How to Remove Gum from Hair

Fortunate is the parent who has never had to deal with removing gum from someone's hair. They likely have memories of their own run-ins with the sticky stuff, and how back then, the only cure was a quick snip with scissors, and weeks with a chunk missing in your curls or braids.

Most mothers and fathers aren't that lucky however, and when faced with a wad of virulent purple stuff deep in a child's locks, can feel their toes curling as they remember the snip-snip.

The good news is that gum is fairly simple to remove, even when it's been liberally smeared around. Although the mass messes will take longer to clean up, it should all "come clean" in the end.

First, break some ice cubes into large pieces, and put them in a plastic bag. An oven glove or towel comes in handy here, because you're going to hold the bag of ice around the hair with the gum in it, for 20 minutes. Remove the ice, and break off the frozen gum. Work slowly and be patient. Tugging will just pull out hair needlessly. If the gum stretches, it has thawed, and you should leave that bit until all the hard stuff has been removed, then re-treat it with the ice.

This method doesn't always work, especially for gum that has been spread around quite a bit, and stuck in thin layers over a wide area. In this case, your best bet is to take a kitchen oil like canola or olive, and work it gently into the hair and gum. Let it rest for 20 minutes. Using a sturdy comb, slowly work your way down the hair, and the gum should slide straight off. Again, if you can't get it all on the first try, re-treat with the oil, and comb again. No cooking oil? Peanut butter works just as well.

Once the gum is gone, you have to contend with the oil, as this is heavier stuff than shampoo was ever meant to deal with. Wash that section of the hair with dish detergent or a bar of laundry soap, at least twice. Then use a regular shampoo.