AskAlzy: Smelly Hair

Alzy,

I've recently noticed an issue with my hair and scalp that I'm hoping you can help me to address. My scalp has slowly begun producing a faint musky smell, which has perpetuated and worsened through the past week or two, regardless of washing. Even after trying a baking soda scrub and rinse, the smell came back. Not only that, but my new motorcycle helmet didn't fit the way I wanted, and it makes me look like a bobble head. Would appreciate your input!


Sincerely,

Bobblehead

Dear Bobble head,

Think about how often your hair stays in a wet/damp state. After you shower you let it air dry, which obviously stays wet longer opposed to when it is blow dried, from working out and sweating, when your hair is still wet you pull it back or even put a hat on, which in turn cuts off an air flow to your scalp, and rewetting it throughout the day, etc.

Another thing that could be an added cause to this faint musky smell is if you produce a lot of oil and have white flakey dandruff looking skin particles.

Along with these things getting built up on your scalp and the fact that your hair stays in a damp matter for the greater percentage of the day, has formed into a (mild) form of fungi.
This is not something that doesn't happen over night, it has been building up to this point. Address the issue now before it turns into something more serious.
In order to correct what has been going on you are going to need a few key ingredients in your shampoo/conditioner (no, not just any shampoo will do the trick!):

sulfu and silicylic acid.

The sulfur is what helps get rid of the nasty fungus that causes the odor. The keratolytic properties of salicylic acid works in synergy with the sulfur to cleanse the oil from your scalp that the fungus thrives on.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree line: $6.00-$25.00

Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree line does WONDERS!

Start washing your hair everyother day, and when shampooing leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing. The reason being for 'everyother day' is that it gives your hair a chance to breath and actually be dry for a little length of time and it will eventually help control the oil that you naturally produce. Did you know that the reason you feel so oily the day after washing your hair is because you washed out the natural oil it produced so that it has to reproduce what you just took out? Once you start washing your hair everyother day and your hair gets use to the new change you've made, it will slow down!

Just know that the smell and fungi will not go away over night. It takes a little time, just like it started. Keep using the Tea Tree Shampoo/Conditioner and you will notice the change.

I hope that you have a better understanding for what is going on and what is causing the smell and that you are able to put a stop to it. :)

-Alzy

P.S. I wish I could help you out with the helmet issue, but alas that is not my specialty . . . Maybe in the winter it won't look so awkward seeing you'll be wearing a lot heavier and bulkier clothing. Rock the new look, eh?



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