Chewing gum is intended to cleanse the mouth, but its popularity among children and adults is due rather to its varied taste. After use, it can end up anywhere - on the ground, in transport, on clothes, on the soles of shoes. Such situations are commonplace, and rarely anyone pays attention to them. But the real problem is the sticky lump that gets tangled in the strands. Tips on how to remove chewing gum from hair will be useful to everyone; effective methods will help you save your hair from hairdressing scissors and quickly get out of an awkward situation.
Trim with scissors
A quick but drastic method to solve the situation, provided that the chewing gum is stuck to the ends.
How to remove hair from sections:
- You need to comb the adjacent strands carefully, moisten them with a spray bottle or simply wet them with water.
- Separate the curl with the chewing gum and cut off the problem area.
- Then comb your hair again and put it into a ponytail.
- Then wrap the free part several times with thin elastic bands, reaching the very cut.
- Trim at the level of the last gum, this will help restore a straight line after the removed strand with gum.
Cold and hot shower
This method is designed to destroy the structure of chewing gum due to temperature changes. It is not necessary to subject the entire body to contrast execution; it is enough to hold only the hair under the shower head:
- First, the affected strand is doused with cold water;
- then turn on hot;
- the procedure is continued until the chewing gum loses its elasticity and begins to collapse;
- After this, it is removed from the strand by hand, and small remnants are combed out.
The method is not very convenient, especially for people with short hair.
With oil
Vegetable oils will be a real salvation for those who are not ready for drastic decisions. This is also, of course, the best option for children, safe and does not require special preparation. All you need is to find oil; any available oil will do, olive, sunflower, sesame, coconut, argan.
Note! You can use baby or massage; the oily base does a great job of removing adhesive elastic that gets tangled in the strands. The only thing is that the use of essential oils will be ineffective.
How to remove chewing gum using oil:
- You need to prepare your hair, separate the strand with the elastic from the total mass. To prevent the remaining curls from getting tangled, secure them with clips.
- Soak a cotton pad in oil and apply to chewing gum. To enhance the effect, it is advisable to heat the oil.
- Under the influence of the greasy base, the gum will gradually disintegrate into particles, which can be removed with a sparse comb.
- If the tangled strand is located in the area of the crown or back of the head, you need to tilt your hair over the bath and slowly pour oil in a thin stream directly onto the stuck area.
- Then massage thoroughly and separate the elastic from the hair. If the process causes difficulties, leave for 10 minutes and then repeat.
- Wash your hair with shampoo, apply conditioner and comb thoroughly to remove remaining particles.
- For thorough cleansing, you should take advantage of the temperature contrast, dousing your curls alternately with cold and hot water. This method is suitable if the chewing gum is not stuck in the head area, otherwise you can burn the skin.
Temperature effect on chewing gum for removal from scalp hair
The rubber is made from rubber based rubber so it is not heat resistant. Rubber melts and freezes easily. Use these properties to remove sticky material from your hair.
Hot water
Melt the little sticky pieces with hot water. Do not pour boiling water over it, otherwise you will burn your skin. During the procedure, use your fingers to stretch the sticky substance along the length of your hair. Then, carefully comb out the remains with a toothed comb. Wash your hair.
If there is a lot of elastic, you can melt it with a hair straightener. Wrap a cotton cloth around the affected curl and run a hot iron over it several times. The elastic melts and sticks to the fabric.
How to remove an elastic band from your hair using ice
The elastic is removed from the fabric and hair by freezing.
The ice will freeze the rubber and it will come loose.
Place ice or frozen food on the affected thread. Wait a few minutes for the gum to harden. A frozen lump breaks and crumbles easily.
Break off gradually. Remove the larger pieces first and then freeze the strand again. Brush small pieces with a fine-tooth comb and wash your hair.
An unusual effective way - contrast shower
A different temperature will solve this problem. First, dip the rubber curling iron into ice water. Keep it there until it hardens. Break up larger pieces and immerse the sticky strip in hot water (not above 60°C). Wait until the lump becomes sticky. Flatten the eraser, making it thinner. Then soak the curlers in ice water again and let it harden.
Thin frozen rubber easily breaks and crumbles when brushed. If particles remain after treatment, reapply the contrast spray. Finish the process by washing your hair.
Using Vaseline
To remove chewing gum from your hair, you can use the contents of your first aid kit. There is always Vaseline that will help solve the problem in 5 minutes. Replaced with glycerin, tocopherol solution, retinol or fish oil.
Any ingredient will definitely be at hand; available products will help avoid injury to the strands when combing.
How to remove gum from your head:
- Separate the strand with the glued elastic band; you can tie a ponytail around it for the child so that he does not tangle even more hair with careless movements.
- Measure out about 10 grams. Vaseline or other product, thoroughly moisten the gum.
- Gently knead with your fingers, like plasticine. It is important to gently massage so as not to injure thin hair by damaging the stem structure.
- After 5 minutes, the chewing gum can be pulled out of the hair; even the smallest particles must be removed, preventing subsequent gluing.
- Then wash your curls with shampoo and comb.
Ice
An alternative to fat digestion is freezing. Of course, leaving the head in the freezer for 30 minutes is unlikely to work, but this is not required, just treat the area of contamination with a piece of ice:
- ice, packed in a plastic bag, is applied to the chewing gum;
- when it freezes, it is carefully removed;
- the residues are cleaned out with a comb.
After cleaning, it is advisable to rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo. The same recipe is recommended to clean clothes from such stains.
Using mayonnaise
The high-calorie sauce will help clean the strands, preserving the hair from being cut. If mayonnaise is not available, you can use peanut or cocoa butter. For quick removal, use an old toothbrush to remove small, sticky particles of gum.
Procedure steps:
- Heat mayonnaise or peanut butter in a double boiler.
- Apply the product to the problem area of hair and surrounding areas. Massage for a minute and leave for another 10.
- Using a brush, remove the gum and go through it again with a wide-toothed comb.
- To remove residue, sprinkle the strands with baking soda. Then wash with shampoo and apply conditioner.
WD – 40
This household chemical product confidently copes with many problems, including chewing gum in the hair. To achieve the desired effect you must:
- a small amount of WD - 40 is applied to the contamination;
- leave for a few minutes;
- remove the mass with a paper towel or napkin;
- the remains are combed out with a comb.
The product is aggressive and must be used with precautions. It is not recommended to allow it to come into contact with the skin, mucous membranes, or the respiratory tract. After the procedure, thoroughly wash not only your hair, but also your hands.
Cooling
The real challenge is getting gum out of a girl's fine, long hair, especially braided strands. Exposure to cold is the best way to resolve a delicate situation. This method is also useful if the elastic band is stuck to clothing or any other surface.
It is enough to put the item in the freezer for 15 minutes, after which it will not be difficult to remove the hardened lump.
For your hair, you should use ice cubes or a cold pack. Place your head so that you can place ice on the tangled strand without making contact with the scalp. After 5-7 minutes, peel the gum off your hair with your fingers.
Advice. If the elastic band is attached to the crown or temples, wrap the ice in a towel to prevent the tissue from cooling. The process will take longer, but will avoid dangerous consequences.
Cosmetical tools
You can remove chewing gum using styling products containing silicone. These can be mousses, shine sprays, serums and oils for ends that prevent split ends. Special formulas help not only to achieve a magical shine, but also to remove gum, avoiding cutting off the strands.
To do this, you need to generously distribute the cosmetic product on the elastic band itself and the tangled curls. Leave for 5 minutes, then separate the lump from the main mass of hair and comb thoroughly. This is the fastest method, as it does not require washing your hair with shampoo.
Salt
Three tablespoons of salt are enough for this. It needs to be filled with water so that it becomes a paste.
- Before using the method, you need to separate the stained strand of hair.
- It is best to secure it additionally with an elastic band.
- Next, treat the chewing gum with the mixture and leave for ten minutes.
- After this, the chewing gum can be easily removed.
Using alcohol
An excellent replacement would be various herbal tinctures and alcoholic drinks. This method can be used if a child’s chewing gum is stuck; schoolchildren often face a similar problem. The procedure will require a little time and patience, but it's worth it to save your hair from being cut.
How to remove chewing gum with alcohol:
- immerse a strand of chewing gum in a bottle of tincture and leave for 10 minutes;
- if the problematic strand is difficult to separate, moisten thoroughly with alcohol and massage with your fingers;
- Separate the elastic band and comb thoroughly with a comb.
Instead of alcohol, you can use lemon, grapefruit, pomegranate juice or Coca-Cola.
Lemon juice, soda or Coca-Cola
The products listed are often on hand or always available for purchase in the store. All of them act by breaking down the chewing gum structure, which allows it to be removed from the hair. The mixture based on lemon juice has the most complex composition:
- lemon juice, water and shower conditioner are mixed in a convenient container until smooth;
- dip the soiled strand into the prepared solution or treat it with a spray bottle;
- After the gum has softened, it is removed and the remains are combed out.
In a similar way, use soda, from which a paste is first prepared, mixing it with water in equal parts. Soda is applied to the problem area and left until dry, then removed along with the chewing gum.
The easiest way is to use a Coca-Cola compress: treat the dirty area with a cotton pad soaked in the drink until the hair is clean. Then you need to wash your hair thoroughly.
What is prohibited to do
What not to do:
- use toxic liquids - acetone, kerosene, gasoline, which can cause burns to the mucous membranes and allergic reactions;
- trying to comb out chewing gum without first treating it with oil, Vaseline, or cold, this will lead to hair injury and the formation of tangles;
- You need to wash your hair only after the elastic band has been completely removed; if you carry out the washing procedure before, it will be incredibly difficult to tear off the stuck circle.
Both adults and children should know how to remove chewing gum from hair. A similar problem can arise at any time. There are always available means to solve an awkward situation in just a few minutes.
How to remove chewing gum from a child's hair without scissors
First of all, they explain to the child that he needs to sit still for at least a couple of minutes. Additionally, fix the contaminated strand with your free hand. If you need to choose a safe way to wash your child’s gum, you should consider any fatty component.
A fatty product such as:
- mayonnaise;
- cream;
- oil, including peanut oil, etc.
You can cleanse your hair according to the standard procedure: apply the fatty component with a cotton pad, then remove it entirely or in parts (move the lump downwards).
