Do You Know: How To Get Gum Out Of Hair? Can Peanut Butter Remove Gum?

Anamika Balouria
Jan 19, 2023 By Anamika Balouria
Originally Published on Nov 10, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao
info_i
Learn about the various ways you can remove gum from hair.

Chewing gum is one of the favorites of kids, as well as youngsters, but when it gets stuck in their hair, it might cause trouble. 

You don't have to hide the fact that you've probably found chewing gum in your hair at some point in your life. It is common for gum to get stuck in hair, especially for kids, because they unconsciously, while playing, get gum stuck.

This situation might really be troublesome many times because chewing gum is sticky and removing gum from the hair is not an easy task.

If you find chewing gum in your hair or in your kids' hair, then you do not have to panic and there is no need to cut the hair. There are many home remedies, and even if those do not work, then you can visit your doctor.

However, make sure that any home remedies you or your children use do not have any negative side effects on you, as you may be allergic to that particular product.

Mostly, when you see chewing gum stuck in your hair, you start thinking about getting a haircut, but there are many alternatives available which you can apply to your hair. Few of the gums are less sticky, and even fewer are excessively sticky.

So, the problem starts with the one that is stickier. If you think no alternative would work, then you can simply go for a simple haircut. You can try using certain oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, etc.

If you enjoyed reading this article about how to remove gum from your hair, then check out how to do a backflip and how to dice potatoes.

How to get gum out of hair with ice?

It is really annoying to remove chewing gum from your hair, and ice can help to remove the gum from your hair.

Different methods such as peanut butter, cooking oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, canola oil, ice cubes, and white vinegar can be used to get the gum or break down the gum from the affected area. Many times, using oils can be very irritating.

So, using ice can help to freeze the gum on your hair.

Apply ice to the affected area and it will naturally make the chewing gum stuck in your hair less sticky.

Avoid using a comb on the affected area as it will only break the hair off from the roots. An ice pack gently works the gum to become less hardened, but this method of getting gum hardened is only effective when less gum is stuck in the hair.

What to do when even the ice fails? Use peanut butter instead. Peanut butter is sticky and thick like chewing gum, having hydrophobic properties. So, applying peanut butter to hair removes the gum's stickiness on the affected area.

To remove chewing gum from hair, apply peanut butter. Use your fingers or old toothbrush to apply creamy peanut butter and do not wash your hair until it hardens. Hair mousse also helps to remove the gum from your hair.

How to get gum out of dog hair?

It depends on how the gum is stuck on the hair of the dog. If it is above the top of the hair coat, then an ice pack would work, but if it is deeply pressed into the hair, then it can be worrisome.

Creamy peanut butter would work on the dog's fur coat. Apply the peanut butter on your hair with your fingers to remove the gum's stickiness.

Never comb the hair of a dog with a comb or an old toothbrush as this will hurt your dog. You can even use oils such as cooking oil or vegetable oil. A solvent can also be used on the hair, but you have to ensure that it does not contain any chemicals.

There are some tips that need to be taken into consideration while removing the gum. Always remember to immediately wash your hair. Without washing the hair or any delay after removing gum, the applicant might itch the dog. Wash your dog with good dog shampoo or conditioner.

Never pull the hair of a dog. If gum gets stuck in the toes of your dog, try to remove it by cutting the gum. If you remove it without cutting, then it might irritate your dog.

Canola oil, vegetable oil, ice cubes, vinegar can help you remove gum from hair.

How to get gum out of hair without cutting it?

There are different methods such as using baking soda with water, oils, peanut butter, vinegar, toothpaste, or ice packs to work the gum out of your hair.

You can use any of the methods above in order to remove the gum from your hair, but always take it into consideration whether you are allergic to the product or not. If you are allergic, then avoid using those products.

You can simply apply any of the products with your fingers or toothbrush. Try to use white vinegar with cotton and do not ever think of combing your hair while doing all the steps above because the hair strands will break easily.

Use shampoo immediately once you are done applying the peanut butter or oil with your fingers, and the gum will become less sticky. This will help to remove all the substances attached to your hair and to avoid any damage.

Mostly, people prefer to use peanut butter because it has the same hydrophobic properties as gum.

Using oil at times might be messy and sticky, but oil is also effective against the stickiness of gum without harming your hair. Tips from a dermatologist should also be taken into consideration while doing the above procedure.

How to get dried gum out of your hair?

Once you have applied peanut butter to the gum, it becomes dry. Then you should remove the gum gently with your fingers, but be patient, it might take some time.

Chewing gum is sticky in its nature, but in order to make it dry, different methods such as peanut butter, vinegar, or toothpaste are used. This method changes the natural property of a sticky candy or gum.

You can also use toothpaste with which you brush your teeth regularly. If you have short hair, then try to use ice packs to harden the gum and remove its stickiness.

Toothpaste also helps to make gum dry, further altering its natural properties. You can simply use your fingers to remove the dried gum out of your hair.

You need a lot of patience to comb the gum out of your hair. You should always wait for the lubricant in toothpaste to dry out, otherwise, it will be messier for you to remove the gum.

Finally, once the gum is removed, use your daily shampoo to wash off your hair to wash away the substance attached to your hair. However, simply shampooing your hair will not remove the gum.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how to get gum out of hair, then why not take a look at effective ways to prevent birds nesting, or amazing berries facts for kids.

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Anamika Balouria

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Education and Teaching, Master of Arts specializing in English

Anamika Balouria picture

Anamika BalouriaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Education and Teaching, Master of Arts specializing in English

A dedicated and enthusiastic learner, Anamika is committed to the growth and development of her team and organization. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English from Daulat Ram University and Indira Gandhi Institute for Open Learning respectively, as well as a Bachelor of Education from Amity University, Noida. Anamika is a skilled writer and editor with a passion for continual learning and development.
Read full bio >
Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

Pradhanya Rao picture

Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.

Read full bio >