Are you forever blowing bubbles? If you love chewing gum, there's one trap you don't want to fall into. Make one wrong move, and you'll have this icky, sticky stuff in your hair. We could forgive you for going into panic mode if it happens to you. You might even be tempted to reach for the scissors and figure out how to cut your own hair. Calm down.
Before you do something that you (and your hairdresser) will regret, you may want to look at how to get gum out of hair first. The good news is that you can use a few approaches here. Within this guide, we'll look at what you need to do next:
How to get gum out of hair: 4 methods
Hack 1: Freeze it off
You will need:
- Ice
- Paper towels
One of the most common ways to get gum out of hair is to use ice. First, grab some ice from the freezer and wrap it in paper towels. You'll need to wait for the gum to be dry before you get started. Next up, apply the ice pack directly to your hair. Keep in mind that you may need to keep it on the area for a few minutes.
You can snap it out of your hair once you've frozen the chewing gum. This is likely the best way to get gum out of hair, but you need to act fast. If you leave the gum in your hair for too long after it first gets stuck, you might find that this approach doesn't work.
Once you've got rid of the chewing gum in your hair, the final thing you should remember is to clean it. Use a decent quality shampoo and conditioner to get the job done. Ensure that you get all of the smaller bits of the gum out of your hair before you get in the shower.
Read even more of our freezer hacks that are absolutely genius.
Hack 2: Use cooking oil
You will need:
- Cooking oil
Got some cooking oil in your kitchen? You might want to grab it and use it to get chewing gum out of your hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using vegetable oil is one of the most effective ways to remove chewing gum from your hair. Using any type of oil as a leave-in treatment is one of our favourite hair hacks, too! However, if you don't have any to hand, you can also use smooth peanut butter.
To get started, massage the vegetable oil into your hair where the chewing gum is stuck. Be as thorough as possible here. When you have done that, you should leave the oil to work its magic for a few minutes. Then, you can test it by tugging on the chewing gum a bit. Once that time is up, you should be able to remove the gum from your hair with ease. What a great natural hair care tip!
Hack 3: Grab the toothpaste
You will need:
- Toothpaste
- Water
Here's the lesser-known chewing gum in hair solution. Did you know that you could use toothpaste to get chewing gum out of your hair? While there are no studies to back this up, there's some anecdotal evidence that using toothpaste could be your saving grace. As if that weren't enough, choose the right brand here, and your hair is sure to smell minty fresh.
Wait until the chewing gum has dried entirely in your hair. You don't want it to be wet when using toothpaste. When you're ready, smear the toothpaste all over the chewing gum. You want to be as liberal as possible here. Next, leave the toothpaste for around two minutes and then wash it off with water. The more, the better!
Hack 4: Try Vaseline
You will need:
- Vaseline (petroleum jelly)
- Cotton balls
The greasy properties of Vaseline make it perfect for getting chewing gum out of hair! If you've found yourself in an unexpectedly sticking situation, that'll be welcome news. When you have gum in your hair, reach for a tub of this stuff and get to work. You will also need some cotton balls. Of course, if you don't have any, you can use some pads instead.
Take a minute to allow the chewing gum to dry first, as before. Next, dab some Vaseline onto the cotton buds and apply it directly to the chewing gum. In theory, the grease from the petroleum jelly will help ease the gum's stickiness. The gum should slide out of your hair quickly and efficiently when you wash it off. Simple.
The only trouble is that you might now need our other article on how to get vaseline out of hair. It's not as stubborn as chewing gum, but it might not wash out right away.
Looking for more ways to use Vaseline? There are so many!
What to avoid if you have chewing gum in your hair
The above hacks will help you get chewing gum out of your hair. But what should you avoid doing? If you're in a mess, the last thing you want to do is make the situation worse than it already is. On the other hand, while you might be stressed out here, one wrong move could mean that you have to have a completely new hairstyle. So here's what you should avoid:
1. Brushing your hair
You might think that you can brush the chewing gum out of your hair. Think again. Grabbing your hairbrush and going at it could be a recipe for disaster. Your hair is brittle, and the tension from the gum could mean that it breaks easily. If you want to keep your hair in good condition, you should avoid brushing your hair at this point.
If you have caused some breakage, be sure to read our guide on how to make your hair grow.
2. Wrapping up your hair
Are you thinking about wrapping your hair up in a towel and dealing with it later? That might not be such a good idea! Think about it—the chewing gum is sure to stick to the towel. You will find that you are in a bigger mess than you started with. It's not going to be fun for anybody involved. Luckily, you can side-step this issue by thinking ahead for a second.
3. Washing your hair immediately
Your logic might suggest that the easiest way to deal with chewing gum in your hair is to wash it. Incorrect. Some shampoo and conditioner brands may make the situation worse. Often enough, you don't know what ingredients these include. For that reason, you may find that something in the shampoo reacts with the gum and causes more damage. Yikes.
Let's not beat around the bush here—getting chewing gum in your hair is annoying and frustrating. You don't want to make an emergency trip to the hairdressers. Nobody wants that! When you come across this sticky problem, you'll need to act fast. To get rid of the chewing gum, you may want to use one of our shared tried and tested methods.
Next up, why not learn how to get slime out of hair? It's always handy to know how its done!
Q&A
Now that you're all clued up on removing chewing gum from your hair, why not delve deeper into the subject? We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions for you. Here's everything that you've been meaning to ask us.
How can I get chewing gum out of pet hair?
Has some chewing gum ended up in your cat or dog's fur? That's a real pain. The good news is that you can use the above methods to get the gum out of their hair. However, you might want to check with your vet before you do so. Learning how to get gum out of dog hair or cat fur is a life skill.
How do you get sticky stuff out of your hair?
It's not all about chewing gum! You can use the above methods to get a range of sticky stuff out of your hair. If you have got something nasty in your hair, do something about it quickly. Investing in a high-quality shampoo and conditioner will also help. You should wash your hair thoroughly afterwards to get rid of any residue.
What shampoo gets hair glue out?
If you have used hair glue to fit some extensions, you may be wondering how to get it out. Remember that salons use specialist shampoo to dissolve this type of glue. For that reason, it may be worth booking an appointment with a salon rather than doing it at home.
Does rubbing alcohol remove chewing gum?
You may be able to use rubbing alcohol to remove chewing gum from the carpet and upholstery. To get this right, use isopropyl alcohol and let it soak in for between 10 and 15 minutes. The gum should soften during that time, and then you can easily remove it from the area. Next, dry the area with a towel and pick the gum out with your hands.
We hope we've helped get the chewing gum out of your hair! If you need more help or have tips to share with our lovely readers, leave a comment below.
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