Tips on avoiding hairwashing battles

bylromarha

DD ( 6) has never been a big fan of baths.

She's even less of a fan of showers. However, she loves swimming and going underwater.

We wash hair once a week and every single week its another battle.

We've tried every reward chart/trick/encouragement/positivity under the sun. Doesn't work.

We've tried punishments and removing objects and treats - doesn't work.

We've given her control over the washing - doesn't work.

We've tried baths at all times of the day - doesn't work.

We've given her both forewarning it'll be happening later in the day and no notice at all. Neither work to stop the behaviour.

We've never made it a big deal, but as soon as hairwash is mentioned, you see her change from a lovely polite little lady into this monster foaming at the mouth.

It was particularly draining tonight. So just wondered if there's something I've missed. Any tips please?

Spendless

Nothing worked on either of mine other than growing out of it, around 8-ish? My mum's a hairdresser too, and couldn't come up with a suggestion that worked either.

bylromarha

spendless wrote: »

nothing worked on either of mine other than growing out of it, around 8-ish? My mum's a hairdresser too, and couldn't come up with a suggestion that worked either.

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Spendless

bylromarha wrote: »

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I was going to add soz on the end. Hopefully someone else will come up with an idea, that either I never tried or will work on yours.

ETA -maybe not, since I now seem to have several thanks-lol. Not just me then!

pigpen

I ignore the screeching and arm waving and wash them anyway.. it seems to be a normal part of life for many littlies.. most outgrow by about 15.

I don't do bribing or cajoling that doesn't work and prolongs the misery so we just get it over and done with as fast as possible and leave them to play for a bit when clean.

My 15 y/o I had to wrap in a towel and wash like a newborn until she was about 4.. it took 2 of us to bath her.. one to hold her down and one to scrub her... I can't get her out of the bathroom now!

tigershoes99

Is she ok about getting it washed at the hairdressers?
I was one of those awful kids who fought against hair washing, and bath in general. A fear of shampoo in my eyes didn't help any and I liked it at the hairdressers because all your hair was pulled back and your face clear and dry.
What about the Bastille dry shampoo stuff?
Youtube videos of how-to hair washing at salons? Playing hairdressers??
Funky shampoo bars from Lush?

Sorry just having a stab in the dark here with some ideas, but you've probably tried them all...

Good Luck !

Owain_Moneysaver

crew cut and then rub it with a damp flannel?

Works for boys. (Well, works for me.)

Saturnalia

Maybe let her pour the water on her own hair, with you supervising? For some strange reason I hated having my hair washed as a child but didn't mind doing it myself as much as I was able to.

maman

I'm not sure exactly what she doesn't like. My DD hated the idea of soap/water in her eyes. We had a sort of halo thing. If you Google 'shampoo shield' it'll give you some options. Other friends have let their children wear swimming goggles.

jjblondie

I still haven't grown out of a hatred of hair washing and I'm 21 though I'm now old enough to recognise that it's an essential life routine and I battle with myself over it instead of with my parents!

I think getting to understand why she hates it might be helpful. For me, I dislike dry hair touching me, but wet hair touching me (particularly my back) is absolute sensory hell - it's disgusting. So part of making hair washing less daunting includes washing my hair flipped over in a sink or standing outside of the shower, and having my hair forward in front of me until it dries - a pain, but a vague solution.

You could also try taking her shampoo shopping to see if there's a shampoo with a scent she really loves which would make it more bearable. Perhaps a countdown clock which she can see during hair washing would also be reassuring - "3 more minutes and then it will all be over" etc.

Good luck - she'll most probably grow out of it well before her twenties like most people!

Fire_Fox

Is she old enough to explain a little of what about the process she doesn't like?