Prep first
Before you start
- Let the mud dry, then brush off as much as you can.
- Rinse what is left with cold water.
- Shampoo the scalp and let the suds rinse through the lengths.
Mud stuck in hair is soil, fine particles that get down into the strands, so a quick rinse usually won't clear them. Let it dry completely and brush out as much as you can before any water touches it, because wet mud smears and tangles. Once that's done, what's left is much easier to rinse, and dirt buildup on hair and scalp responds best to shampooing the scalp itself.
Dirt in hair after braids often sits at the scalp, so check there before you assume the rest is clean. Getting clay out of hair without shampoo takes patience, so work in small pieces rather than pulling the whole mass at once. If your scalp itches or turns red after you use a new product, stop and see a dermatologist rather than scrubbing harder.
Before you start
What hair & fur can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care1
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
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- HairbrushBrushes out the mud once it has dried.
- Cold waterRinses out the loose grit before any shampoo goes on.
- ShampooLifts the dirt from the scalp and the roots.
- ConditionerFinishes the wash and eases the lengths after shampooing.
- TowelBlots the water out of the hair without rubbing.
- Wide-tooth combDetangles hair once it is partly dry, or while textured hair is still damp. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Let the mud dry completely
Mud is fine soil that gets deep into whatever it touches, so it's tempting to start scrubbing right away. Hold off and let it dry all the way. Dried mud is far easier to brush off than a wet, smeared patch.
Careful. Don't rub wet mud into the hair; blot it and let it dry first.
Step 2 of 6
Brush the dried mud out
Brush the dried mud out, working over a sink or a sheet so the bits fall away from your head. Start at the roots and work down the lengths, and keep going until nothing more comes loose.
Tip. Work in small sections so the brush doesn't drag mud through the rest of the hair.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse out what remains
Rinse what is left with cold water, letting it run through the lengths. Cold water takes off the loose grit before any shampoo goes on. Shampoo comes next, so you don't need every last bit gone at this point.
Step 4 of 6
Shampoo the scalp, not the lengths
Wash the hair as you normally would, working the shampoo into the scalp where the dirt collects. Let the suds rinse down through the lengths instead of rubbing them in.
Repeat the wash if the scalp still feels gritty. If a product irritates the scalp, skin or eyes, rinse with room-temperature water for 15 minutes and call a poison helpline.
Step 5 of 6
Condition after shampooing
Use conditioner after you shampoo, working it through the lengths where the hair is driest. Rinse it out before you move on.
Step 6 of 6
Blot, air dry, then detangle
Blot the water out with a towel instead of rubbing, then let the hair air dry. Once it's partly dry, or while textured hair is still damp, work through it with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends.
Careful. Keep the dryer and hot tools off until the dirt is gone, because drying sets it in.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The hair is clear when it feels smooth and no grit shows at the roots or along the parting. If you still see gray or brown specks after the wash, let the hair dry and brush again before you wash a second time.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your hair & fur
Craft and styling clay
Product clay sets hard as it dries, so brush out as much as you can while it's dry, before any water goes near it. Work the pieces out from the ends toward the roots so you don't push them deeper.
Once the bulk is gone, follow the normal wash with shampoo and a cold water rinse. If a film of product is still on the hair, shampoo once more before conditioning.
Scalp buildup
Buildup sits on the scalp more than the lengths, so the shampoo needs to reach the roots first. Work it in with your fingertips and let the suds carry the grime down through the hair.
Rinse until the water runs clear, then condition only the lengths, not the scalp. If the scalp still feels coated after a full rinse, repeat the shampoo before you dry the hair.
Braids
Dirt tends to collect along the parting and at the base of the braids, so focus the shampoo there. Brush out what you can first, working gently so you don't pull the braids loose.
Rinse with cold water and let the suds run down through the braids rather than rubbing them. If the hair is textured, detangle it with a wide-tooth comb while it's still damp, then blot and air dry.
Dirt clumps
Dirt clumps are packed together, so pulling at them while they're wet only spreads the dirt. Wait until they're fully dry, then brush or pick them apart from the ends up.
Blot any damp areas and wait before you work on them. Once the clumps are gone, shampoo the rest of the hair as usual.
Dust and loose dirt
Loose dust and dirt usually brushes out with little effort, so start there before you wet the hair. Brushing first keeps the rinse water from carrying grit down through the lengths.
If it still feels gritty after brushing, rinse with cold water, then shampoo the scalp. Keep the dryer off until you're sure the hair is clean.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Mud that has been in the hair for a while and has dried hard is the hardest case, and it is not a quick fix. Start with the brushing and cold rinse, because the loose part should come out before any shampoo goes on. Then do one full shampoo and conditioning, and check the strands before anything else.
If it's still caked after that, let it dry again and brush it out rather than soaking or scrubbing it while wet. Repeating the dry brushing is the safest way to shift what is stuck.
If the mud went through the dryer or was set with heat, expect some of it to stay. Stop when the hair is no longer coming clean, and don't push with hot tools or harsh products. If it's still there after a full wash and drying, take the hair to a hairdresser rather than trying stronger treatments.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mud on hair & fur?
You may have vinegar, baking soda or dish soap in the kitchen and wonder whether they help. For hair, cold water, shampoo and conditioner are enough, so none of the common home remedies is needed. Each one is explained so you know why it doesn't suit hair.
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What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put chlorine bleach on hair.
Chlorine bleach is off the table for hair, so leave it out of the wash entirely. Shampoo and conditioner are all the products mud in hair calls for.
Don't leave pool water in your hair.
Pool chemicals can be hard on your hair, so rinse right after swimming. A swim cap is the simplest way to keep the water out in the first place.
Don't mix removers together.
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other removers, because mixed products can give off hazardous fumes. If you need more than one product, rinse thoroughly between them.
When to call a professional
For hair-care questions, see a dermatologist, and have severe contact dermatitis from a hair product treated by a medical professional. If a reaction doesn't settle after the rinse and call described in the shampoo step, get medical advice before using anything else on the hair.
Questions
Does mud stay in hair permanently?
Usually not. Mud comes out with brushing and a wash, as long as it has dried and hasn't been rubbed in. The longer it sits wet and gets worked into the strands, the harder it is to clear.
Can I remove mud from hair without shampoo?
Brushing the dried mud out and rinsing with cold water takes out the loose part without any product. Shampoo is still the step that lifts what's left, so use it if grit stays in the hair.
What should I do about dirt on my scalp?
Work shampoo into the scalp, where the dirt sits, and let the suds rinse through the lengths. Repeat the wash if the scalp still feels gritty after rinsing.
Is dust in hair the same as mud?
Dust is dry and light, so it usually brushes out before you wash. Brush first, then rinse with cold water and shampoo if any grit remains.
How do I get dirt out of braids?
Start with brushing and a cold water rinse, working gently so you don't pull the braids loose. Shampoo the scalp at the parting and the base of the braids, where the dirt tends to sit.
Can I comb out dirt clumps in curly hair?
Let the clumps dry, then brush or pick them out. Once they're gone, detangle the textured hair with a wide-tooth comb while it's still damp.
Mud on other materials
Other stains on hair & fur
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.