How to get wax out of hair
To get wax out of hair, let it cool and harden (hold an ice cube in a bag against it if needed), crumble and comb out as much as you can, then work vegetable or olive oil into what's left, wait a few minutes, and shampoo twice, applying the shampoo before wetting the hair. Candle wax is oil-soluble, not water-soluble: cold makes it brittle enough to break off, and oil softens the thin film that's left so shampoo can carry it away. Never use an iron or hot hair dryer near the scalp.
- Best method
- Harden and crumble, loosen with oil, shampoo twice
- Time
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Stain type
- Wax, gum and resin
You will need
- Ice cubes in a plastic bag
- A fine-tooth comb and a wide-tooth comb
- Vegetable or olive oil
- Shampoo and conditioner
- An old towel
How to remove wax from hair
- 1
Check the skin first
If hot wax touched the scalp, face or neck, cool the skin first: run cool (not ice-cold) water over it for several minutes. Don't peel wax off reddened or blistered skin.
Why: MedlinePlus advises cooling a minor burn under cool water for at least 5 minutes, and not removing material stuck to burned skin.
- 2
Let the wax harden
Wait for the wax to cool completely. To speed it up, hold ice cubes in a plastic bag against the waxy strands for a few minutes.
Why: Wax is soft when warm and smears through the hair; cold wax is brittle and breaks away from the strands in pieces.
- 3
Crumble and comb out the pieces
Hold the hair above the wax so you don't pull the scalp, then crush the hardened wax between your fingers and slide the pieces off. Use a fine-tooth comb from the ends toward the roots.
Why: Removing the bulk mechanically leaves only a thin coating for the oil and shampoo to deal with.
- 4
Work in oil
Rub vegetable or olive oil into the remaining waxy strands and leave it for a few minutes. Comb again, sliding off any softened wax.
Why: Wax dissolves in oils, not water. A light oil softens and thins the residue and makes the hair slippery so it doesn't tangle or break.
- 5
Shampoo on dry hair, twice
Massage shampoo into the oily, waxy areas before wetting them, lather, then rinse with warm water. Repeat, and finish with conditioner.
Why: Shampoo applied first grips the oil and wax residue; water added too early just beads off. Warm water helps rinse softened wax.
Why wax sticks in hair
Candle wax is paraffin, plant wax or beeswax: solid at room temperature, liquid when hot, and soluble in oil but not water. Melted wax runs along the strands and hardens around them, which is why rinsing does nothing and why it's classed as a wax stain.
On fabric, the standard fix is to melt the wax out into paper towels with a warm iron, as the wax stain guide explains. That's not safe near the scalp, so for hair you use the other two tools: cold to make it brittle, and oil to dissolve the film, the same oil-and-comb approach dermatologists recommend for gum.
What the sources say
No dermatology or extension source gives a tested method specifically for candle wax in hair. These steps combine wax chemistry, the American Academy of Dermatology's oil method for sticky substances in hair, and MedlinePlus first aid for minor burns.
By situation
Hair-removal wax
Body waxes are often stickier than candle wax and don't crack cleanly when cold. Coat the hair with oil, wait, and gently work the wax off, then shampoo. If the kit came with a remover, follow its directions.
Styling wax or pomade build-up
Hair styling waxes are designed to wash out but can build up. Apply shampoo to dry hair, lather and rinse, and repeat. A clarifying shampoo helps with heavy build-up.
Wax in a child's hair
Check the skin for burns first. Then use ice, crumbling and a little oil, keeping oil and shampoo away from the eyes. Go slowly; most wax comes out without cutting.
What not to do
- Don't use an iron, flat iron or hot hair dryer to melt the wax out. Heat close to the scalp can burn skin, and melted wax spreads deeper through the hair.
- Don't use solvents such as acetone, nail polish remover or paint thinner. They irritate and dry the scalp and are eye irritants.
- Don't peel wax off burned or blistered skin. Pulling off material that's stuck to a burn can tear the skin; MedlinePlus advises leaving burned material that's stuck to skin in place and getting care for serious burns.
- Don't rinse with water first. Water doesn't dissolve wax and makes it harder for shampoo to grip the residue.
Other methods that work
Warm water soak for softening
Running comfortably warm, not hot, water over the waxy strands while combing can soften a thin film enough to slide it off. Traditional, with weak evidence.
Caution: Test the temperature on your wrist first, and never use hot water near the scalp.
Thick conditioner
Leaving a heavy conditioner on the strands for a few minutes makes them slippery for combing. Traditional, with weak evidence.
Caution: Slower than oil on thick wax.
Stain still there?
Hair still feels waxy after shampooing
Oil it again, comb, and apply shampoo to dry hair before rinsing. It can take two or three rounds.
The hair is tangled around a wax clump
Harden it with ice again and crumble the clump into smaller pieces before oiling. Separate strands gently with your fingers.
Safety
- Cool any burned skin under cool running water for at least 5 minutes; get medical care for large, deep or facial burns.
- Keep solvents and heat tools away from the scalp.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do you get candle wax out of hair?
Let it harden, crumble it out with your fingers and a fine comb, then oil the remaining strands and shampoo twice, applying shampoo before wetting.
Does ice help get wax out of hair?
Yes. Cold makes wax brittle so it breaks away from the hair instead of smearing. Keep the ice in a bag.
Can I use a hair dryer to melt wax out of hair?
It's not a good idea. Heat near the scalp risks burns and spreads the wax further. Use cold and oil instead.
Will wax wash out of hair on its own?
Not with water alone, since wax doesn't dissolve in it. Oil and shampoo applied to dry hair remove it much faster.
Wax on other surfaces
Other stains on hair
Sources
- Tips for removing gum without cutting hair, American Academy of Dermatology
- Burns, MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Stain Removal Guide, American Cleaning Institute
- Nail polish and glue removers: How to nail it, Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
- Wax, Wikipedia
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.