How to get gum out of hair
To get gum out of hair, cover the gum completely with vegetable oil or creamy peanut butter, wait a few minutes, then work it out gently with your fingers or a comb and shampoo. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends this because oil makes the gum base less sticky, so it slides off the hair instead of pulling, and you usually don't need scissors.
- Best method
- Coat in oil or creamy peanut butter, wait, work out, shampoo
- Time
- 10 to 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Stain type
- Wax, gum and resin
You will need
- Vegetable oil, olive oil or creamy peanut butter
- An old toothbrush
- A comb
- Shampoo
- A towel around the shoulders
How to remove gum from hair
- 1
Cover the gum with oil or peanut butter
Using your fingers or an old toothbrush, coat the gum and the hair around it completely with vegetable oil, olive oil or creamy peanut butter.
Why: Gum base is made of rubbery polymers that soften in oil. Coating it makes it less sticky, so it lets go of the hair.
- 2
Wait a few minutes
Leave the oil on for a few minutes. Keep a towel on the shoulders to catch drips.
Why: The oil needs time to work into the gum and the strands it's wrapped around.
- 3
Work the gum out gently
Hold the hair above the gum so you don't pull on the scalp, then slide the gum down and off with your fingers or a comb, starting from the ends. Add more oil to any part that still sticks.
Why: Gum slides along oiled hair rather than snapping strands. Working from the ends stops you from making a tighter knot near the roots.
- 4
Shampoo
Wash with regular shampoo, twice if the hair still feels oily, and rinse well. Conditioner helps detangle afterward.
Why: Shampoo removes the oil and any last bits of gum.
Why oil works, and why cutting is a last resort
Chewing gum is a gum base, rubbery elastomers and resins with softeners, plus sugar and flavor. The base doesn't dissolve in water, which is why washing alone makes things worse, but it does soften in oils. Gum wraps around strands rather than soaking into them, so once it's slippery it can slide off whole.
The American Academy of Dermatology's guidance is to try oil before scissors. On clothes, the usual fix is freezing the gum and dissolving the residue with a solvent, but solvents don't belong on a scalp, so hair gets the gentler oil method.
By situation
Gum near the eyebrows or eyelashes
Use vegetable oil only, not peanut butter, and wipe gently with a soft cloth away from the eye. Dermatologists specifically recommend vegetable oil for this area.
Gum in a child's hair
Peanut butter is often the easiest to apply on a wriggly child, but skip it if anyone has a peanut allergy and use vegetable oil instead. Work in small sections and take breaks.
A large wad or gum that's been there a while
Use more oil, wait longer, and tease the gum apart in pieces. Some people firm the gum with an ice cube in a bag first so the bulk crumbles away; that's typical guidance rather than dermatologist advice. A hairstylist can help with a large tangle.
Long, curly or textured hair
Section the hair off, finger-detangle around the gum before combing, and use a wide-tooth comb. Conditioner adds slip once the gum is out.
What not to do
- Don't use nail polish remover, acetone, paint thinner or fuels. Solvents irritate and dry out the scalp and skin and are dangerous near the eyes. Fuels are also a fire hazard.
- Don't wet the hair or shampoo before the oil step. Gum doesn't dissolve in water, and wet, soapy hair tangles around it.
- Don't cut until you've tried oil. Dermatologists say gum can usually be removed without cutting.
Other methods that work
Ice
Hold an ice cube in a plastic bag against the gum until it hardens, then crumble off what breaks away. This is typical guidance, not from a dermatology source.
Caution: Not comfortable for long on a child's scalp, and it leaves residue that still needs oil.
Other cooking oils
Any plain cooking oil works on the same principle as vegetable or olive oil. Use what you have.
Caution: Keep oil away from the eyes, and shampoo well afterward.
Stain still there?
Small sticky bits remain after shampooing
Dry the hair, re-coat the bits with oil, wait a few minutes and comb again, then shampoo once more.
The hair is still greasy
Shampoo again and rinse thoroughly. A second wash usually clears the oil.
The scalp is red or stinging
Rinse with plenty of water. If redness, swelling or burning continues, see a doctor or dermatologist.
Safety
- Keep oil and gum away from the eyes. If anything gets in, rinse with water and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or a doctor if irritation continues.
- Use vegetable oil, not peanut butter, for anyone with a peanut allergy.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
What's the best way to get gum out of hair?
Coat it with vegetable oil or creamy peanut butter, wait a few minutes, slide it out with your fingers or a comb, and shampoo. That's what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends.
Does peanut butter really get gum out of hair?
Yes. The oil in creamy peanut butter softens the gum base so it slides off the hair. Use vegetable oil instead near the eyes or if there's a peanut allergy.
Can you get gum out of hair without cutting it?
Usually, yes. Oil, patience and gentle combing remove most gum. Cutting is a last resort.
Does ice get gum out of hair?
Ice hardens gum so some of it crumbles away, which helps with a big wad. It's typical advice rather than dermatologist guidance, and oil is still needed for the rest.
Gum on other surfaces
Other stains on hair
Sources
- Tips for removing gum without cutting hair, American Academy of Dermatology
- Nail polish and glue removers: How to nail it, Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
- Removing Stains From Washable Fabric, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- Stain Removal Guide, American Cleaning Institute
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.