Let’s begin with the quickest and easiest method of removing chewing gum from somebody’s hair – oil. Any kind of cooking oil will do (the the less-expensive, the better!). This method is fast, and clean-up is easy.
Get Gum Out Quickly and Painlessly with Cooking Oil
- If possible, separate the gummed-up hair from the ungummed hair using a rubber band or hair tie. Aluminum foil can be wrapped around the surrounding area to keep the oil only where you want it.
- Using your fingers, gently work the oil into the mess without squishing the gum too much – once the gummy portion is completely coated you can begin gently raking your fingers through the mess to dislodge it from the hair strands. After a few seconds to a few minutes of this, the gum should begin loosening slide easily down and off the hair. Note: Don’t massage the gum too hard until the oil has saturated the it or else you could spread the mess! If the gum is not coming out, let the oil sit in the hair for a few minutes and try again. A comb can aid this process for stubborn messes.
- Once the gum has been completely removed, the oil can either be shampooed out, or removed as much as is possible with a paper or terrycloth towel so you can get on with your day.
Hardening the Gum with Ice/Cold
Many people have recommended applying ice or closing the freezer door on hair with gum stuck in it for 5-15 minutes. While this may work, it will also be the least pleasant removal technique – pulling painfully on your hair while removing the chewing gum. We recommend reserving this method for removing gum from carpeting and textiles.
Peanut Butter Method
Steps to Remove the Gum:
- Choose a smooth peanut butter with a high oil content. The oil is a big part of what helps to remove the gum.
- Apply the peanut butter to the portion of hair that has the gum.
- Work it into the hair with a toothbrush. If you don’t have a toothbrush, you could try a comb, or just use your fingers.
- Start at the top and keep working downward in long strokes. As the peanut butter gets mixed with the gum, it will break it down and allow it to be removed. Continue brushing/combing to remove the gum.
- Use a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe the peanut butter and remaining gum residue out of the hair. Start at the top and gently pull down on the hair. The gum should come off with the peanut butter.
- Once the gum is removed, clean the hair with shampoo to remove the peanut butter.
Removing the Gum with Other Products
You Will Need:
- Choose one:
- Toothpaste
- Cooking oil
- Hair mousse
- WD-40
- Cold cream
- Vaseline
- Adhesive remover
- Comb (wide tooth works best)
- Soft cloths
- Shampoo
Steps to Remove the Gum:
- There are a variety of items that will lubricate the gum and allow it to ease off of the hair.
- Choose an item from the list above.
- Apply it generously to the gummed area of hair.
- Work it in gently with your fingers.
- Comb the hair gently to work it into the gum. Apply more as needed to keep it working.
- Continue combing from top to bottom in long strokes. Clean the comb frequently to remove any gum residue that may have transferred to the comb.
- Once all of the gum is removed, wipe the area of hair with a clean, soft cloth.
- Wash hair as normal with shampoo to remove any residue from the cleaning product.
Dissolving the Gum for Removal
You Will Need:
- Choose one:
- Eucalyptus oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Adhesive remover
- Mayonnaise
- Soft cloths
- Shampoo
- Water
Steps to Remove the Gum:
- The products in this list will break down the gum and allow it to be removed easier. These are great for removing gum from children or pets that can’t tolerate the tugging and combing to remove the gum.
- Apply the chosen product from the list above.
- Allow it to set on the gum for several minutes.
- Work it in gently with your fingers to break down the gum. Apply more product as needed.
- Once the gum has been broken down, simply wipe the hair strands with a soft cloth to remove both the product and the gum.
- Wash hair as usual with shampoo.
Additional Tips and Advice
- The amount of gum and length of time it has been in the hair are all factors in successful removal. If one method/product doesn’t remove, it is fine to try another one. Use patience and consistency to get the gum out.
Sources:
- Joey Green’s Cleaning Magic by Joey Green
- 869 new uses for old things by Rachel Hardage and Sharon Tanenbaum
A mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and creme rinse (conditioner) will make the gum slide right out. Just put it on the gummed up hair, wait a minute, then comb out the gum.
This always worked on my son. Get an ice cube, rub the ice on the gum until it gets hard and stops being sticky, and then remove the gum.
No, use baby oil! You don’t need much of the baby oil, just enough to work into the gum and boom!! It’s out!
Thanks for the post. The peanut butter really works; thanks for saving my daughter’s hair.
Peanut butter has worked wonders for me in the past. You may end up smelling like peanut butter for a day or so, but it’s better than gum in your hair.
Just rub it on in small amounts on small areas. Let it sit for five minutes and pull away. Works way better and faster than the ice.
Rub the peanut butter into the gum for a couple of minutes, then squirt on some dish soap and work that in too. The whole mess will rinse right out.
Get the scissors. Cutting the gum out is crude and cruel, but it always works – and maybe your kid will remember to be more careful next time.
I always thought this sounded so gross, but it really does work – just don’t do it if the person has a peanut allergy, that could get ugly. Rub peanut butter into the stuck gum, wait fifteen minutes, then work at the gum with your fingers and it should come right out. It leaves a peanut butter mess behind, but you can get that out with shampoo and warm water.