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.

apple cider vinegar! when I've had horrible product buildup or used something that doesn't agree with my hair, it can feel really greasy but rinsing with vinegar really helps

I googled to make sure I wasn't going mad before recommending it!

www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/natural-beauty/haircare/apple-cider-vinegar-hair-rinse/

My DD went through a similar stage. We used neutrogena shampoo, washed twice. No conditioner and blow dried every other day. Wee bit of dry shampoo if needed. Her hair looked really greasy and had big flakes of what I can only describe as plaques - not as fine as dandruff, but really quite noticeable. It took about 6/8w to clear up and we put it down to a hormone surge as she started puberty shortly after.

Make sure she knows that conditioner doesn't get used the same way shampoo does ie it doesn't get put on the roots, only the mid ends downwards.

My dd uses Squeak by Lush and its by far the best shampoo that we’ve found for greasy hair. She doesn’t use conditioner.

Just to add that my teens also had greasy roots and sticky hair with the Monday clarifying shampoo. I guess it doesn't work very well!

She needs:

• Johnson's baby shampoo

• Alberto balsam tea tree tingle

Double wash, don't condition

It's not cheap but you only need a tiny bit
Bumble and bumble Sunday shampoo, I use it every couple of weeks, and it's a chelating shampoo so very strong

This ^^

The double wash is key!

The first wash cleans product build up, the second wash cleans the hair.

Also a clarifying shampoo is quite harsh so the scalp reacts by producing more oil.

Alternating two different shampoos can also help as hair can build a tolerance to a product.

Condition from the ears down to avoid the scalp.

And if she can manage it, a cold rinse to finish will put a nice shine and for some reason makes the hair seem thicker and less lank.

If all else fails get her to put her swimming costume on and get in there and do it for her :-)

Edit to add use a couple of different shampoos and clarify once a week.

Could it be seborrheic dermatitis? La Roche Posey does a treatment shampoo that is very good for that

Baptisse dry shampoo.

I had this. Nothing works- nothing. Avoid fringes, or it will increase spots- with greasy hair she will have this in any case wear hair tied back and up
wash with vosene.
by prepared to wash every day.
girls can be vile about it, so know she will probably be bullied.
in my 20s peroxide high lights helped
also consider scarves and wigs

All the people saying don’t condition…the OPs dd’s hair is naturally curly. It needs conditioning at least on the ends.

I have read that a very, very light shampooing - using a very small amount - after conditioning can work wonders to ensure all residue is removed.

A couple of drops of tea tree oil in shampoo?

Do not stop using conditioner, especially if she has curly hair.

Hair needs to be double cleansed. The first shampoo breaks up grease, scalp debris and dirt. The second is the one that actually cleans the scalp. Use finger tips to worl into the scalp, not the palm.

Conditioner should be applied to mod lengths and ends only after the excess water has been squeezed out or towel dried first. Wouldn't ever go higher than the top of the ear.

Rinse and rinse and rinse. And then rinse a little bit more.

Has she tried using dry shampoo on her clean, dry hair? It won’t tackle the underlying cause, but it could perk her hair up and make it look/feel less greasy while looking for other solutions?

Can I recommend a really gentle shampoo. The excess oils and flakes are likely because your daughter is being subjected to harsh, perfumed products. Something really gentle and unperfumed, like Simple or Faith in Nature unperfumed, and I agree - a double wash.

I'm going to suggest an alternative approach as I live in a very hard water area, have v greasy hair and all the problems your daughter has.
I use Paul Mitchell shampoo 3 to remove chlorine on the advice of a hairdresser as it removes the mineral build up. And moroccan oil on the ends.

I do have very fine very straight hair so not the same hair type. My hair has never been better

I've got greasy fine hair which I wash every day. I've finally found what works and it's the Vosene 3 in 1 childrens shampoo. It's gentle but does clean my hair nicely. Then instead of conditioner, I use the ouai hair oil on the lower half of my hair only before drying it.

With my girls it really did turn out to be their washing technique, I remember it took me until 16 or so to really learn how to wash my own hair properly. If it's great after the hairdresser gets in there or after you do it, then she's either not getting properly into the roots or not rinsing thoroughly. Shampoo twice, too!

would she be amenable to you washing it for her? I know how body conscious they are! My older girl can do it properly now but the 13 year old puts her swimming costume on every week or so so I can come into the bathroom and wash it for her in the shower.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I will try some of these and hope it resolves the problem.

I will also try washing it for her, for a while, to make sure she learns how to do it properly.

We do live in a hard water area, BTW.

Fingers crossed!

😂 You poor thing.

I didn't even have a Mumsnet account but this post resonated with me so much that I had to make one. I had exactly the same - felt as if I tried everything and hairdressers didn't have a clue! I think it could be a sort of fungal infection - using an antifungal shampoo called Nizoral completely sorted it for me. Every so often it flares up again so I use it or another called T/Gel for another few washes and it goes away

DD's was like that at around that age. We tried a bunch of different shampoos etc, but nothing much helped.

It sorted itself out though by the time she was around 14, so hopefully your daughter will find the same.

Just one of the many joys of puberty!

Make sure she really scrubs with a clarifying shampoo all over the scalp specially back of the head, rinse well and wash again. Only a light conditioner on the mid lengths.
Hair needs to be blow dried completely, greasy hair that's air dried can get very lank.
Finally use a good dry shampoo in the morning to absorb any grease and brush out well

My son was exactly the same. I demonstrated (just with my fingers on dry hair, fully clothed) the appropriate technique to massage shampoo into the scalp and he's a lot better now.

Neutrogena T Gel shampoo for oily scalp isn't cheap but it is good.