How To Remove Chewing Gum From Hair Without Ripping It?

Do you get a kick out of blowing and popping gum? While you were thoroughly enjoying it, did the chewing gum ever get stuck in your hair accidentally? If you’re nodding your head, you have probably had nightmares of snipping your luscious locks in the attempt to get the gum off your hair!

Well, an undue haircut is surely avoidable. There are ways to effectively remove gum stuck in your hair, without cutting your hair! The first thing to remember is, do not panic and start tugging on the hair with your fingers to get the gum out. This could only further stretch the gum and end up making things worse.

Read on to learn how to remove gum from your hair without cutting it or causing further damage.

Best Ways To Remove Gum From Your Hair

Firstly, do not panic and end up making an appointment with your hairstylist immediately. Sometimes, the gum you’re chewing could get stuck to your eyebrows and eyelashes too. Although it may seem tricky, there are effective home remedies to remove gum from these areas as well. Below are some of the easiest solutions you can try:

1. Cooking Oils

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using vegetable oils is one of the most effective ways to remove gum stuck in your eyebrows or eyelashes (1). You can use vegetable oils such as olive oil or coconut oil.

Identify where exactly the piece of gum is stuck in your hair and cover that area with vegetable oil using your fingers.
Wait for a few minutes while the vegetable oil does its thing!
In a few minutes, you will be able to easily remove the gum from your hair or eyebrows and eyelashes without any struggle.

2. Ice

Yes, something as simple as the ice stocked up in your refrigerator can also help get gum out of your hair without cutting it. While oils make the gum less sticky, using an ice pack can also get this done with lesser messiness.

Create an ice pack at home and apply it directly onto the gum.
Once it freezes up and hardens, you can easily remove it.
Do keep in mind that for a bigger piece of gum stuck in your hair, vegetable oil is the best bet. Use an ice pack to remove the gum only in cases of a very small affected area.

3. Vinegar

Research studying the decomposition of polymers has shown that chemical solvents such as vinegar, glycerine and water are most effective in breaking the chemical bonds of chewing gum. (2)

To remove gum from hair using vinegar, soak the affected area with vinegar.
Wait for a few minutes while vinegar makes the gum stuck in your hair loose.
Then use a comb that is wide-toothed to gently remove the gum from your hair.
Make sure you wait just the right amount of time, just till the vinegar softens the sticky gum. Then using a comb to remove the gum.

4. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter, besides being a yummy condiment has some lesser-known benefits as well. It contains all the right oils that will work its magic and easily remove gum stuck in your hair.

Apply peanut butter all over the area of gum-stuck hair such that it forms a cover around the gum completely.
You can do this using your fingers or a softer toothbrush.
Apply peanut butter and then wait for a while as the condiment surprisingly makes the gum in your hair feel less sticky.
Wash your hair after you remove the gum because you do not want your hair to smell like a condiment.
Make sure you pick the creamy style peanut butter and not the crunchy kind. (3)

5. Toothpaste

You have probably come to terms with toothpaste’s amazing benefits in keeping your gums looking sparkly white and healthy. Did you know that they are also a great home remedy for removing gum stuck in hair?

To apply, put some toothpaste on a cotton ball and then dab the gum stuck in your hair with it so that it is covered all over by toothpaste.
You can also do this with an old toothbrush.
Wait for a few minutes as the toothpaste makes the gum harder and less sticky.
Then remove the gum stuck in your hair easily using a wide-toothed chair brush.

6. Mayonnaise

Yes, we agree that this can be a greasy, messy solution. But if mayonnaise is all the fat you’ve got in your refrigerator, don’t fret because it will do the job and make gum easier to remove from hair.

To apply, use your fingers to cover the gum stuck in your hair with mayonnaise.
Some mayonnaise come packed with all the right oils-such as olive oil, making the gum less sticky.
After applying the mayonnaise onto the affected area, wait for a few minutes before gently removing the gum.
If you’re using mayonnaise to remove gum stuck in your hair, always remember to shower immediately afterward as a thumb rule.

7. Vaseline

Vaseline is widely used in India and it is an essential component of most travel kits. Did you know that Vaseline is also useful in getting out gum stuck in hair? Vaseline is essentially petroleum jelly which is a mix of natural waxes and mineral oils.

Put some petroleum jelly on a cotton ball and apply it on and around the affected area so the gum is entirely covered in the substance.
Wait for a few minutes before trying to gently remove the gum.

What Not To Do When You Get Gum In Hair?

Don’t start tugging on the piece of gum stuck in your hair using your hands since this could end up increasing the area of hair covered by the gum, making the problem worse.

Ensure that you do not let the gum spread and get further stuck in your hair by isolating the affected hair strands gently.

Remember to be gentle while removing the gum and to always wash your hair after using remedies such as peanut butter and vegetable oils or any other ingredients to get gum out. You do not want to end up smelling like these foods after all!

Wrapping Up

Using vegetable oils or butters are some of the simplest and most effective home remedies to remove gum stuck in your hair. Never panic about gum stuck in your hair, eyebrows or eyelashes. Always be gentle while finally pulling out gum from your hair after the application of the home remedies. And don't skip hair wash afterwards.

Despite all efforts, if you still have any concerns about your hair, you must set up an appointment with a hair stylist or dermatologist immediately.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin