Brief Answer: Your problems can be cured Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to Health Care Magic, Thanks for writing to us, I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad, I have read your question, I understand your concern and will try to help you in the best possible way. You could be suffering from what experts have dubbed Smelly Hair Syndrome (SHS) — a condition which can leave the sufferer both acutely embarrassed and at a loss for either the cause or the cure. The symptoms, though, are all too apparent. Anecdotal reports in online forums set up to assist the afflicted describe the odour as ranging from ‘old sponge’ and ‘wet dog’ to ‘mildew’ — but almost all sufferers report an unpleasant,. Crucially, SHS isn’t related to having dirty hair, and it seems to be something that can affect people of any age and which can develop almost overnight. Cause: So, what exactly does cause it? And what can you do if you’re a SHS sufferer? Different trichologists (hair and scalp scientists) have different theories. ‘There’s a sebaceous gland attached to each hair follicle and that produces oil,’‘The more oily your hair, the more prone it is to picking up environmental pollutants, such as smoke, cooking odours and other strong scents, that will make it smell. ‘The scalp is densely populated not only with these oil glands, but also with sweat glands. In the same way that, regardless of what deodorant they use, some people are more prone to sweating and body odour than others, so too you’ll find that some people’s scalps are more prone to oiliness and odour than others.’ Home Remedies to Get Rid of Smelly Hair 1. Tomato Juice Tomatoes are natural pH balancers that act as cleansers and give you odor-free hair. Extract the juice of as many tomatoes as required, depending upon the length of your hair. Massage it all over your hair. Leave it on for about 20-30 minutes. Then wash with a mild shampoo. It can be applied twice a week. Note – Tomato juice lightens your hair color. 2. Baking Soda Baking soda helps neutralize fetid smell and also reduces oiliness. It is an effective remedy. Blend water and baking soda in 3: 1 proportion. Douse your hair with water and apply this paste on your wet hair. Wait for 5 minutes and then rinse. Use this remedy once in a week. 3. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar reinstates your hair’s normal pH, averts frizzes and adds luster. It cleanses your hair and eradicates all those elements that may cause smell. Mix ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of water. Then simply rinse your hair with this solution. Leave it for a minute before washing it out. Alternatively, mix ½ cup of organic apple cider vinegar to 2 cups of water and add 3 drops of an essential oil such as XXXXXXX lavender, or any other. Spray the solution on your hair. Wash off after a few minutes with cold water. 4. Lemon Juice Lemon juice works incredibly great for both skin and hair. It not only cleanses hair and scalp, but also renders a pleasing fragrance to your hair and makes them smooth and shiny. Lemon helps you get rid of dandruff and scalp infections. Get two lemons and squeeze the juice in a cup of water. Spray this mixture on your hair after rinsing them with a shampoo. Leave it for a few minutes and then wash off with plain water. Use this remedy once or twice a week. If you have fungal infection on scalp, mix the juice of one lemon in one cup of plain yogurt. Apply it on your hair and wash after 30 minutes. Do this once in a week. Alternatively, combine lemon juice with XXXXXXX or lavender oil. Massage with this solution and leave it overnight. Do this 2-3 times a week. Note- Lemon juice can lighten the color of your hair, if used for a long time period. 5. Honey and Cinnamon Honey and cinnamon possess antibacterial and antifungal properties which keep you from infections. Just add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for about 30 minutes. Then mix 1 teaspoon of honey in it. Spread this on your scalp and leave it for 45 minutes. Rinse off with water. Later on, wash with a shampoo. Moreover, you can also consume a mixture of honey and cinnamon powder. Take one tablespoon of honey and a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon powder and blend them properly to make a paste. It will make your tresses stronger. Note- Honey and cinnamon hair mask may lighten your hair. 6. Olive Oil Apply olive oil all over the scalp and massage gently before washing your hair. Olive oil has incredible soothing properties which will lessen itchiness and bad odor. 7. Onion Juice Onion contains powerful antiseptic and antifungal properties that are ample to dump all your hair woes. Grind some onions in a juicer and gently apply the onion juice on your scalp. Wait for 30 minutes and then rinse off with a shampoo. 8. Grapefruit Seed Extract Add 8-10 drops of grapefruit seed extract in your shampoo and massage it on your scalp. Then, wash your hair as usual. 9. Milk of Magnesia Milk of magnesia will cut down excess oil present in your hair which, generally, adds up to the bad smell. Directly apply milk of magnesia on your scalp. Wait for an hour. Then, shampoo your hair. 10. Orange Juice Orange juice checks the excess oil present in your hair and sloughs off dandruff. Besides, the peels of orange deodorize your hair. Fill a jar with orange peels and pour in apple cider vinegar. Store this in cupboard for 2 weeks. Thereafter, strain this infusion and store it in the refrigerator. Put two tablespoons of this liquid in a 12-16 ounce spray bottle containing water. Spray it on your hair after washing with a shampoo. Rinse it off after a few minutes. Alternatively, boil orange peel powder in water. Let it cool. Rinse your hair with this solution. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then wash. You can also apply orange juice directly on your hair, and then rinse it out after five minutes. 11. Vodka Use vodka to clean your locks and get rid of smelly hair. It also stimulates hair growth. Mix one tbsp of vodka in a bottle of water. Spray this solution after shampooing your strands. Don’t rinse afterwards. Repeat this once in a week. 12. Garlic Oil Garlic oil is loaded with powerful antiseptic and antifungal compounds. It also contains sulfur which kills the smell producing yeast and bacteria. It is easily available at drug stores or beauty stores. However, it can be prepared at home as well, by heating coconut oil with some garlic cloves. 13. Egg White Take yogurt according to the length of your hair. Add egg yolk to it. Mix well and spread it on your strands. Rinse off with cold water after 20-25 minutes. Herbal Remedies for Stinky Hair 14. Thyme Thyme lessens bad smell in hair. Boil two cups of thyme sprigs in two liters of water for 15 minutes. Put a lid on it. After the solution cools down, strain it and use this herbal tea to clean your tresses. 15. Aloe Vera Aloe vera heals various scalp problems. It prevents hair loss, conditions your hair, and reduces both dandruff and smell. You can use it once a week. Apply fresh aloe vera gel or juice on your hair and scalp after shampooing. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it out. Alternatively, you can also add one tablespoon of lemon juice and ½ teaspoon of aloe vera gel to your shampoo. 16. Margosa Oil Margosa oil can effectively treat scalp infections. The antiseptic properties of margosa oil do away with bad smell from hair. Use this remedy once in a week. You can add this oil to your shampoo. Or else, apply a few drops of this oil on your scalp. Massage for a few minutes. Leave it overnight. Wash your hair with a shampoo next morning. Prepare your own margosa oil at home, by boiling a handful of margosa leaves in water. Allow it to cool, and then, strain the solution. You can use it once in a week. 17. Lavender Oil Lavender oil has been proved to be the most effective way for getting rid of smelly hair. Owing of its antifungal and antiseptic properties, it relives scalp from inflammation and itching which mainly cause odor in hair. Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo. Dry them with a clean towel and apply 5-10 drops of lavender oil. This will cost you very minimal. 18. Tea Tree Oil It cleanses the stinky hair naturally, and antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil helps cure the scalp infections and evades microbial growth. This oil will also reduce dandruff and scalp acne. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in some water and apply it on your scalp. After 20 to 30 minutes, shampoo your hair. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo. Another option is to mix a little tea tree oil with olive oil or jojoba oil, and apply it on your scalp daily. ***Do’s >Wash your hair regularly. >Change your pillow cover, towel and hair brush frequently. >Eat a balanced diet. >Drink plenty of water. >Use a shampoo that contains salicylic acid and sulfur. >Spray your body perfume on combs to give fragrance to your locks. ***Don’ts >Minimize consumption of foods like garlic and onion, as they have pungent smells. >Do not tie your locks until they get completely dry. >Don’t use conditioner in your roots. >Don’t over brush your hair because it pulls out the oil from the scalp. Now commin to your issue of cold sweats: This is typical in menopause and is cald menopausal flushes with sweating. Intense heat starts in your chest and rises to your neck and head. Beads of sweat grow until perspiration run down your face. It’s a hot flash due to menopause, and it’s a loooong five minutes until it passes. Multiply that by 20 or 30 and you can call it a day. Doctors theorize that hot flashes and night sweats happen as a result of changing estrogen levels. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat and excessive sweating of menopause. In addition to hot flashes, many menopausal women experience the symptom's nocturnal accomplice known as night sweats. You wake up in the middle of the night cold and clammy, your heart pounding, and the sheets drenched in sweat. It's hard to calm down and get comfortable again, and it's impossible not to be irritated by the interruption to a good night's sleep. So why do women in menopause have night sweats, and, more importantly, is there anything that can be done about them? What Causes Night Sweats? Hot flashes and night sweats are caused by a complex interaction that involves fluctuating estrogen levels; the hypothalamus (a region of the brain that regulates body temperature); norepinephrine, a key brain chemical, and specialized receptors in the brain; and the body's blood vessels and sweat glands. During menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate. The hypothalamus, a region of the brain that regulates body temperature and is affected by hormones, can become confused by these changes in estrogen levels. Like a faulty thermostat, the hypothalamus may respond to the changes in estrogen as if it senses an increase in your body's temperature. In an attempt to cool you down, the hypothalamus sets off a cascade of events, including dilating blood vessels to release heat (which you feel as a hot flash) and triggering sweat glands (which you feel as sudden, intense perspiration). The result is you wake up drenched and chilly, with a speeding heart and a sensation of anxiety. >>Breathe deeply According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies suggest that slow, rhythmic deep breathing, known as paced or relaxation breathing, may help reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Relaxation breathing may also help you get back to sleep after a night-sweat episode. >>Look for patterns Either right when you wake up from a night sweat or the next morning, take a minute to write down anything you might have done differently before the incident. Did you eat anything spicy? Drink some alcohol? Smoke tobacco? (All three are thought to worsen symptoms.) By keeping track of such potential triggers, you'll be able to glean a pattern and avoid those things in the future. >>Stay comfortable Put a fan in your bedroom to keep air cool and circulating. And consider wearing "wicking" pajamas. Made from the same material used in hiking gear, this type of pajama can draw sweat away from your skin, easing any clamminess and helping you to sleep on peacefully. Try hormone replacement therapy Though HRT has come under scrutiny for its potential risks, it continues to be a popular and effective way to negate some of the more trying symptoms of menopause (like night sweats). Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy; depending on the severity of your symptoms and your overall health, it could be an appropriate strategy for you. I Hope this answers your question, if your have more queries feel free to ask, otherwise close the discussion and rate it. Wish you the best of health. Regards, Dr.Muhammad Ahmad. M.B.B.S. (Licensed Family Physician). Resident M.D.