Amazing Ways To Get Rid Of Smelly Scalp & Hair

Your scalp’s foul odor must be embarrassing. We understand that monsoons make your sweaty scalp condition worse. If you want to fix the hair smell naturally, we are here to help you.

In this article, let’s explore effective herbal and home remedies to make your hair smell great.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

"The microbes break down your scalp sebum, sweat or dead cells, into certain acids that cause an unpleasant foul smell."

Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• What Is Smelly Hair Syndrome?
• What Does Smelly Hair Smell Like?
• Why Do You Have Smelly Hair?
• What Causes Smelly Hair And Scalp?
• Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Smelly Scalp And Hair
• How To Prevent Smelly Scalp And Hair?
• Why Does Your Hair Smell Even After Washing?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Smelly Hair Syndrome?

Smelly hair syndrome involves a malodor that your scalp and hair produce due to a variety of bacterial and fungal growth. ‘’The microbes break down your scalp sebum, sweat or dead cells, into certain acids that cause an unpleasant foul smell’’, says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

What Does Smelly Hair Smell Like?

People often compare the odor of smelly hair and scalp to sour milk, dirty socks, and sometimes stinky diapers. People can easily notice the pungent stench.

Why Do You Have Smelly Hair?

‘’Often, a smelly scalp can be the result of insufficient washing or bad hair hygiene. However, there could also be much deeper issues that may cause a smelly scalp despite regular washing,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

According to Ayurveda, if Kapha and Pitta doshas are aggravated in your body, your scalp produces excess sebum and sweat. This, in turn, results in various microbial scalp infections like oily dandruff, scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, yeast infestations, etc. causing smelly scalp and hair.

This is usually more common in people with Kapha dominating innate Prakriti, who have oily scalp with highly active sebum glands.

To reverse your smelly hair syndrome, you need to bring tridoshas in your body to a balanced state that can be achieved naturally through Ayurveda.

Before that, let us understand different factors that cause an imbalance in your Kapha and Pitta doshas, resulting in smelly hair and scalp.

What Causes Smelly Hair And Scalp?

1. Hormonal Imbalances And Stress

During conditions like puberty in men and pregnancy[2], menopause, etc. in women, the body undergoes extreme fluctuations in hormone production. This leads to sebum overproduction on your scalp.

‘’A stressful lifestyle could often be a potential cause for hormonal imbalance. This triggers excessive sebum production on your scalp,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

2. Improper Diet

Eating oily or fried foods, dairy products, excessively spicy, and salty foods may cause vitiation in your doshas. This results in the secretion of excessive scalp oils.

3. Seasonal Conditions

Extreme humidity in the environment during monsoons promotes microbial growth on the skin and scalp. This can lead to smelly scalp if not washed regularly.

4. Pollution

Various pollutants in the air can get trapped in your scalp oils and sebum, emitting pungent smells. This further clogs your hair follicles, causing hair loss.

5. Chemical Hair Products

The chemical build-up from different hair care products disturbs your scalp pH. Accumulation of the chemicals can also cause overproduction of sebum and scalp smell.

6. Unhygienic Hair Habits

Here are some of the bad hair habits that can aggravate your scalp smell syndrome:

• Not washing your hair enough
• Prolonged usage of scarfs or caps made of a material that trap sweat on your scalp
• Washing your hair using hot water
• Keeping your hair tied for a long time when you are sweating can block air passage. This leads to accumulation of sweat in the inner layers of your hair

7. Excessive Sweating

Some people tend to have a sweaty scalp compared to others. This condition is called scalp hyperhidrosis [3]. People with this condition need to wash the scalp more frequently to keep it clean and odor free.

Also, if you skip hair wash after your workout session, the sweat builds up on the scalp tissue, resulting in a bad smell.

8. Under Or Over Washing Hair

It’s a known fact that not washing your scalp and hair adequately using a good cleanser paves way for sebum and bacteria to build up. But, over-washing your scalp with harsh cleansers can do the same.

Excessive use of toxic hair products like shampoos strips essential natural oils from your scalp. This triggers a counter-reaction of excess sebum production to balance the dryness. Thus, it leads to sebum build-up and smelly scalp.

9. Fungal Infections

Some fungal species that live on your skin microbiome, can trigger inflammatory reactions such as eczema, folliculitis, dandruff, etc., on your scalp. These infections can be associated with smelly scalp and hair.

Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Smelly Scalp And Hair

1. Essential Oils For Smelly Hair

Besides their strong aromatic capabilities, the essential oils mentioned below possess vital chemical properties that can benefit your scalp health.

A. Cedar Wood Oil

It works well to balance the activity of oil glands on your scalp. With its antibacterial and antifungal properties [4], cedarwood oil helps you treat various ailments that cause a smelly scalp.

B. Lavender Oil

It is rich in linalool and linalyl acetate, known to be potent antimicrobial agents against pathogenic bacteria[5]. Also, lavender oil is very helpful in maintaining your scalp's pH balance.

C. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is the most commonly used essential oil in treating dandruff and other pathogenic scalp infections due to its stronger antibacterial and antifungal properties [6]. It reduces your scalp stink effectively.

D. Peppermint Oil

It contains menthone, L-menthol, methyl acetate, and limonene, which exhibit powerful antibacterial activity[7]. Besides imparting a freshened and cooling sensation, peppermint oil gives a unique fragrance to your scalp and hair.

E. Ginger Oil

It is an effective scalp cleanser and reduces your scalp itchiness as well as smell very well by eliminating bacterial build-up.  Also, ginger oil treats your scalp redness by repairing your damaged and inflamed follicles.

F. Clove Oil

Clove oil contains eugenol, which has antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties. It effectively treats conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, scalp pruritus, etc. Along with providing a refreshing aroma to your hair, clove oil eliminates dirt and grease from your scalp.

Studies have shown that clove oil is very effective in inhibiting the growth of different fungi that cause dandruff on the scalp.

G. Turmeric Oil

A popular antifungal and antibacterial agent [8], turmeric, in the form of essential oil, has many benefits. It keeps your scalp away from various microbial infestations and stinky scalp smell.

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How To Make Your Hair Smell Good Using Essential Oils?

• You can incorporate any of these essential oils in your hair care regimen by adding a few drops into your shampoo.
• You can also mix 5-10 drops of any of these essential oils into 2-3 tsp of carrier oil like coconut, almond, or jojoba oil and massage your scalp and hair thoroughly with it.
• Then, leave it for about half an hour before proceeding for a gentle hair wash with an Ayurvedic shampoo.

2. Shampoo For Smelly Hair