Every day after I get in the house from being in the barn for hours, my hair really smells like barn. I do usually wear a hat. (another problem…there goes any hairdo). I just can’t wash and style it every time. I did read to use the dry powder spray, but since I use hair spray, the powder sticks to my hair too much. Any other helpful hints and tricks.
How long is your hair? Couple of things that I do: take a bandana and do something like the gal on the right http://stylishmods.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/3-bandana-worn-on-full-head-fron-back-or-front.jpg Before applying it, put your hair up in back. If it’s long, pull your hair back in a loose bun with a fabric covered scrunchie (I use three: one to put it in a pony tail and then two to loosely wrap around the bun). Cover your bun with a bun cover like this https://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/style_C26679.html?gdftrk=gdfV28741_a_7c2420_a_7c8604_a_7cC26679
Other options: instead of bandana, cover with a soft fabric wide brimmed, adjustable shape sun hat. It’s looser on your head than a ball cap. The moldable brim allows you to customize the shape if you don’t want a wide brim. Or do the bandana and then pop on the sun hat on top when you go outside the barn.
Instead of a bandana I use a piece of 100% cotton knit fabric (T-Shirt type fabric).
It is a bit larger than a bandana, and I like the strech, drape, and softness. I have a few so I can wash them frequently.
I spray it with Febreze before I put it on. A helmet or ball cap will fit over it. I have, in a pinch, sprayed Febreze on my hands and rubbed it thru my hair.
On the occasions when those techniques failed, I have adopted the view that ‘barn smell’ enhances my hair. 
Disposable paper or plastic showercaps. Lovely! (just kidding) They look awful, but they do keep out the smell-- and because they are poofy they won’t ruin your hairstyle. Cheap too – come in packs.
Years ago L’Oreal made a “hair refreshing mist”, basically Febreeze for hair. It smelled fantastic too. Why do manufacturers always discontinue the best stuff?
Many many years ago when I first started boarding, I came home covered in arena dust and smelling like a dirty stall every night. I rode after work, had to come straight home because I stunk. My car stunk, everything stunk. It was gross. However, being rather new to horses, I thought it was normal - and convinced everyone in my non-horsey life that it was so.
As time went on, however, I started expanding my network of horsey friends and visiting other barns, etc. and discovered that some are far less pungent than others. I also learned blowing thick gobs of arena dust crap out of your nose for days isn’t normal either.
Now that I self-care, I take measures to keep odor minimized, and while I do still have Eau de barn on my hair every day, its not as nostril-singing as years ago.
Try a Buff - I use them for riding and fly fishing- basically a tube of light fabric you pull onto your neck to cover your face in the sun. They come in all colors, patterns, etc. can’t believe they haven’t caught on as much in equestrian sports as they have in others, but they are really versatile! I pull it up over my hair and curl it into a bun. Voila- problem solved! They fit well under helmets too!
There are several hair perfumes out there. I just went on a quest to find some last week after having the same issue, and my dry shampoo wasn’t cutting it.
[QUOTE=buck22;9018838]
Many many years ago when I first started boarding, I came home covered in arena dust and smelling like a dirty stall every night. I rode after work, had to come straight home because I stunk. My car stunk, everything stunk. It was gross. However, being rather new to horses, I thought it was normal - and convinced everyone in my non-horsey life that it was so.[/QUOTE]
LOL you must have boarded at the same place I did. And when this BO moved to a different facility, the smell moved too. :no: I always wondered why it smelled exactly the same at two different places. I guess that must be what putrifying shavings smell like.
Isn’t it weird that each barn has its own “smell”?
