyle? Then you will know if it's the washing, or something else, because they know how to do a thorough job?

[DustyLee123]

Bar soap with a flannel to exfoliate. Mitchum gel deodorant, the one that pushes up. And wash clothes in biological powder, not liquid.

[MaryJean87]

Is she having a daily shower? She might need to wash her hair more than 3 times a week. It could be that she's not using enough shampoo or rubbing it in properly. I still wash my 10 year olds's hair for her as she doesn't do it properly and it's still greasy.

[NCgoingdry]

Yep she showers daily and I've started making her shower first thing in the morning but it's like it's ingrained in her.

I've washed it myself and it's still the same smell, although I admit slightly better - but not drastically. She still smells.

I'll give the bars a go - any recommendations for greasy hair shampoo? She currently uses head and shoulders and fairy powder to wash her clothes.

[Butterflybutterflies]

Switch to bio washing powder. My teen DS needs his clothes washed at 60 from time to time and always with bio washing powder or they start to smell musty. My DDs were fine but DS has a smell that just needs and extra clean - it peaked when he was about 12/13 but now he’s nearly 15 it’s improved.

[AuntieJune]

Does she drink enough water? Our bodies flush urea out through urine, but if there's not enough water passing through then it comes out in sweat and makes you stink.

Shampoo strips out oil which the body then replaces, harsher shampoo just amplifies the process. Although teens are greasy creatures! Could you try using baby shampoo frequently and see if it helps?

Diet might have an impact too, does she eat enough fruit and veg?

[Squash24]

Try a medicated shampoo like nizoral or t-gel and really scrub it into the scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Also a face wash with salicylic acid in (lots out there - clearasil etc never worked for me as a teen, CeraVe is very good) and a gentle moisturiser.

[user1471550451]

@MrsMoastyToasty

Is she allowing her hair to dry naturally? If she is she might not be getting the underneath layers to get dry.

Yes this - especially if she has thick hair - the scalp can go a bit mildewed

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

How often is she showering if she she's only washing her hair 3x a week? Perhaps she needs a daily shower and hair wash at the moment,I know ds did at that age.

Bar soap will make a huge difference. Does she actually scrub her armpits with a wash cloth or bath lily? The temptation is to just stand under the shower and not actually wash.

Clean clothes every day and Sure maximum protection deodorant,I find Mitchum absolutely useless.

Ariel cold wash detergent for clothes, miraculous stuff which cleans everything in my experience.

[BurbageBrook]

If she has that sort of hair she needs to wash it daily, double shampoo

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

**sorry,I missed where you said she showers daily.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

@BurbageBrook

If she has that sort of hair she needs to wash it daily, double shampoo

Definitely double shampoo and no conditioner.

[LadyMcLadyface]

I've got thick hair and whenever it's getting a bit gross/clogged up I find this shampoo works really well and gets it properly clean: www.lush.com/uk/en/p/big-shampoo

[LubaLuca]

Use a clear, clarifying shampoo, not a creamy one, and wash hair every day. Vosene is good for greasy hair, or there's a Herbal Essences one if she'd like her hair to smell sweeter. Washing her hair every day isn't going to make it greasier - that's like telling people with dry skin conditions to wash their body more often to make their skin less dry.

A bar of soap and a flannel for scrubbing her body. Tell her to leave the shampoo on her hair while she washes her body, working her way down from ears and neck to toes, then rinse thoroughly - keep rinsing her hair until it's impossible for there to be any residue left behind her ears and at the nape of her neck. Specifically washing ears and neck will make her think about rinsing them carefully.

Blow dry her hair when possible, to make sure it's not getting foisty if left damp too long against her scalp.

[Yummymummy2020]

I wonder would it be worth getting her a scalp exfoliating treatment to use before a shampoo even once a week. I was getting spots on my scalp and greasy roots and it fixed it right up more so than standard shampoo alone. I would think it might eliminate any lingering smells too in her hair as it’s such a deep clean! It didn’t strip or fry my hair at all!

[InglouriousBasterd]

Definitely use a bio washing powder and I also pre treat DDs shirt armpits with a diluted dettol laundry solution - spray it on pre wash to kill stinky armpit bacteria lurking on the material. Also bar soap - way more effective than gel. DD has a quick morning shower to freshen up and a longer evening shower, otherwise she whiffs. We also found the Mitchum men roll on is more effective than the other types!

[WinchSparkle80]

It is possible she has a fungal infection on her scalp because it’s not drying quick enough. Nizoral I think it’s called once a week should stop this. Follow instructions and properly dry the hair using a hair dryer - conditioner just on the ends.

[NCgoingdry]

@AuntieJune thank you re the water thing. She probably doesn't drink enough no matter how much I nag. I'll make sure she increases her intake.

@Squash24 Thanks for the tips I'm on Amazon now 😂

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor she's always showered daily, over the last few months twice daily. The days she doesn't wash her hair she uses a cap or ties it up. I always thought that washing her hair daily would make it worse in the long run if she's constantly stripping it, that it would get greasier??

@LadyMcLadyface thank you! Her hair is so thick and LOVELY it just stinks!!

She only conditions the ends on my instruction. And weirdly her clothes never smell, it's fresh clothes every day but I have checked and they don't stink, just her.

Next thing will be the awkward conversation I'll need to have about changing her soaps and shampoo. I feel for her, she must be aware of it. But her bedroom stinks in the morning and I have to air that out and constantly change the bed. I thought it was just a hormone rush but it's gone on for far too long.