Smelly Hair and Scalp Remedies that Work like a Gem

Do you have smelly hair? I know this is a strange question to ask, but hey it does happen. Ever sit next to someone, and all you smell is that nasty musty wet dog scent and there's no dog around? Then you start sniffing and sniffing to make sure it's not coming from you? Your hair can get a nasty smell from hair dye, sweating, smoking, scalp conditions such as dandruff, lack of nutrition, fungus, and even from poor hygiene. Believe it or not, I get this question asked more from people who constantly wash their hair, rather than poor hygiene so don't feel embarrassed your not alone. You can even get a bad odor in your scalp if you don't rinse the shampoo out properly.

Another cause for the bad odor can also be from wrapping your wet hair in a towel for a period of time. Why? One the towel you used yesterday can actually have unwanted scents on it which will seep right back into your head, or the wet hair is not receiving enough oxygen and being blocked.

I had a hair color and cut to do the other day, and usually this customer of mine NEVER smells. After I got finished preparing and mixing the color and wrapping the towel around her neck I started to smell something really strange. The scent was like Fritos, you know the corn chip snack Americans love? Well, the scent was making me so nauseous, and all I kept thinking was "How can I get this smell out of her hair before I have to lean over and be there for 15 minutes or so placing the color on her head?" Yes, the hair dye will definitely mask the scent, but in my case I had to pull the hair through a cap first for highlights then apply the color.

I quickly ran into the back of my washroom and grabbed a Bounce dryer sheet. Rubbed the sheet as much as I could into my hands. Then went over to my customer and worked it into her hair, while the highlighting cap was on her head. Wow! The scent of Fritos was completely gone, and I no longer felt like I was going to puke. The funny part is, my customer didn't even realize what I was doing, because before she arrived she already complimented on how nice my house smelled from the new holiday candle I was burning.

This was the first time in 13 years my customers hair ever smelled, so I'm assuming it was from her not washing her hair out properly, or poor diet since she doesn't have dandruff or sweat on her scalp.

Using a dryer sheet is a very easy remedy for fixing smelly hair or scalp. On with the other remedies.

Orange Juice

Ever color your hair, and two days later your still smelling the hair dye even though you washed your head twice and added conditioner? The latest coloring product I used was L'Oreal Preference in the bottle from Sally and the scent is extremely strong afterwards. Me personally can not stand sniffing the smell for days on. I end up taking either fresh orange juice or bottled juice and giving my hair a nice bath in it. The smell automatically goes away after first try.

Pour the orange juice all over your head. Make sure to lean over in a sink. Once the head is covered and completely saturated place a processing cap on. Allow the juice to remain on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse out with warm water. Shampoo hair is you haven't in a day or two. Then rinse out with super cold water. The smell should be gone. This will work great with sweaty scalps, dandruff, other chemical smells, or even a cigarette scent.

Febreze, Air Freshener, Or Perfume

To use the Febreze spray lightly onto your hands. Then rub the scent into your hair, and make sure to get the scalp as well. Just a little bit, do not go crazy with it. You can even spray your brush or comb and then apply it to the hair. However you feel comfortable, is fine.

The bottle air freshener is the same technique as the Febreze. To use the car fresheners like the pumpkin spice, strawberry, cherry, or coconut just place onto hair and rub like you would using a fabric sheet.

The perfume I would just apply to the hairline, and the nape of the neck. This will basically just mask the smell.

Clarifying Shampoo Or Coconut Milk (Or both mixed together)

A clarifying shampoo will help remove any nasty residue which might be causing the smelly hair. Just remember when rinsing you finish up with cold water.

The coconut milk not only gives the hair shine, it prevents hair breakage, helps the hair grow, and even helps with scalp problems such as smelly scalp due from dandruff. You can use fresh coconut and squeeze the juices out of it onto the hair and scalp or buy some coconut milk in a can and give your head a good bath.

Sources: Professional Beautician/personal experience