How To Remove Gum From Hair: Step-by-Step Methods

Learn how to remove gum from hair using easy and efficient methods. Here are some step-by-step guides to safely remove gum without damaging your hair.

Getting gum stuck in your hair is a terrible experience that you never want to experience. If you find yourself in this situation, stay calm. How to remove gum from hair is a lot easier than you think it is. This step-by-step guide on how to remove gum from hair presents some simple ways to take out gum from hair without causing any damage.

1. Methods on how to remove gum from hair

Getting gum jammed inside your hair might be a kind of nightmarish situation, but with the right approach, it doesn’t need to be. In this regard, here are some step-by-step methods on how to remove gum from hair so that you might have a hitch-free experience while removing gum:

1.1. Ice

This is one of the easiest and most effective methods of getting gum out of hair; the usage of ice will harden the gum, hence making it more breakable without going further into the hair strands. This method works quite effectively if the gum has just stuck and hasn’t had enough time to attach properly.

How to remove gum from hair with ice:

• Take a few ice cubes and wrap them either in a plastic bag or just wrap them in a cloth.
• Hold the ice against the gum for a few minutes, so it starts to harden.
• When the gum has reached a hard and brittle state, use a comb or even your fingers to remove it gently.
• Be a little more patient; when that layer is hard, it comes off easily.

Another rapid removal of gum from hair involves the use of ice. This technique is non-invasive and requires no special tool or product. This works best when the gum is fresh and has not set into your hair too firmly.

1.2. Peanut butter

The oils in peanut butter will help loosen the sticky texture of the gum. When applied to gum in hair, the oils in peanut butter work to degrade the bond gum has with the hair; thus, making it easier to remove. This method has grown popular because of its availability and effectiveness.

How to remove gum from hair with peanut butter:

• Take a liberal amount of peanut butter and smear it right onto the gum.
• Gently rub the peanut butter into the gum and around the hair. You want the oils to seep into the gum.
• Leave it like this for a minute or two, and then try to pick out as much as you can by using a comb or just your fingers.
• After the gum is removed, shampoo your hair to remove the peanut butter residue.

The other inexpensive way of removing gum from hair uses peanut butter. While this process may be a little more involved compared to working with ice, it does an excellent job of loosening up the gum and making the removal process quite less painful to comb out.

1.3. Vegetable oil

Similar to peanut butter, vegetable oil or for that matter olive oil is a very effective cure in taking off the gum from hair. It reduces the sticky constancy of the gum by breaking it down and makes it easier to take out without damaging the hair.

How to remove gum from hair with vegetable oil:

• Drop a generous amount of vegetable or olive oil onto the gum.
• Massage the oil into the gum and surrounding hair for a few minutes, as this will loosen it.
• Comb through your hair carefully with a comb to remove the gum.
• After the gum has been removed, wash your hair well to rid all the oil from it.

Oiling also works well to remove gum from hair. Vegetable oil is very effective for this because vegetable oil is natural and hence is non-abrasive to hair. It loosens the gum without harming it though it may need extra washing for complete eradication of traces of oil.

1.4. Hair conditioner

Hair conditioners contain smoothening agents that make it much easier to detangle and loosen hair; hence, using a conditioner works well in taking out gum. These agents will help in breaking down the gum without causing further damage to your hair shaft.

How to remove gum from hair with hair conditioner:

• Apply a generous amount of hair conditioner directly onto the gum.
• Allow it time to sit for a few minutes, giving the conditioner some time to break down and soften the gum.
• Massage the conditioner into the gum and the hair around it.
• Try to pull out the gum with a comb or your fingers.
• Rinse thoroughly afterward in the hair to remove the remaining conditioner.

A hair conditioner is an easy solution for gum removal, especially in case you already use it for regular hair care. This method is very gentle on the hair and hence works well with most hair types.

1.5. Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol will also dissolve sticky substances, making it another effective remedy for hair with gum. It works by dissolving the collective bond that makes gum sticky, thus enabling it to be removed more easily. However, a word of caution in using alcohol is that it can be drying on both hair and skin.

How to remove gum from hair with alcohol:

• Dip a cotton ball or a soft cloth in isopropyl alcohol.
• Dab the alcohol directly onto the gum; make sure that area is saturated.
• Let it sit for a minute, loosening the gum.
• Work out the gum from your hair using a comb or your fingers.
• After removal, wash and condition your hair to counteract the drying effects of the alcohol.

The alcohol will be effective on how to remove gum out of hair but should be in moderation to not dry out the hair. If you have sensitive skin or hair, proceed with caution, and follow through with a deep conditioner.

2. Tips to prevent gum from hair

While this is great, knowing how to remove gum from hair, you would most want to try and prevent the situation from occurring. Here are a few things one could do to help avoid this sticky situation:

• Not chewing gum while handling your mostly just brushing, styling, or something along those lines is one way to go.
• If you have small kids, make sure to monitor them closely throughout the chewing process. Things happen with kids so fast.
• Clips or bands will keep hair away from any surface that might have gum on it.

A few precautions can go a long way, whether you chew the gum yourself or manage it around kids. Keep these tips in mind to minimize the chances of future gum accidents.

3. Aftercare

Once you have finally gotten the gum out of your hair, you will need to take care of it to keep your hair healthy.

• After using such products as oil, peanut butter, or alcohol, make sure to wash your hair well to eliminate any remains. Afterward, you will need to condition their hair to regain the lost moisture.
• After clearing off the gum from the hair, it is often a little tangly. Use any detangling spray or conditioner to comb through the hair gently without causing any breakage.
• In case the gum has damaged your hair, get the ends trimmed to have healthy growth of hair.

The only thing remaining to restore it to its soft and manageable state after having gotten rid of the gum is just washing it well with conditioner and detangling the strands using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.

See more:

• How to get thick hair quickly: Best tips for you
• Is coconut oil good for your hair: The truth behind

Conclusion

With the above methods how to remove gum from hair can easily be handled without causing damage to your hair. Remember, prevention is the best measure, but should one be careless, the listed techniques will have your hair back in no time. Just ensure you follow up with good hair care to maintain healthy hair when the gum is off!