It’s not a medical condition and it’s not a disease. It’s just an incredibly infuriating and unfortunate situation. For whatever reason, you have ended up with gum tangled in your hair. Normally, it would seem like there is no way out and that the only solution to this major problem is making use of a pair of scissors. However, there’s no need to jump to conclusions. Set the scissors aside and spare your locks from their wrath. There are certain home remedies for gum in hair that you can use in order to get rid of the tangled mess in a surprisingly efficient and merciful manner. Just keep reading and discover what these life (or hair) saving solutions are and what you need to do to put them in practice.
1. Ice
Exposure to cold is going to disrupt the adhesive in the gum that is gluing it to your tresses. That being said, ice is definitely the easiest of all home remedies for gum in hair that you can try. All you need is some ice cubes and to follow the instructions below.
Instructions:
- Wrap some ice in a thin towel and then press it directly against the gum that is tangled in your hair.
- Wait for a few solid minutes and then attempt to wiggle it out of your tresses with your hand. It should come off fairly easy.
2. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter will help you get rid of gum by having the same properties: destroying the adhesive keeping it in your hair.
Instructions:
- Use some peanut butter on your hair and then wait for a few minutes.
- Get your head under a jet of water and then cleanse out the peanut butter and the gum as well, which should come off without much difficulty.
3. Mayonnaise
Love it or hate it, but mayonnaise has its uses too. In this case, it’s one of the home remedies for gum in hair that can help you get rid of a truly infuriating issue. It works extremely well for removing gum form other surfaces as well, such as clothes or shoes.
Instructions:
- In a bowl, add half of jar of mayonnaise.
- Add a few tablespoons of oil, to make the mayo thinner, if it’s too thick.
- Spread the mayonnaise over your hair.
- Afterwards, cover your head with a shower cap for half an hour.
- Finally, wash your hair thoroughly using cold water.
4. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is a great moisturizer, which is obviously fantastic news to anyone seeking to untangle some gum from their hair. It will add moisture to the area, allowing you to easily remove the gum thanks to the weakening of the glue.
Instructions:
- Before bath time, massage a little bit of petroleum jelly onto your scalp.
- Let the petroleum jelly sit for 1 hour and then, when the time is up, wet the hair with a little bit of warm water.
- Use a comb or your fingers to try to remove the gum.
- Finally, rinse out with warm water and then pat dry.
5. Vinegar
Another one of the home remedies for gum in hair that you cannot afford not giving a shot to: vinegar. It acts as a natural solvent, which means that it will dissolve the bond between the hair and the gum to make it really easy to remove.
Instructions:
- All you will need to do is mix 2-3 tablespoons to 1 cup of water in order to dilute the vinegar.
- Firstly, start by shampooing your hair using a mild product.
- Next, rinse out this shampoo using the apple cider vinegar mixture and let it sit for several minutes so that your scalp can properly absorb its benefits.
- Finally, clean out using regular water.
6. Whipped Cream
Yep, whipped cream. It has an amalgam of all the properties mentioned above in the other home remedies for gum in hair. The whipped cream will add moisture to the area, soften the adhesive, and make the gum easier to remove.
Instructions:
- Massage some whipped cream into your scalp, paying extra attention to the gum.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then, using a comb or your fingers, try to detach it.
- Finalize the process with your regular shampooing and conditioning routine.
7. Vegetable Oil
Not all kinds of oil work since the gum won’t just absorb all kinds of oils. Vegetable oil is your safest bet, as it will make the gum more slippery.
Instructions:
- Begin by warming up a little bit of vegetable oil and then massage it into your scalp.
- Do this before going to bed, as you will then cover your head with a shower cap and leave on overnight.
- In the morning, rinse off and then try to wiggle out the gum.
- Finish off by applying your shampoo and conditioner as per usual.
8. Sand
If you don’t mind sprinkling some actual dust in your hair, then don’t walk out on this treatment. For some reason, the texture of sand once applied to the gum makes it more pliable and easier to remove from whatever surface it’s bothering.
Instructions:
- Sprinkle some sand over the gum stuck in the hair, which we recommend to not be recently washed just because it would be a great waste.
- Use a comb to try to detach the gum.
- Afterwards, you must absolutely hop in the shower to properly clean the remainder of the sand.
9. Coca-Cola
Weirdly enough, Coca-Cola has some actual use aside from satiating our thirst of soda pops. We don’t really know why and we don’t know how: but it’s going to help you remove gum from your hair.
Instructions:
- Pour a little bit of Coke over your head and then massage into the scalp, particularly the area where the gum is.
- Let it sit for 2-4 minutes in order to dissolve the adhesive and then remove using a comb.
- Wash your hair thoroughly afterwards using your favored conditioner and shampoo.
10. Hair Dryer
There is another way to deal with the stickiness of the gum: dry it out. Grab a hair dryer to get some efficient heat in there and to make it easier for you to remove the gluey mess from your silky tresses.
Instructions:
- Grab your hair dryer and blow some hot air directly into the gum.
- After a few minutes, see if you can unglue it and if you can’t, simply continue until you will be successful.
11. Lemon Juice
This is one of the remedies for gum in hair that has other uses. The lemon juice can dry out the adhesive for removal not just from hair, but from carpets as well. So, this is something worth keeping in mind!
Instructions:
- Combine 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in 1 cup of water.
- Pour this solution all through your hair and use it to massage your scalp.
- Leave on afterwards for another 10 minutes, to allow the lemon juice to work its magic.
- Finally, wash out using lukewarm and apply your favorite shampoo.
12. Egg Whites
Finally, we have egg whites as home remedies for gum in hair as well. They have the ability to absorb the stickiness of the gum, making it easier to remove. Because of this, they are definitely home remedies for gum in hair that we recommend to try out.
Instructions:
- Crack one egg into a bowl and then beat it, adding in 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
- Separate the yolk from the egg white.
- Apply this mask directly to your hair and leave on for 30 minutes. You may use a shower cap to cover and to make its actions more effective.
- Remove the cap and attempt to remove the gum.
- Finally, shampoo and condition with nourishing products.
13. Bananas
Bananas have lots of protein and properties that will moisturize the gum and make it easier to remove it. Plus, you will earn so much more from a banana mask since it has excellent benefits for your hair in general.
Instructions:
- Take 1 ripe banana and then carefully mash it until there are no more lumps left.
- Mix in 1/4 cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Spread the mask all over your hair and scalp.
- Then, cover your head with a shower cap and wait around 30 minutes for the mask’s effects to kick in.
- When the time is up, remove the shower cap and venture now into your attempts at removing the gum.
- Finally, proceed to shampoo and condition as normally.
14. Green tea
Green tea can also help you by weakening the adhesive links of gum, this making it easier for you to remove it.
Instructions:
- Start by brewing 3-4 cups of green tea. Just how much you end up making depends largely on the length of your hair.
- Let the tea cool down to room temperature and then rinse your hair using the tea.
- Allow it to sit and work its magic for 10 minutes.
- Make an attempt at removing the gum and if you still can’t, just wait for a little bit longer.
- Afterwards, rinse with water and then shampoo with a mild product.
Conclusion
If you can’t avoid it, you just can’t avoid it. Luckily, you now know there are some home remedies for gum in hair in existence that can provide you with all the help you need in getting rid of this pesky issue. Just look for the remedies that soften or dry out the adhesive and you are set.
Leave a Reply