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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Do your teens reject personal hygiene?

30 replies

AutisticLegoLover · 20/11/2022 19:28

Dds and their friends seem strangers to deodorant and clean clothes. Dd2 is not too bad but has to be told to shower, wash her hair and use soap and deodorant. It's alien to me as when I was a teen in the late 80s early 90s we were really into smelling great and showering with all the things the body shop and Boots Natural Collection had to offer. Probably too much perhaps. We always did a sniff test of the armpits and would be horrified to be seen as having BO. Chewing gum was as important as oxygen to us incase we had bad breath. I don't think we were paranoid about smelling but smelling good was very important. Dd1 puts on dirty clothes after showering. Puts fresh make up over a face she's slept in and deodorant is apparently unnecessary. She smells awful. She doesn't live with me now but when we see her it's hard not to notice the dirty clothes and smell. I do have a very sensitive nose but even her soap dodging sister says she smells. I thought it was just my kids but their friends are the same with regards to smell. Greasy hair, sweaty smell, and look unkempt. If I say anything to Dds they are highly offended and say they don't need a shower or to use deodorant. What's going on?

OP posts:
Gobimanchurian · 28/11/2022 21:57

Yep. 15yo Twins, boy showers daily, girl has to be reminded to shower every couple of days and always seems to be greasy haired 😩. Hoping it will pass as am sick of nagging (that and gcse revision... 😬)

CatherinedeBourgh · 28/11/2022 21:59

Mine seem to have become more fastidious as teenagers. Daily showers, twice daily if allowed. Two boys.

marrymeadam · 29/11/2022 07:12

I love that PPs think that their teen boys are suddenly fastidiously clean and that's why they want to spend so long in the shower!

cosmiccosmos · 29/11/2022 07:31

Don't have this problem but early on, when the hormones and smells kicked in, I told DS he smelt and asked him to think about whether he wants to be around someone who smells. The message got through. I don't do pussy footing around though, I don't view personal hygiene as 'sensitive' just bloody tell them to take some pride.

RoseMartha · 29/11/2022 17:11

One of my girls is better at personal hygiene than the other one. the eldest will happily go several days without washing or deodorant and for some reason thinks sitting in a bath of warm water will remove the sweaty smell from her skin. Often gets out smelling just as as bad. Will not listen to me telling her to use soap will not listen to peers telling her she smells.

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