Daughter’s hair greasy - nothing is helping

[Magpiesalute]

My 12 year old daughter’s hair always tends to look greasy, even after it’s been recently washed. I was drying it tonight and it felt like it had a film of something on it. It also gets white flakes, which I don’t think are dandruff, more like product build up.

Has anyone had this and how did you solve it? She was in tears about it tonight as she’s now getting the impression she always looks awful. Perhaps I’ve mentioned it too much, but I want to get to the bottom of it, as her hair is lovely otherwise.

we’ve tried

• speaking to hairdressers who don’t seem to know what it is, they suggest maybe product build up and a clarifying shampoo. Or hormonal due to her age. It’s been an issue for a couple of years I’d say.
• different shampoos - greasy hair, anti dandruff, clarifying
• a scalp massager to tackle flakes
• Drying it fully before bed
• using conditioner and not using conditioner,

other info:

• her hair is naturally a bit curly.
• she tells me she always rinses it really thoroughly under the shower.
• It doesn’t look greasy after she’s had it done at the hairdressers.

please help! Any ideas gratefully received.

If it doesn't look greasy after the hairdresser then it suggests the way she washes it or buy the same shampoo they use?

If it's not greasy after the hairdressers then maybe she's not washing it out properly or maybe using too much product.

Also sometimes if the shampoo has too much sulphur in that can cause flaky scalp or the hair to be too greasy.

I find with my hair I cannot use certain brands because of this.

Hi OP. If she has naturally curly or wavy hair then I would read up on protein v moisture. You might find that the products you're using are heavy on one or the other.
I'd also recommend getting a good clarifying shampoo. Treseme do a great one that I use once a week.
Make sure she's also rinsing her hair properly after washing especially if she's doing it in the bath.

Original source is good for washing hair with, I noticed it doesn't leave a residue like other products

And maybe try stopping using conditioner. I haven't used it in years because I hated how greasy my hair got after using it

Washing technique if it is fine after the hairdressers. To test this can you wash it over the bath without the weight of water (this is why hair feels better after the hairdressers).

Don’t be tempted to strip the hair of oils - use a gentle shampoo, maybe leave conditioner for now.

kin kind shampoo bars are really good https://kinkind.co.uk/collections/shampoo-and-conditioner-bars?srsltid=AfmBOorvgOpH8czmJFpbZ4qHLsbrIpj0F3meM-i2tJ7OFOV29nXEHjKU

My daughter had this at a similar age - we tried everything, different shampoos, asking the hairdresser, rinsing & re-rinsing. Eventually tried a shampoo bar from lush - (think it was called jumping juniper but may have made that up it was purple anyway!) and that got rid of all the greasy build up. Think we just used that every couple of washes after that and then she either grew out of it or learnt how to rinse properly (I really don’t think it was just that though as it was so greasy)

Yes, I think I’ll tell her to stop with the conditioner for the moment. We’re using a clarifying shampoo right now. I don’t know anything about protein or moisture though.

I agree with the above about washing technique. My son went through a really greasy hair stage and I asked him to show me how he was washing his hair and it turns out he was throwing a dollop of shampoo on his head and sort of patting it down then rinsing it off! I had to teach him for the millionth time how to massage his scalp.

Have you tried washing it for her over the bath?
That'll tell you whether it's the product or her washing/rinsing technique.

I have a 17 yr old with sensory issues, she's always hated the feel of bubbles, she absolutely loathes washing her hair. So most of the time her hair is just as you describe, even when she does wash it herself, she rarely gets it all clean. I'm not sure if it's that she doesn't use enough shampoo, or if it's that she doesn't rinse it properly, possibly a bit of both. If I do it for her over the bath, 2 washes and it's totally clean. So it's definitely her washing technique in our case.

Is she putting conditioner directly onto her scalp??
With curly hair it will be dryer than most hair and I’m not sure stopping conditioner altogether is a good idea.
My 11 year old is very similar and I’m completely sure it’s about how she washes it. She does her best but I think often she simply doesn’t get to the scalp with the shampoo and she doesn’t rinse well enough.

The difference is at the hairdressers they’ll be double washing it.

Wash 1 won’t lather up much but wash as usual and rinse

Wash 2 will be a lot foamier and will be the deep clean, rinse thoroughly

Pleeeese tell her to still use conditioner, especially if she has curls. It just needs to be applied to lengths and ends, not roots

What shampoo is she currently using?

She’s using Monday clarifying shampoo.

Are you in a hard water area? If so, might your salon have a water softener?

Ohhhh that’s so funny, my 14 year old DD had that and hated it. I just asked her and she said “it just made my hair so greasy”.

These shampoo and conditioners are salon quality for affordable prices, the bottles are huge and they’re often in B&M. I’ve used it for years and it’s great stuff.

Change her shampoo and do the double wash technique and I’m sure it’ll solve the problem

I'd suggest applying the shampoo to dry hair first, at the scalp primarily, then massage it in as if the hair was wet. Gradually dampen the hair and continue to massage the shampoo in until it lathers fully and you're washing it as normal. If her hair is greasy from hormones or has a product build up (some silicon heavy shampoos can create this) this is a really good way to break down that barrier and should result in a more effective wash.

My girls didn’t get on with Monday shampoo either.
We use tresemme clarifying. Seems to do the job.

Don't fall into the trap of washing too frequently as that will be drying and will make her scalp produce more oil. Conditioner shouldn't be applied to scalp as others have said, so apply to lengths below ears only. Another thing to try is conditioner first then shampoo. I haven't tried it personally but have heard it can give good results.

Thanks all. Lots of good advice!

The shampoo isn’t being washed out properly, she’s only 12, so maybe she still needs help. Wash her hair for her over the bath, standing over the shower basin. Rinse well.

If she has naturally oily hair, she should wash with a gentle shampoo everyday.

If she needs a bit of conditioner to detangle, then use a spray conditioner on the ends of her hair and a good detangling brush.

All brushes need to be washed once a week. The oils build up on the bristles and pull along the shaft of the hair….even if it was clean and shiny.

Chuck the brushes in the washing machine at 40 when doing a wash.

Also if she wears her hair down, she likely to be playing with it and pulling up the oils along the hair shaft. So keep the hair up when at school

I had had the same and had to teach mine washing technique with fingertips to massage the scalp, and not just pouring halt a bottle of conditioner on the top of her head. A pump action refillable bottle helped with the latter

Try this

I saw an insta video that suggested glycolic acid on a cotton wool pad and dabbed onto the scalp. I've had a quick google and there's loads of brands that sell it online or in boots= superdrug . Also the Inky list do a special scalp rinse, may be worth having a look.

This is exactly the shampoo bar I used when I was going through an unexplained greasy hair period (in my 30s, not teens) and nothing, even clarifying shampoos, seemed to fix it.

The Lush shampoo bar just seemed to reset the greasiness of my scalp and within a couple of weeks I could comfortably go back to washing my hair every other day.