Did you know you can remove gum, candy or tar stuck in your hair by applying peanut butter, oil, Vaseline, ice, or mayo? You can also cut your hair – but this is a last resort!
The feeling of having gum or any sticky object stuck in your hair can feel extremely annoying. Probably some classmates of yours did a dirty prank or some other accident happened, and now you have gum, candy, or worse; tar stuck in your hair.
It gets painful too as they stretch your hair. If they get stuck to the scalp, then you will feel pain as you comb your hair. So get rid of the sticky object as soon as possible. As the object attaches itself like glue, it might get difficult to remove. But that is not the case. It can be done easily.
If you follow the steps listed below, you can remove the sticky objects from your hair with no pain or stress.
1. Peanut Butter Is The Best Solution
If somehow a piece of gum sticks to your hair, and you are wondering how to get gum out of your hair, then the best way to do that is by applying peanut butter.
Yes, the thought of applying a sticky object on top of another sticky one might disgust you, but this is the easiest way to remove gums.
The fat, oily substance with hydrophobic properties of peanut butter can help reduce the stickiness of the gum.
Apply peanut butter over the messy area. Let it rest for a few minutes. As both are hydrophobic materials, the peanut butter when applied to the gum will get the gum loose from the hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently pull out the peanut butter from the hair.
2. Mayo Can Be An Alternative
If you go to the kitchen and do not find any peanut butter, then fear not, for we have an alternative for you. From the caption, you can already understand that the alternative is going to be mayo. Mayo has the same oily and fat substance as peanut butter.
So, you know that this will also be as effective as peanut butter. Although the feeling of a slimy substance on your hair might still feel disgusting.
The process is the same as peanut butter. Apply mayo on top of the gum. Let it rest for a few minutes and gently comb it.
3. Use Canola Oil, Coconut oil, Or Olive Oil
Another easy remedy is using natural canola oil, corn oil, or olive oil. They work well because the substances in the oil break down the stickiness of the gum. You may have seen many people using oil to loosen up some objects,
like it can detach a stuck nut from inside a bolt, then why can not it work in the same way with gum stuck in your hair?
Simply apply oil over the area where the gum is. Work your way from the affected area right to the scalp. Now, let your hair rest for about 10 to 20 minutes. After that, get a comb and gently pull out the gum by brushing your hair slowly.
The gum will come loose and will easily let go of your hair. Then you can just shampoo your hair and voilà! Everything is perfect.
4. Cooking Oil: The Expert Candy Remover
Although candies have a sticky nature similar to gums, their sticky nature comes more from the sugary ingredients present in them. Having candy stuck in your hair can be painful as they are heavier than gum and cause a downward force in your scalp, irritating the scalp.
The best remedy for candy is cooking oil. The substances in cooking oil help negate the stickiness of the sugary ingredients of candy. Gently apply cooking oil on top of the candy, then keep on rubbing back and forth. You will slowly feel the candy is coming loose. Apply more oil if necessary as they are not harmful to your hair, keep on rubbing till the candy gets loose.
5. Use Petroleum To Remove Tar
If you are working in a construction site or any other profession that requires you to work with tar, then often you will find tar stuck in your hair or skin.
Raw tar on your hair can damage the glossy nature of hair and can break hair structure. So, you should remove tar from your hair as soon as possible.
As for the solution, use Petroleum. Petroleum a safe, non-abrasive lubricant can remove even harsher sticky substances like tar.
6. Ice Can be Useful too
Ice is also another useful substance that can help you get the gum or candy out of your hair. They also do not create a messy situation like oil or peanut butter.
Hold a block of ice on top of the gum or candy for about 5 to 15 minutes. The gum will freeze up. The place where the gum is stuck to the hair will crystallize. As they crystallize, it will be easy to remove them by simply pulling and breaking them.
Although this is not messy, it does have some problems. Having a block of ice on your head for a long time could cause headaches.
7. Cut Down Hair As A Last Ditch Effort
So if you do not have mayo or peanut butter, you do not even have petroleum, and you do not want to use oil as your hair will get messy.
Well, if you do not want these remedies, then the only option left is to cut the part of your hair where the gum, candy, or tar got stuck.
But no need to worry. Hairs grow back and soon, no one will realize that you had a piece of gum on your hair.
Final Thoughts
Having gum or candy or tar stuck in your hair could be a “sticky” situation. But all puns aside, they will cause you trouble. However, no matter what the case, you can always apply one of the tips mentioned here to get it out of your hair in a matter of moments.
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