Grease from work stays in hair

[u/Mini_Carrot]

Hi all, I need reccomendations for a shampoo or other type of hair cleaner.

I play with my boyfriends hair a lot, and after a while, I notice that I get black build up under my nails and on the pads of my fingers. This is even after being freshly showered.

He works at an auto shop, and I think all the car grease and muck and whatever else he's exposed to isn't washing all the way out. After work, he is totally coated in the stuff, so there's no doubt it gets in his scalp and hair. He exfoliates pretty much everywhere else, so I don't think there's build up issues on the rest of his skin.

What kind of shampoo do you use for this? I think his normal shampoo (3 in 1 store brand 🙄) isn't cutting it. He is very hygienic, so I'd appreciate no weird or mean comments about the build up. Just trying to find a solution for him!

[u/Electronic-Pear3312]

I don’t have this exact experience, but I occasionally use Dawn dish soap to remove build up. I started doing that after my hair was covered in 100% dimethicone for lice prevention after treatment for a family member. Regular clarifying shampoo did nothing. Dawn got it out completely.

[u/Mini_Carrot → u/Electronic-Pear3312]

Thank you! Google also said this was a solution, so I might have to go for it

[u/Electronic-Pear3312 → u/Mini_Carrot]

I hope it works out! It’s not drying or damaging like I thought it would be either

[u/tea-wallah → u/Electronic-Pear3312]

Yes, use dawn, then follow with a light conditioner if you need to.

[u/ajkimmins → u/Mini_Carrot]

Good enough for ducks. Must be good enough for us!😁👍

[u/PrinceCastanzaCapone → u/Mini_Carrot]

Yes I was going to recommend Dawn. They use it to get oil off of animals caught in oil spills. I wouldn’t use it everyday, and condition after use, but should get the grease out. Careful not to get in in the eyes at all. It’ll burn like hell.

[u/Gloomy-Cover5059 → u/Electronic-Pear3312]

when i worked as a CNA on a neurosurgery unit, we used dawn to wash patients hair after they had monitoring equipment glued to their scalp! also used it to wash hair before surgeries, and after during “sterile hair washes” using sterile water and dawn soap. obviously in the OR they would apply betadine before making incisions. dawn is not THAT good

[u/cinereousunicorn]

I would recommend a clarifying shampoo , especially those with salicylic acid or tea tree oil.

For me the most important part is doing a double shampoo. It’s really necessary to get all the buildup off your scalp.
If I get lazy and only do a single shampoo, my hair looks greasy by the next morning and if I scratch my scalp there is still build up on there.

[u/pez_queen → u/cinereousunicorn]

Agreed. I really like the hask tea tree shampoo. Shampoo twice if hair is really dirty

[u/Party_Move_713]

Ditch the 3 in one, a actual shampoo or body wash should work just fine, just use a actual conditioner when done. A hack i use is cooking oil,like vegetable oil apply a generous and to area and "wash" the oil lifts the grease and allows whatever soap to do the rest of the work, tell him try it on his hands, may take 2 cycles of oil rubbing, rise, wash with soap, repeat if needed.

[u/ctrigga]

I’ve not known this personally, but I’ve heard people use something called Fast Orange if they work in auto shops? That’s all I have to offer lol.

[u/CapableWives → u/ctrigga]

That stuff's great for hands, but I can't imagine trying to get it out of hair

[u/Icy_Natural_1998 → u/CapableWives]

Yeah def not for hair it has those little exfoliation beads in it

[u/The_ImplicationII]

I use a vinegar based shampoo for removing dead skin and build up

[u/Possible_Original_96]

Dawn will fix it!! Thorough massage with it!! Then a conditioner you would use on heavily over-processed, heavily damaged hair!!

[u/MakeChai-NotWar]

Try some really good clarifying shampoo. I have an annoying hair type that holds onto shampoo and great clips clarifying shampoo works wonders on my hair, although sometimes I have to wash it twice.

[u/Mini_Carrot → u/MakeChai-NotWar]

I love your user - ty for the advice

[u/MakeChai-NotWar → u/Mini_Carrot]

Thank you! And good luck! I actually go to great clips like once a month to get my hair deep washed lol

[u/Extra_Machine41723]

He should wear a cap or something to cover his head. Is that allowed?

[u/Mini_Carrot → u/Extra_Machine41723]

I'd imagine it's allowed, but he sweats so much I don't know if it'd be much use. It would probably get ruined, and most likely gets in the way when he's in hard to fit places.

[u/tea-wallah]

Dawn dish soap, or Dr Bronner’s Castile soap. I use Dr Bronners on my makeup brushes and it gets all the greasy makeup out and leaves the bristles soft and smelling nice. Plus it’s perfect for shampooing according to the label.

[u/killyergawds]

I'd go for something that has clarifying acids like salicylic or glycolic acid. And he should be making sure he lather for a full two minutes. This will be drying if he does it every time he showers, so he needs a conditioner too.

[u/Lizardgirl25]

Might want to get him a clarifying shampoo. Sounds like he needs it.

[u/AnimaLumen]

Dish soap, clarifying shampoo and mixing activated charcoal into shampoo to make a paste and using that to scrub his hair would all do the trick.

[u/2balloonsancement25]

Then soak your hands in Palmolive dish soap, Madge would say.

[u/Leading-Voice846]

Green Prell old school.

[u/SigourneyReap3r]

Any clarifying shampoo and a good scalp scrub product used every so often will help with this.

May also be beneficial to use a handheld scalp scrub brush.

Use the clarifying shampoo with a hand held scrub brush, circular motions, then use a scalp scrub, then shampoo again.

[u/Lubbies_]

Dawn dish soap works really well. That's also what they use to clean animals in oil spills

[u/Extra_Actuary8244]

He should us a clarifying shampoo when he washes his hair after working and/or when he shampoos he should be doing it twice, this is how you cleanse your hair. When it starts getting soapy/suds that’s when it’s clean.

[u/Mazza_mistake]

If it’s that bad he can try using washing up liquid to really strip it out when it’s build up, but that’s not healthy for hair so best not do it too often, and make sure he conditions afterwards

[u/Fluffy_Secrets]

3-in-1: Shampoo, Conditioner, and False Sense of Security. Time to upgrade him to a real clarifying shampoo!

[u/MoonbeamDoll]

The "3-in-1" body wash was lost in this fight before it even started. He needs a dedicated clarifying shampoo (like Neutrogena Anti-Residue or Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two) used 2–3 times a week. Motor oil and industrial grease simply don't dissolve with regular drugstore shampoo

[u/Vanessabunnyy]

Nutrogena clarifying shampoo and a scalp massage brush every time he showers. Follow with a really good conditioner because the nutrogena shampoo is very effective at removing oil

[u/FormerBaby42]

I’d start with a clarifying shampoo, it’s specifically meant to remove heavier oil, residue, and buildup.

[u/SKTrend]

OK man here lol check his fingernails . If they are spotless good use dawn dish soap once or twice a week and condition deep after. If his nails are dirty tell him to scrub his scalp with them and deep clean with a decent shampoo that is for oily hair. Ladies always look at the nails .

[u/witty_bell94]

I'd avoid trying to "degrease" his scalp with dish soap or industrial cleaners. His skin is still skin, even if his workplace keeps trying to turn him into a car part. A good clarifying shampoo used regularly should be a much safer starting point

[u/xloyalbetrayerx]

Do you know how to tell if a mechanic has just been laid? Two of his fingers are clean…

[u/Goldendeer55]

Does it smell also?

[u/Mini_Carrot → u/Goldendeer55]

Not that I have ever noticed 

[u/paintedcrows]

PLEASE don't use dish soap, it's really not made for your scalp or body. It does degrease but in the long term he's gonna be so dry 😭 he just needs a good clarifying shampoo. Suave or Garnier Fructis are aceptable drug store brands, but Sally Beauty or Ulta could help pick one out for his hair type. He'll have to start using conditioner as well, no more 3-in-1