OK, I feel like an idiot that I can't figure this out, but...my sons have tremendous cowlicks for which we keep a spray bottle of water to keep the hair under control. No matter how frequently I change the water and spray the remainder out of the spray tube, it smells stale. Yuck! What do you brilliant moms do??
Hi L.-
Speaking as a mom with a daughter with 'fly away' hair...I keep a spray bottle with water...and a few tablespoons of hair gel in it...I shake it well each use...and it does not smell stale...and also does not make her hair hard and sticky...
Best Luck!
michele/cat
its the plastic bottle not the water.
Empty the bottle when you're done, fill it up with fresh water, use the trigger to spray out the "stale" water, then empty the bottle, spray out any residual water but don't fill it again until the next time you use it...and then repeat the process. Honestly, if you are using the water daily, it shouldn't be stale smelling. I know what you are talking about but I don't keep water in my water bottle all the time as I don't have a need to keep it filled.
i have to admit i am perplexed by this question. why is this an issue? it's water. unless you have a fungus growing in there i just don't see how "stale" water can be a problem. it's not making their hair stink is it?
however, since it is an issue for you, i would recommend spending $2 on a bottle of spray detangler for kids. i think ours is suave or something - there are dozens. it is called detangler but is amazing for cowlicks. i always have one and it does magic. doesn't make my hair greasy either, just soft. oh, i mean, "it doesn't make my SON'S hair greasy" :)
I have been told to put conditioner in the water bottle. I don't bother though. I just buy the spray on detangler from Walmart or Target.
It has to be the bottle or your water...try a new bottle and bottled water.
I would get some essential oils from the health food store and put a few drops in the water. Most any scent would do. But I think lemon would last the longest.
A new bottle. One that's human food safe (a lot of plastics "off gas"... they're cheaper to make, so they get used for things that aren't used for food or kids). Easy trick: Most sprayer nozzles work in waterbottles. You just twist the sprayer onto a water bottle with a twist off cap, and spray.
I'd make sure to get a new nozzle however. Molds can grow in the mechanism (as well as other microbes).
__
I have to second using a hair product on them, however. Be it No More Tangles, gel, or mousse.
This isn't going to be helpful, but unless it picture day, I leave the cowlick alone!
Try using essential oils. Maybe try some olive oil.
cut his hair to go with his cowlick. mine covers itself up if I part it on the side. I use a spray bottle on mine if necessary but sounds like the $1 for a new bottle would be worth it. mne is on my right side bangs and I part on the left. the weight keeps the cowlick hidden. I also use mousse if necessary the more weight on it the better.
I use water mixed with some essential oils for my kids. They enjoy it and it helps their hair will smell nice. I don't really worry about their hair sticking out funny. I only worry about that for pictures.
