Shampoo Mix-up.

Updated on March 14, 2008
A.O. asks from Kewaskum, WI
34 answers

My 4 year old recently poured about half of a cup of in shower body lotion on her hair mistaking it for shampoo. I have washed her hair about six times and it is still full of grease. Any suggestions about how to get it out???? I can't take her anywhere, it looks like she hasn't washed for months. HELP!!!!

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So What Happened?

I took many of your suggestions to use dawn dishsoap. First I thought it wise to listen to the "Beauty School Dropout" and use a little vinegar. I scrubbed and rinsed it with dawn and the majority of the grease is out. I think if I repeat, her hair will finally look clean again. Thank You! God Bless All.

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J.D.

answers from Detroit on

Using dish soap is a good idea. My dad worked at a automotive plant while I was growing up, and he used Palmolive on his hair once a week to cut the grease. I would definately follow up with a good conditioner.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.Y.

answers from Davenport on

try using DAWN dishsoap in one wash then wash her hair with reg. shampoo and condition it. Dawn is a awesome grease cutter

2 moms found this helpful
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C.H.

answers from Omaha on

You may have gotten this suggestion already but I would use Dawn dish soap. I had to use it to get peanut butter (oily) out of my sons hair. Hope it helps!

ConnieH

2 moms found this helpful

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D.D.

answers from Knoxville on

Just for future reference...haha my daughter put vasoline in her hair once. She put so much in it I thought I was never getting it out. I washed it 10 times or so before I finally found the answer. If you wash hair with baby oil, it will remove the greasy mess. I then washed her hair with regular shampoo and that did the trick. I tried Dawn, Goop, among other things, but the baby oil worked like a charm and did not harm her scalp. I was relieved to hear that my daughter was not the only one to do this! haha Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Try baking soda mixed with water. I have been told that you can do that to strip your hair of build-up before dying it to make the color last longer, so I would assume that it would have the same effect in you situation.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.G.

answers from Provo on

My little girl (now 6) has always been fascinated by putting things in her hair. If it's possible to rub it in, we've probably dealt with it. Everything from vaseline and candle wax to desitin and fingernail polish. I actually called poison control a few times and almost always the companies that make the products to see if they have any good ideas on removal and to make sure it won't hurt her. If all of my at home attempts failed, i took her to the salon. Sometimes a clarifying shampoo worked, sometimes it didn't. For the really greasy oily messes, cornstarch or baby powder combed through...let sit....then use Dawn dishwashing liquid, it seems to cut grease the best. Be sure to use the powder first though to soak up the oil, and then was with the Dawn to get it out. It may still look a bit greasy after the first application, so just give her a bit and then repeat. Make sure that you use a really good conditioner after, not a cheap one or it will make it more oily feeling. Hope this helps! Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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D.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Hi I am a beauty school drop out..HAHA And you can strip the hair gently with either vinigar or even beer if you have it around and it will leave the hair soft and natural instead of drying it out..hope it helps...

3 moms found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello A.,
This is way after the fact as your request was in October. For future reference, mayonnaise rubbed into the hair will cut through the grease. Then use regular shampoo and you will have a grease free head of hair. It was the best way to take out vaseline when my daughter thought it might be fun to "slick" back her hair. She was two and a half and found the vaseline three times before that era of her life was over. I used the mayonnaise on the advice of an elderly woman in the neighborhood. It was perfect. So, next time... C.

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J.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Dawn cuts grease out of the way, I know it sounds crazy and be careful and watch if her skin gets irritated, but It worked when my cousin put vasilene (sp) in her sisters hair.
If you dont want to use Dawn, You can try a clairifying shampoo, I sometimes see store's sell clairifying shampoo for every day use, so not that, go to a beauty supply and ask for a clairfying shampoo, the kind you only use like once a month. Its pretty harsh, it strips you hair of any buildup from hairsprays, mooses, shampoos, and leaves it squeeky clean, Lather for 5 min, rince and repeat if necessary. maybe they have Small sample so you dont have to buy a bottle. But be sure use a deep conditioner on it or it will be impossible to comb.

Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

You need a really high ph shampoo, something like prell or pert plus. I am not even sure you would want to try this but you could use Dawn dishwashing soap, it works really well in removing greasy stuff. I wish you good luck. kids can really get into anything, I know mine do. Have a good day!

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K.M.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I didn't go through all the responses that you've gotten so far, but one day when I was at the grocery store picking up some things, and I was in the dishsoap aisle a lady who was working there was telling me that dawn dish soap works REALLY well to clean your hair of build up and such from hair sprays and grease. She said she uses it like once a month to really clean her hair. I haven't tried myself.

I would give that a try to see if it helps....

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S.M.

answers from Denver on

Try the gentler ideas others have suggested first but if push comes to shove...When my son "washed" his and his brother's hair with Desitin the only thing I found to work was Goo Be Gone. It squirts in a little stream so it's pretty easy to keep out of little eyes and it made their hair smell like oranges for days. Good Luck.

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L.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Have you tried using a "tea tree" shampoo? I have some by Paul Mitchell, and it gets ANYTHING out of your hair, and it helps to dry it out, so that may help the greasy effect! You could always try putting some baby powder on it just for the time being as that helps to soak up the grease as well. Hope you get it figured out! :)

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T.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

You need a chelating shampoo (one that removes build up)and that should take care of it. I am a hairdresser and you can get Redken's hair cleansing creme and shampoo with that until it is out. Shampoo twice with it and let the first shampoo sit for a couple of minutes. It is very gentle and won't hurt her hair at all. Stay away from any drug store brands. They have a lot of wax and you will be defeating the purpose.

Hope this helps and good luck!

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C.C.

answers from Madison on

My sister had put vaseline in her hair when she was little. My mom used GOOP hand cleaning stuff and that seemed to work pretty well. School pics were the next day, too!

2 moms found this helpful
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T.D.

answers from Boise on

I have heard that apple cider vinegar will help take build up out of hair. Can't see why that wouldn't work for the lotion too, since it is a form of build-up.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Des Moines on

have you tried massaging in Baby powder then washing it.

I've heard that lemon juice can work. It's something about the citric acid.

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T.S.

answers from Omaha on

Have you tried using vinegar or lemon juice. I would use about 1/2 cup and completely soak his/her hair. Wait 15-20 minutes then rinse and re-shampoo. Make sure the shampoo you are using does not have conditioner in it.
Good luck.

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W.V.

answers from Tulsa on

I know this is a late response, but I have experience with my son putting vaseline in his hair. Never put water on any greasy or oily stuff in hair until you rub in shampoo on the grease then rinse and repeat after hair dries If you really get the shampoo rubbed in well most of the grease will come out the first time. This worked on olive oil when he put that in his hair too. If your child ever put greasy stuff on fabric or carpet it will come out easier if you spray with Shout or a degreaser first, then soap before water touches it. Mine anointed his Dad, the sofa, and the carpet while Dad was napping!

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E.T.

answers from Boise on

Hi A.!

It sounds like you have your hands full with all those babies! Lol... I'm sure you'll look back on this one day and laugh - but right now, you might be a bit discouraged. I wanted to send you to a website 1000MomsClub.com because they have information about a baby/toddler line of products that are 100% toxin and carcinogen free! Basically, they don't contain harmful ingredients - like the SLS that was probably in your body wash that your daughter accidently used. SLS is added to personal care products to make them more "foamy" and that could be what's causing her hair to be so greasy! I hope this information helps! Good luck with everything :o)

E. T.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Saginaw on

I highly recommend Dawn Dishsoap.
Melody

1 mom found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

maybe a little dawn soap?

1 mom found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

I use the cheapest shampoo in the world cause I have very oily hair always. Its made by Suave it is called daily clarifying and it is clear. Anyways, that stuff leaves my hair without even a bit of oil in my hair. Pretty much strips it. You should try that. I bet a wash or two with that would do the trick. I wouldn't go back to her normal shampoo for a day or two but i'm betting it will do the trick.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

As a hairdresser, i've seen this, here's a few options: go to whatever salon that you use and purchase a clarifying shampoo, that will help to cut through the grease buildup, then if the salon route doesn't work, use dawn dishwashing soap and be sure to condition- something lightweight that you can rinse out or leave in

1 mom found this helpful
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J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Maybe vinegar? Or maybe your salon has a product for de-greasing?

1 mom found this helpful
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M.O.

answers from Iowa City on

soak her hair in lemon juice for five minutes. it might burn a bit, so try not to soak the actual scalp if possible.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Try regular dish washing liquid. They tell me to use this to get out bad hair coloring mistakes so if it can take out permanent color it should be able to take out anything. It leaves your hair really dry feeling so it sounds like it would be a perfect suggestion.

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T.M.

answers from Rapid City on

Hi A.!

Have you ever tried using Melaleuca's shampoo? The Melaleuca oil shampoo is so great! It is very good for getting the hair clean and keeping it soft too....you probably don't have to worry about that for awhile. hehehe
If you haven't heard of Melaleuca, the website is: www.melaleuca.com go to "product store" tab and look under body. It lists the Melaleuca shampoo (I like the Naturals the best).
If you'd like to know more about this awesome wholesale company, just let me know and I'll get you all the details.

Blessings!

T.

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M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hello A. O
Have you tried to wash her hair with dawn dish soap, they use it to save birds from oil spills, first wash it in dawn, but wash it good, at least 4-5 minutes, then rinse, her hair will feel like straw while you are rinsing it, try not to pull too h*** o* her hair, it will tug.... then wash it twice with shampoo. the first time with enough shampoo to really lather it up, rince it well also, also it will pull. the last time with the shampoo you wont need as much shampoo. rinse again, and then put a cream rinse in, but also make sure you rinse out the cream rinse well, because if the cream rinse isnt rinsed out enough her hair will be greasy from the cream rinse. hope this works... hope you give it a try... M.

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L.B.

answers from Rapid City on

baking soda, possibly might help if put in first, also purity shampoo, by dove helps take out build up and works really well.

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A.I.

answers from Lansing on

a little bit of dawn dish soap dose it ever time

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V.J.

answers from Billings on

Would be funny if it wasn't so frustrating! Wouldn't a hair stripper shampoo (usually for chlorine) work? Have you asked a professional beautician? they'll know what product will take anything out of hair if they're worth their license.

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R.H.

answers from Norfolk on

I use bar soap in my hair from time to time to get the oil out. I am one of those who never has perfect hair. I go from too oily to dry. If i use shampoo for oilly hair it drys my hair out really bad after a while. So i switch to for dry hair once than back to oily. But every so often i will get over welmed and i'll have to get the oil out quickly and i use bar soap. In our case Ivory.

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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

I'd use bar soap to get it out or mayo to get it out. good luck.

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