If you have a laundry room sink, show him how to wash his hair. Maybe a timer to verify how long you scrub? Girls are believers of the “more is better” approach, but boys are the total opposite.

I don’t think he’s scrubbing properly. Shampoo is not the issue.

Yeah agree with all. He needs a clarifying shampoo (the cheap blue one from suave is great, it’s $1.99) and to double wash and SCRUB his scalp. My daughter has very thick hair and the had to teach her to do this and to lift the top layer of hair up to her to the scalp. They get in and wash but they’re not great at getting the scalp clean. You may want to put some gloves on and do a detox wash for him at the sink and then instruct him how to maintain that. He shouldn’t need to clarify more than 1-2x a week after that depending on how active and sweaty he gets but even just for daily shampooing he probably needs to be explicitly shown how to get in there and really get his scalp clean vs just move shampoo around on his head.

The first wash won’t produce a lot of suds because the soap will emulsify with the oil but that’s why you wash a second time and if you got the scalp clean the second wash will be VERY sudsy.

He needs to wash his SCALP, not his hair. He’s probably shampooing his hair, but not the scalp. He should make sure that he uses really warm water to drench his head down to the scalp, add a quarter size amount of shampoo and really massage the scalp. Use a shampoo that is clarifying, and repeat. Then make sure he rinses his hair completely down to the scalp. Is the water pressure in his shower strong? That will help a lot. As someone with thick hair, having good water press is essential to a good shampooing.

I’d try good old fashioned head and shoulders. DS had success with that.

I would get one of these. It sounds like he isn't washing properly.

Tea tree shampoo and a scalp brush he likely isn't scrubbing enough

I agree with the prior suggestion. I suspect the issue is one of washing technique rather than shampoo type. He really needs to work the shampoo through his hair and massage his scalp all over with either his fingers or with a scalp scrubber. Same with rinsing - thorough massage to get all the oils and shampoo out.

Get him a soft silicon scalp scrubber and have him use it while shampooing, conditioning, AND while rinsing. Don’t scrub hard, just gently and enough to stimulate the scalp and move hair around.

My kid with curly hair wasn’t rinsing well, so the buildup caused smell. Next step would have been going to the Derm, but the above helped.

Does he shampoo twice? He may just need to shampoo twice when showering and make sure he gently massages his head and hair for some time.

Great question! We have this issue too. And my kid often doesn’t follow thru on what I ask/suggest. Based on earlier suggestions here, not just for teens, we have Aveeno apple cider shampoo. Use two times per shower. Change pillow cases. Wash hoodies frequently. Good luck.

If a gentle clarifying shampoo does not work, try CLN, as recommended by my dermatologist.

https://www.clnwash.com/collections/itchy-scalp-and-hair

Bring him for a hair wash and blowout at a salon. Tell them clarifying shampoo and no product during the styling. Do this a few times a year. They will give him a good scrubbing.

Look for a clarifying shampoo

Even when he has just showered his head smells oily and unfresh. We've tried a couple of shampoos but nothing has worked so far. Recs?