Daughter doesn't want to wash her hair?

[ohdisco]

I've been told by many physicians that bathing more than once every other day is extremely bad for you. You wash away good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria out of your body. It will also cause your hair to be brittle, dry, and flaky. While in my 13 years of schooling I've never seen anyone be picked on for having dirty hair, I've seen PLENTY of people being picked on for having flaky hair.

Brushing your teeth more than 2-3 times a day will cause the enamel to wear away off the teeth, exposing it to hundreds upon thousands of bacteria that enter our mouth everyday. Putting on more than a light coat of deodorant once a day clogs up the pores in your armpit (even applying that light coat does, but applying more obviously does more harm), and can cause your sweat glands some trouble.

I am not a parent, but I do know a thing or two about health, and making them wash their hair/body, brush their teeth, or put deodorant on more frequent than the numbers above is damaging to the person's overall health.

 

[tjmw2727]

I've been told by many physicians that bathing more than once every other day is extremely bad for you. You wash away good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria out of your body. It will also cause your hair to be brittle, dry, and flaky. While in my 13 years of schooling I've never seen anyone be picked on for having dirty hair, I've seen PLENTY of people being picked on for having flaky hair.

Brushing your teeth more than 2-3 times a day will cause the enamel to wear away off the teeth, exposing it to hundreds upon thousands of bacteria that enter our mouth everyday. Putting on more than a light coat of deodorant once a day clogs up the pores in your armpit (even applying that light coat does, but applying more obviously does more harm), and can cause your sweat glands some trouble.

I am not a parent, but I do know a thing or two about health, and making them wash their hair/body, brush their teeth, or put deodorant on more frequent than the numbers above is damaging to the person's overall health.

I can tell you that this advice does not work with teens. If my 12yo doesn't shower every single day with a shampoo you don't want to be near her. You would also not want to advice her to skip deodorant

Besides we are talking about a tween who won't wash her hair at all. I think the OP would be happy for 2-3 x a week so more than once a day isnt' an issue.

TJ

 

[ohdisco]

I can tell you that this advice does not work with teens. If my 12yo doesn't shower every single day with a shampoo you don't want to be near her. You would also not want to advice her to skip deodorant

Besides we are talking about a tween who won't wash her hair at all. I think the OP would be happy for 2-3 x a week so more than once a day isnt' an issue.

TJ

Well, seeing as I was a teenager when told that, I assume it works with at least some teenagers (including myself). I also didn't advise to skip deodorant altogether, just don't put it on more than once a day. My reply wasn't really to the OP, but to the other parents who state that they make their children bathe every single day. If her scalp smells after only one day, she probably has a problem with her scalp, not the amount she washes it.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Um, I thought it depended upon your own body- that each person is an individual? I know some people are just oilier then other- their skin and their hair- so they'd need to bathe more often.

 

[badblackpug]

I've been told by many physicians that bathing more than once every other day is extremely bad for you. You wash away good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria out of your body. It will also cause your hair to be brittle, dry, and flaky. While in my 13 years of schooling I've never seen anyone be picked on for having dirty hair, I've seen PLENTY of people being picked on for having flaky hair.

Brushing your teeth more than 2-3 times a day will cause the enamel to wear away off the teeth, exposing it to hundreds upon thousands of bacteria that enter our mouth everyday. Putting on more than a light coat of deodorant once a day clogs up the pores in your armpit (even applying that light coat does, but applying more obviously does more harm), and can cause your sweat glands some trouble.

I am not a parent, but I do know a thing or two about health, and making them wash their hair/body, brush their teeth, or put deodorant on more frequent than the numbers above is damaging to the person's overall health.

I have been told by my HAIRDRESSER not to wash my hair every day, but considering he spends 4 hours every 6 weeks coloring it, I guess he would know. As for it being "bad for my health" to wash my hair every day...I doubt it. It is recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal. As for bathing every day being "bad for your health," that is just plain wrong, unless you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoraisis. How often you need to bathe is a personal thing and would depend on you level of activity or how prone you are to body odor. I have NEVER had my pores "clogged" by deodorant, and have never known anyone that has...although my father is allergic to the aluminum in antipersperant.

Now back to the OP and her issue...this is mean, but I thought or it while washing my own thick and unruly hair...don't make her carry the towell everywhere, make her cram all that dirty hair into a shower cap and wear that. That way no one has to look at it or smell it and it won't dirty anything else!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I've been told by many physicians that bathing more than once every other day is extremely bad for you. You wash away good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria out of your body. It will also cause your hair to be brittle, dry, and flaky. While in my 13 years of schooling I've never seen anyone be picked on for having dirty hair, I've seen PLENTY of people being picked on for having flaky hair.

Brushing your teeth more than 2-3 times a day will cause the enamel to wear away off the teeth, exposing it to hundreds upon thousands of bacteria that enter our mouth everyday. Putting on more than a light coat of deodorant once a day clogs up the pores in your armpit (even applying that light coat does, but applying more obviously does more harm), and can cause your sweat glands some trouble.

I am not a parent, but I do know a thing or two about health, and making them wash their hair/body, brush their teeth, or put deodorant on more frequent than the numbers above is damaging to the person's overall health.

Holy ****!!!! I am glad I don't use any of your Drs.

I have bathe everyday and washed my hair everyday since I can remember. I am 45 now and have great hair and skin. I get compliments on both all the time. I brush my teeth often and have great enamel.

Now I know that bathing regularly, washing my hair daily, using deodorant and brush my teeth caused me to have asthma. Forget that it runs in my paternal family side. All we need to due is become smelly, slimy with rotting teeth people and our asthma will be gone!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

Well, seeing as I was a teenager when told that, I assume it works with at least some teenagers (including myself). I also didn't advise to skip deodorant altogether, just don't put it on more than once a day. My reply wasn't really to the OP, but to the other parents who state that they make their children bathe every single day. If her scalp smells after only one day, she probably has a problem with her scalp, not the amount she washes it.

Thanks for the advice but I think we will just stay with our daily hygene regiment anyway. Our pediatrician and the family dr is aware that my dd's shower every day as they have always bathed or showered daily. They don't have any skin issues and my 12 doesn't smell or have scalp problems. She is just at that age where her skin is oily and if she dosen't shampoo it gets too oily. We also use all natural deodorants so I am not to worried about that either.

Our dentist advises us to brush and floss after every meal and before bed so that's 4 times a day. Enamel problems occur due to brushing to hard or for too long, not brushing to often. Two minutes at a time with a floss will do the trick - any longer or too much pressure "can" damage enamel.

TJ

 

[rosiep]

I agree with you, however, your post and a couple of others did come off as seeming to tell the OP this is how she MUST parent because this is what you would do.

You and others sound like more authoritarian parents then I am and the OP appears to be. That is fine--for you. There is a whole scale of parenting from being a complete dictator that does not allow their children to think for themselves, to being a complete friend who does not ever correct their child in anyway. Either extreme is not good in my opinion, but most of us fall somewhere in between. I fall a little further from the authoritarian end than perhaps you, it works for me and my family.

I agree with this 100%, one of the best compliments my 20 yr old daughter ever gave me was to say she tells all her girlfriends I'm her best friend, BUT when she needs me to be MOM I am the adult and she looks to me for guidance! I was so honored by that.

 

[solferino]

I've not read every post, so maybe this has been mentioned- sometimes kids have sensory issues and avoid things because it's overwhelming for them on a lot of levels. Maybe the sensation of the water falling on her head is just too much, maybe it's the smell of the shampoo or hands touching wet hair. I know it sounds wierd but it's a possibility. It's sort of like having texture issues, but sometimes those texture issues stretch into the other senses.

What if an alternative way of washing was offered- over the kitchen sink with moms help, then take a bath to wash the body.

I agree that hygiene is of upmost importance, but sometimes you have to go through Arkansas to get to Alaska. If it were my DD I'd start asking questions about why it's so hard and putting the answers together to work towards a solution.

 

[Melissa2480]

The OP said this is for the summer so school is not an issue. Look, it is not an issue I would let go, but I don't fault the OP for her decision. As for hygiene she said she is not washing her hair, not the rest of her body. You don't have to wash your hair to be healthy.

Besides she already made her decision and she is looking for ways to convince her daughter to wash her hair but does not want to be punitive about it. Some people made some good suggestions and some people passed judgment.

I guess I did both

I didnt say that you had to wash your hair to be healthy. Washing your hair, body, brushing your teeth etc is all about taking care of your body and having overall health. I believe that we need to teach our children that.

I'm also glad we all take ATLEAST 1 shower a day, brush our teeth ATLEAST 2x a day and all smell good all the time.

 

[disneymom3]

I have been told by my HAIRDRESSER not to wash my hair every day, but considering he spends 4 hours every 6 weeks coloring it, I guess he would know.

My stylist tells me the same thing. I am surprised that so many of your 10 yo's need to wash their hair every day. DD washes hers about once a week and she smells just fine. She hasn't gotten to the age where she needs to where deoderant yet though so maybe that is it. Of course, I never in my life have washed my hair every single day.

 

[dodukes]

I have to say that I too was shocked that some people here require their children to wash hair everyday. I am not judging your parenting or anything but speaking from my experince, i do not wash my hair everyday and i too have heard that it damages hair for it to be washed everyday. I probably wash my hair every 2-3 days and can go 4-5 if i had too, my scalp is not oily and if i wash 2 days in a row you can defintely feel my hair a little drier. This obvisoiuly applies to what im doing cuz if i go cycle 2 days in a row, it gets washed but as long as i dont have a sweaty activity going on, my normal swaet does not cause any problems and my hair doesnt smell after 3 days either.

I only offer this cuz i think people really need to judge their own bodies. Obvioulsy in the case of the parents, the kids are too small to make these decisions, but i just offer this cuz like somebody posted, everyone is different and only they know their needs. While i can def. go 3 days w/o washing hair, there is no way i would go 5 minutes w/o deodorant...yuck!! Oh and yes daily showering to me is a must..lol I guess i sweat differnetly in different places..LOL..my mom on the other hand, very oily hair, she must wash her hair veryday or it looks like a mop. Just offering an opinion here, not judging!

 

[powellrj]

I have to say that I too was shocked that some people here require their children to wash hair everyday. I am not judging your parenting or anything but speaking from my experince, i do not wash my hair everyday and i too have heard that it damages hair for it to be washed everyday. I probably wash my hair every 2-3 days and can go 4-5 if i had too, my scalp is not oily and if i wash 2 days in a row you can defintely feel my hair a little drier. This obvisoiuly applies to what im doing cuz if i go cycle 2 days in a row, it gets washed but as long as i dont have a sweaty activity going on, my normal swaet does not cause any problems and my hair doesnt smell after 3 days either.

I only offer this cuz i think people really need to judge their own bodies. Obvioulsy in the case of the parents, the kids are too small to make these decisions, but i just offer this cuz like somebody posted, everyone is different and only they know their needs. While i can def. go 3 days w/o washing hair, there is no way i would go 5 minutes w/o deodorant...yuck!! Oh and yes daily showering to me is a must..lol I guess i sweat differnetly in different places..LOL..my mom on the other hand, very oily hair, she must wash her hair veryday or it looks like a mop. Just offering an opinion here, not judging!

I think the difference here is that you don't have a sweaty activity going on everyday. My DD plays outside everyday after school with the neighborhood kids and trust me, when she comes in for the night she needs to wash her hair. I know all the kids around here play hard after school and they need a good hair washing!

 

[CampbellScot]

I think the difference here is that you don't have a sweaty activity going on everyday. My DD plays outside everyday after school with the neighborhood kids and trust me, when she comes in for the night she needs to wash her hair. I know all the kids around here play hard after school and they need a good hair washing!

My step kids have that super THICK Italian hair and when they've been out playing, they too need their hair washed. There is NO WAY I would put them in a clean bed with sweaty heads. If they get sweaty, they get their hair washed. Period. I can tell the moment they walk in if they need their hair washed. That's why we do hair washing at night. They start the day with clean heads and wash the work and play out at night!

I agree though that it's a lot to do with body chemistry, the type of hair you have etc. But I think everyone would agree that more than a week without a hair washing is not okay...I don't let my step kids go more than two days, and every day if they've been playing hard. That's what they need. It may not be the same for everyone else.

 

[disneymom3]

This is kinda ot--but if your stepkids have thick hair that you are washing at night, how do you get it dry in time for bed. DD has thick hair too and I generally wash it in the middle of the day. I too could never go to bed with wet or even damp hair because then it still is like that in the morning. Too thick to blowdry too.

 

[CampbellScot]

This is kinda ot--but if your stepkids have thick hair that you are washing at night, how do you get it dry in time for bed. DD has thick hair too and I generally wash it in the middle of the day. I too could never go to bed with wet or even damp hair because then it still is like that in the morning. Too thick to blowdry too.

We get in the bath by 6:30. Out by 6:40. Thoroughly towel dry. Blow dry with an ion drier from 7 to around 7:15 till almost dry. (I learned that I had to pick up the hair and dry underneath and go section by section till we get to the top!) In bed by 7:30! Hair is totally dry in the morning. The secret for us is to really get it towel dried well. My step son has a pretty short hair cut so he's not an issue. We're on a schedule! It works well. My step daughter has SO much hair. It's crazy. It's gorgeous, but a pain in the rump. But we've got the schedule down to a science.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I've been told by many physicians that bathing more than once every other day is extremely bad for you. You wash away good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria out of your body. It will also cause your hair to be brittle, dry, and flaky. While in my 13 years of schooling I've never seen anyone be picked on for having dirty hair, I've seen PLENTY of people being picked on for having flaky hair.

Brushing your teeth more than 2-3 times a day will cause the enamel to wear away off the teeth, exposing it to hundreds upon thousands of bacteria that enter our mouth everyday. Putting on more than a light coat of deodorant once a day clogs up the pores in your armpit (even applying that light coat does, but applying more obviously does more harm), and can cause your sweat glands some trouble.

I am not a parent, but I do know a thing or two about health, and making them wash their hair/body, brush their teeth, or put deodorant on more frequent than the numbers above is damaging to the person's overall health.

I'm not a parent, but I have been lurking on this thread, and I have to say this is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard.

 

[CampbellScot]

I'm not a parent, but I have been lurking on this thread, and I have to say this is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard.

 

[CastleCreations]

Well as we are all aware, everyone's opinion's and habits are different. As a nurse, I have seen a little of everything. The saddest is, the kids that come in with preventable infections, and most of it is due to poor washing. Some of the kids, we bathe them before we treat them. I do what I feel is best for my family and myself. We get washed up every day. Me in the shower, kids in the bath. Daughter's hair, gets washed every other day, only because it takes forever to dry. It's very thick and heavy.

 

[Whosemom]

Well as we are all aware, everyone's opinion's and habits are different.

"Ain't" that the truth! For instance, if we go camping for one or two nights unless some questionable activity takes place (like creeking) I don't make the kids shower. Personally I skip the one nights, but I can't go two. So, we go one weekend a year with Sunday School, and some never think of it at all regardless of activities, and others have those kids lined up for showers at 8:00 on the dot each night. They are all healthy happy kids. I don't think anything bad about the ones that don't soap the kids up after playing in creek water, and I hope the "shower no matter what" moms don't think poorly of me.