How To Get Vaseline Out Of Hair: 5 Easy Methods To Try Now

Whether using Vaseline in your hair care regime or accidentally putting the stuff in your hair, you may face a dilemma. Petroleum jelly is exceptionally greasy. That means it can give your locks a dirty and even unwashed look. Even worse, when you leave this stuff in for too long, you may find it hard to get rid of that all-too-familiar texture. Luckily, there are plenty of easy approaches you can use that will make a big difference in no time.

This guide will look at how to get Vaseline out of your hair. While this standard beauty product won’t damage your hair (woohoo!), you still need to know how to clean it properly. We’ve got you covered. Here are five ways you can ensure that your tresses are clean, beautiful, and free from grease. Let’s get started.

1. Use a clarifying shampoo 

You will need:

• Clarifying shampoo
• Warm water
• Conditioner

First up, you may want to use a clarifying shampoo to cleanse your hair. If you have put Vaseline on your natural hair, this could be the quickest way to remove the grease. In addition, clarifying shampoo helps eliminate any product build-up in your hair. For example, if you use hairspray regularly or tend to use mousse in your hair, you can use this stuff.

Want to ditch hair products? Find out some other uses for a can of hairspray in our other article, so it doesn't go to waste!

However, a little-known fact is that you can use a clarifying shampoo to get Vaseline out of your hair. Using this specialist product, you need to wash your hair as you usually would. You may want to follow the specific instructions on the shampoo bottle. Ensure that you rinse thoroughly when you have washed your hair so that all of the product is out.

When you have done that, the next step is to use some conditioner. The clarifying shampoo might leave your hair looking a tad dry, but don’t panic. Using a conditioner or a conditioning treatment could make the difference here. Keep in mind that different hair types react differently to certain products. Figure out what works for you.

2. Use some glycerin soap

You will need:

• Glycerin soap
• Water
• Towel

Glycerin is a commonly used ingredient in many of your everyday skincare products. It prevents itchiness and helps to resolve some of the most common skin complaints. However, did you know that you can also use this to remove Vaseline from your hair? So, before you start, look for a glycerin-rich soap product. You should find that you can buy these products on various websites and online stores.

Ahead of watching your hair, you should use a towel to remove excess petroleum jelly in your hair. Next, you can use the towel on your dry hair and gently rub out as much of the Vaseline as possible. That will give you a solid starting point when cleansing your hair.

Next, lather the soap and use it to wash your hair. You should work the lather through your hair as much as possible to attack the grease. Next, rinse with warm water. Finally, you can use another towel to dry your hair. Once again, you may want to use a conditioning treatment to give your hair some life after finishing this process.

3. Cleanse with natural oils

You will need:

• Olive oil (or other natural oils)
• Warm water
• Paper towels

One of the main issues when getting Vaseline out of your hair is that this is an oil-based product. That means it is not soluble in water, and you cannot simply wash it with warm water. Luckily, one of the best solutions is to use natural oils — such as olive oil — to combat the power of petroleum jelly. There are so many olive oil uses, and this is one of our favourites!

You don’t want to cover your whole head with olive oil. For that reason, you should get rid of any clumps of Vaseline in your hair. Once again, you can use a towel or perhaps a wide comb to get the job done. When you have done that, the next step is to isolate the hair that has Vaseline in it. Finally, you can use a hair tie (bobble) or a clip.

When ready, put some olive oil between your thumb and finger. You should then work the natural oil into the affected parts of your hair. Be as thorough as possible here. Once you have covered the area, leave the oil in the hair for between 10 and 15 minutes.

Next up, grab some paper towels and dab them around your hair. You should find that the oil starts to come off the locks, leaving it looking cleaner. After doing all the above, you should rinse your hair with warm water. Additionally, you may want to use some shampoo and conditioner (or even a treatment!) to cleanse your hair.

4. Rub it with baby oil 

You will need:

• Baby oil
• Water
• Shampoo

As we have already mentioned, Vaseline is an oil-based product. While there’s no research to back it up, some anecdotal reports suggest you can use baby oil to get rid of the stuff. However, before starting this quick and easy method, you should eliminate any excess jelly in your hair. Then, use one of the above approaches we have previously highlighted.

Like olive oil, you can work the baby oil through your hair. You might want to give your head a massage when you’re doing this. Then, when the oil is evenly dispersed through your hair, lead it for around 10 minutes. After that, you can shampoo your hair as you usually would. But, first, ensure you get rid of all the oil from your hair.

5. Soak it up with flour

You will need:

• Flour
• Towels
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

Vaseline is a greasy product. You can use cornflour or regular flour to soak it up. Check out what you have in your cupboards before you get started. You should be able to use most flour brands that you come across. The choice is yours. There are so many uses for flour, so we always have some to hand.

Use an old towel — or towels! — to remove as much of the Vaseline as possible. When you have done that, take a small amount of flour and work it evenly through your hair. Next, you should rub the flour into the roots of your hair. Once you have completely covered the area, the next step is to rinse it out and then wash your hair.

While this method is highly effective, it has one major drawback: it can be extremely messy. You may want to put some towels on the floor before dousing your hair with cornflour or flour. Also, you can catch any excess as it falls from your scalp.

Within this guide, we’ve covered how to get Vaseline out of hair fast. As you can see, there are five simple options that you can try at home. Of course, different approaches will work for different hair types. If none of the above work for you, you may want to speak to a hairdresser to get some support from them. Go and get washing your hair right now!

Q&A

Did we miss something? Do you have a burning question that we failed to cover? Check out these frequently asked questions (and answers!) now:

Will Vaseline come out of your hair eventually?

The short answer is yes, but you must put in the work. Nothing will change if you leave the Vaseline in your hair and hope for the best. Instead, try one of the above methods and see whether it works for you and your hair care routine.

Does Vaseline come out with water?

Since Vaseline — or petroleum jelly — is an oil-based product, it is not soluble in water. Therefore, you can’t expect it to wash out by rinsing it. Instead, you can use some of the products that we have highlighted to get rid of the Vaseline.

Is it okay to put Vaseline on your face?

Yes! Many people use Vaseline as a moisturising product. However, before using petroleum jelly as part of your skincare routine, you may want to consult a specialist.

Does peanut butter get Vaseline out of hair?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that peanut butter may help you get Vaseline out of your hair. However, you don’t want to get into the habit of trying this one. Slathering your hair with peanut butter is likely messy (even if delicious!), especially if it’s crunchy.

Did you find this helpful? Let us know if you have any other questions in the comments below!