(Photo: Studio Xperience / Pexels)Chewing gum is the trickiest thing to remove from hair. Find out how to get it out here.
Getting gum in your hair is not an uncommon scenario, especially if you work with kids or just around them a lot. Gum's chewy and sticky texture makes it really difficult to remove and most commercial chewing gums are hydrophobic meaning, they don't dissolve in water. Don't reach for that pair of scissors just yet. Here are some methods to remove them without cutting off that hunk of hair.
Peanut Butter
Stylecraze recommends reaching for a jar of peanut butter. It's a pantry staple that most kitchens have. Scoop out a generous amount and coat that part of hair where the gum is stuck. Once it's fully covered, begin scraping the gum off gently. You can use a toothbrush for this. The stickiness should subside, and you'll be able to pick out the pieces of gum with your hands or with a comb.
Natural Oils
Other options that can be found in the kitchen are olive or coconut oil. Pour a few drops of oil on the gum and leave it alone until they stickiness eases off. Again, scrape out the gum with a toothbrush or comb to break it down. It should slide off easily once the oil has done its job.
Vinegar
Vinegar's acidic qualities will break down the gum's texture. Dab the gum with a cotton ball soaked with vinegar or if the gum is stuck near the tips of your hair, pour some vinegar into a small bowl and dip that hunk of hair in it. Once the gum has softened, remove it with a toothbrush.
Mayonnaise
The fatty oils from mayonnaise will allow gum to slide smoothly off your hair. Spoon some mayo onto the gum and the hair surrounding it, but make sure you isolate the area to prevent the gum from spreading. Massage softly and scrape off the gum with a comb.
Also read: Kitchen Cabinet Hair Care: At Home Secrets to Healthy Tresses
If you're icky about putting foodstuff in your hair, try these other options:
Ice
Place an ice cube on the gum or press it between a cold compress from the freezer. The harder the gum gets, the easier it will be to chip it off. If it softens again and you're not done removing it, just freeze it with another ice cube until you get the job done.
Baking Soda
Form a thick paste with baking soda and some water. Apply the paste directly on the gum and wait until it dries out and turns brittle. The baking soda will help neutralize the gum's sticky texture and will make it easy for the gum to separate from your hair strands.
Toothpaste
Apply a good amount of toothpaste on the gum. Leave it alone until it dries and with a comb, carefully scrape of the gum. Make sure the toothpaste is completely dry before you remove the gum.
Rubbing Alcohol
Soak a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol and pat it all over the gum and surrounding hair. Saturate that area, let it dry and scrape it off with a comb. Stylecraze mentions that you can even use an alcoholic beverage for this method.
Petroleum Jelly
Get a jar of Vaseline, scoop out some product and massage onto gum, concentrating on the edges. Let the Vaseline sit for ten minutes and pull off the gum carefully. Again, you can use your trusty comb for this.
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