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How to get slime out of hair

To get slime out of hair, pull out the big clumps, then work white vinegar or a little vegetable oil into what's left, wait a few minutes, comb it out gently from the ends up and shampoo. Vinegar breaks the borax bonds that make slime stretchy, and oil makes sticky residue slip off the strands, so you don't need to cut.

Best method
Pick out clumps, vinegar or oil, comb, shampoo
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy

You will need

  • White vinegar
  • Vegetable or olive oil
  • A wide-tooth comb
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • A towel around the shoulders

How to remove slime from hair

  1. 1

    Pull out the big clumps first

    With dry hands, pinch and slide the slime down and off the hair. Dabbing a larger ball of the same slime onto the stuck bits can lift them, a common trick rather than sourced advice. Don't add water yet.

    Why: Slime sticks to itself better than to hair, and water at this stage just makes it slipperier and harder to grip.

  2. 2

    Protect the eyes and clothes

    Put a towel around the shoulders. If it's a child, tilt their head so liquids run away from the face.

    Why: Vinegar stings eyes, and loosened slime drips. Slime dye can also mark clothing.

  3. 3

    Work in white vinegar

    Wet the slimy section with white vinegar using your fingers, working it through the strands. Wait a few minutes as the slime turns runny.

    Why: Slime is glue or polyvinyl alcohol held together by borate links. An acid breaks those links, so the gel loosens into a thin liquid that slides off hair.

  4. 4

    Or loosen it with a little oil

    If there's no vinegar, or you'd rather not use it on a sensitive scalp, coat the residue with vegetable or olive oil instead and leave it a few minutes.

    Why: Dermatologists recommend oil for sticky substances in hair because it makes them less sticky and lets them slide along the strand.

  5. 5

    Comb from the ends toward the scalp

    Hold the hair above the slime to take the pull off the scalp, then comb with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working up. Wipe the comb on a paper towel often.

    Why: Starting at the ends stops you from dragging slime and tangles into a tighter knot near the roots.

  6. 6

    Shampoo and condition

    Wash with regular shampoo and warm water, twice if the hair still feels tacky or oily, then use conditioner to help detangle.

    Why: Once the borate links are broken, the glue polymer dissolves in water, and shampoo removes any oil you used.

Why vinegar and oil work, and why no solvents

Toy slime is school glue or polyvinyl alcohol linked into a gel by borate from borax or another activator. Chemistry teaching guides from the Royal Society of Chemistry note that adding an acid breaks those links and turns the gel runny, which is why vinegar works. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice for gum and other sticky substances in hair is a coat of oil, a short wait, gentle combing and a shampoo. No authoritative guide covers slime in hair specifically, so this page combines the two.

What to leave out: acetone, nail polish remover, paint thinner and fuels. Hair grows from living skin, and these solvents irritate the scalp and eyes. On clothes you can use detergent and bleach; on hair, keep to things you'd be comfortable putting on skin.

By situation

Dried slime in hair

Dried slime is like a crust of glue. Soak the section in vinegar or warm water for several minutes until it softens, then comb and shampoo. Repeat rather than pulling at it.

Long, curly or tangled hair

Work in small sections and use more oil or conditioner as slip. Curly and textured hair tangles easily, so finger-detangle first and use the widest comb you have.

Slime near the eyebrows or eyelashes

Use vegetable oil only, never vinegar or anything else, and wipe gently with a soft cloth toward the outside of the face. If anything gets in the eye, rinse it with water.

Colored slime left a tint on light hair

Slime dye can tint very light or bleached hair, which is more porous. No source covers how long it lasts, but several shampoos may fade it. Don't try bleach or stain removers on hair; a hairstylist can help if it lingers.

What not to do

  • Don't use acetone, nail polish remover or paint thinner. These solvents irritate and dry out the scalp and skin, and they're eye irritants.
  • Don't cut the hair before you've tried vinegar or oil. Slime nearly always loosens with patience. Cutting is a last resort.
  • Don't rub wet slime around with a towel. It spreads the gel to more strands and works it toward the roots.

Other methods that work

Ice

Rub an ice cube over soft slime to firm it so it pulls off in bigger pieces, the same idea used for gum. It's traditional, with weak evidence, and only helps with the bulk.

Caution: Not comfortable for long on a child's scalp. Follow with vinegar or oil for the residue.

Conditioner

A generous amount of conditioner adds slip so slime and tangles slide off the comb. It's a reasonable thing to try alongside the methods above, though no source tests it on slime.

Caution: Rinse well afterward.

Stain still there?

The hair feels greasy after the oil

Shampoo a second time and rinse thoroughly.

A tight knot of slime won't loosen

Saturate it with vinegar or oil again, wait longer, and tease it apart with your fingers before combing. A hairstylist can help with a large tangle.

The scalp stings or turns red

Rinse with plenty of water right away and stop using vinegar. See a doctor if redness, swelling or burning continues.

Safety

  • Keep vinegar out of the eyes. If anything gets in, rinse with water and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if irritation continues.
  • Never use solvents or fuels on hair or skin.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

How do you get slime out of hair?

Pull out the clumps, work white vinegar or a little vegetable oil into the rest, wait a few minutes, comb from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb, then shampoo.

Does vinegar get slime out of hair?

Yes. Vinegar is an acid that breaks the borate bonds holding slime together, so it turns runny and combs out. Keep it away from the eyes.

Can you get slime out of hair without cutting it?

Almost always. Patience with vinegar or oil, careful combing and a shampoo or two removes it without scissors.

Does conditioner remove slime from hair?

It helps by adding slip so the comb glides, but it doesn't break slime down the way vinegar does. Use it after vinegar or oil.

Slime on other surfaces

Other stains on hair

Sources

  1. Tips for removing gum without cutting hair, American Academy of Dermatology
  2. PVA polymer slime (class experiment), Royal Society of Chemistry
  3. Slime Demonstration Sheet 25.4, Purdue University Department of Chemistry
  4. Nail polish and glue removers: How to nail it, Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
  5. Coloring and perming tips for healthier-looking hair, American Academy of Dermatology

Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.