First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Hair product or dye irritating the scalp, skin or eyes?
- Start with a 15-minute rinse in room-temperature water.
- Then phone a poison control line at 1-800-222-1222.
Gum and other sticky stains in hair are a job for patience rather than scrubbing, because hair is most fragile when it's wet. Water is safe for hair, but chlorine and abrasive scrubbing are off the table, and heat should be kept gentle. There isn't a dependable method for set-in stains or dye in human hair, so stick with gentle steps.
Work the sticky spot slowly with your fingers rather than pulling, since tugging breaks hair. Curly or textured hair tangles more easily, so separate the strands gently before you touch the knot. If you notice redness or itching after a product touches your scalp, stop and talk to a dermatologist.
Before you start
What this material can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care1
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Creamy peanut butterCovers sticky gum so it can be worked out.
- Vegetable oil, such as olive oilWorks on gum, and is the better pick near eyebrows and eyelashes.
- Old toothbrushSpreads oil into gum caught between strands.
- Shampoo and conditionerWash the hair as usual, then condition the lengths.
- TowelBlots water out of the hair without rubbing.
- Wide-tooth combDetangles hair gently once it's partly dry or still damp. (opens Amazon)
- Pet shampooFor animals only, used in lukewarm water.
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 715 minutes
Rinse any irritation for 15 minutes
If a hair product or dye has irritated the scalp, skin or eyes, rinse with room-temperature water for 15 minutes, then call a poison control line at 1-800-222-1222. If nothing is irritated, skip straight to the gum.
Step 2 of 7
Cover the gum in oil
Cover the gum completely with creamy peanut butter or vegetable oil such as olive oil, using your fingers or an old toothbrush. Make sure no part of the gum shows, since any bare spot will keep sticking.
Step 3 of 7A few minutes
Let it loosen, then lift it out
Wait a few minutes, then work the gum out of the hair with your fingers. Lift it in small pieces rather than pulling out one clump.
Tip. Start at the outer edge of the gum and work inward.
Step 4 of 7
Wash the hair as usual
Work shampoo into the scalp, then let the suds rinse through the lengths without rubbing them in. Wash as you normally would, so the oil and gum come out with the lather.
Step 5 of 7
Condition after you shampoo
Use conditioner after shampooing and work it through the lengths. It's the last product step before the hair dries.
Step 6 of 7
Blot, then air dry
Press a towel against the hair to blot out the water, then let it air dry on its own. Work from the roots down so the towel picks up the drips.
Careful. Do not rub hair dry with a towel.
Step 7 of 7
Detangle with a wide-tooth comb
Comb through with a wide-tooth comb once straight hair is partly dry, or while textured hair is still damp. Start at the ends and work up toward the roots.
Careful. Do not brush straight hair while it is wet.
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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on hair & fur
Wax, gum & sticky5
Paint, glue & adhesives6
Ink, marker & crayon1
Body fluids2
Smoke & burns1
Mold & outdoor1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
Gum that's loosening slides along the strand and lifts in pieces instead of pulling the hair tight. Once the last of it comes away, the hair should detangle with the comb without snagging.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your hair & fur
Straight hair
Straight hair follows the steps above as written, with the timing set by how dry it is. The one change is the comb: wait until it's partly dry before you detangle.
The wide-tooth comb still does the work, so there's no need to switch tools for straight strands. Keep the pace slow and let the comb glide rather than force it through knots.
Textured or curly hair
Textured hair changes the detangling window, not the rest of the routine. Comb it while it's still damp, since that's when the strands are easiest to work through.
Use the same oil, wash and blot steps, then take your time separating strands with the wide-tooth comb. Going slowly keeps the detangling gentle.
Eyebrows and eyelashes
Near the eyes, vegetable oil such as olive oil is the better choice than peanut butter. Work it on with an old toothbrush, and let it sit a few minutes before you lift the gum out.
The rest of the steps stay the same, but keep the wash gentle around the face so the suds don't run into the eyes.
Pet fur
Pet fur follows a different order: brush out dead hair and mats before the bath, not after. Bathe the animal with pet shampoo in lukewarm water.
Dense matting is the one case where clipping is an option, and the mistake below explains how to keep the blade safe. Everything else, including the rinse, stays gentle and slow.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A stain that's been in the hair for days is past what these steps are built for. There's no safe home method for dye or product that has set into human hair, so don't reach for harsher products.
If gum has dried and hardened, go back to the oil and give it a few more minutes rather than scrubbing at it. Work the oil in gently, then lift the gum out in small pieces.
Keep the hair air drying and away from hot tools until the stain is gone, since heat is hard on hair. If the residue is still there after one more round, stop and see a professional rather than trying something stronger.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on hair & fur?
Most household remedies are built for fabric, counters or hard surfaces, and hair can't take the scrubbing or strong chemicals they need. Oil, shampoo and conditioner do the work, so none of these remedies is needed.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't leave pool water in your hair
Pool chemicals can be hard on hair, so wear a swim cap when you swim. Rinse right after you get out, so the pool water doesn't sit in the hair.
Don't keep hot tools on your hair for long
Heat styling damages hair, so air dry when you can and use the lowest setting on a dryer or straightener. Keep hot tools off the strands for short bursts only.
Don't stack chemical services
Color, perm and relaxer are all chemical services, and only one should be done at a time. Space any two apart rather than booking them back to back.
Don't spray water at a pet's face
Never spray or pour water straight into a pet's ears, eyes or nose. Wet the coat with a cup or a damp cloth, keeping the stream off the face.
Don't clip dense mats close to the skin
Clipping is only for dense mats that brushing can't free, and the blade should stay well back from the skin. Take short passes and stop as soon as the mat is free.
When to call a professional
For hair-care questions, see a dermatologist. Severe irritation from hair products needs a medical professional, and for a pet, see a veterinarian for any skin or hair abnormality, persistent odor, irritation, open sores, bald spots or scratching.
Questions
How do you get gum out of hair?
Cover the gum completely with creamy peanut butter or vegetable oil, wait a few minutes, then work it out with your fingers. Once the gum is gone, wash the hair as usual with shampoo and conditioner.
Is vegetable oil better than peanut butter for gum?
Both work on gum, so either one is fine on most of the head. Vegetable oil such as olive oil is especially useful on eyebrows and eyelashes, so reach for it there.
What if a hair product irritates my scalp?
A room-temperature rinse comes first, and a medical professional should see any severe reaction. A poison control line can advise on the product itself, so keep its name handy.
When can I comb wet hair?
Textured hair can be combed while it's still damp, but straight hair should wait until it's partly dry. Use a wide-tooth comb either way.
How do I bathe a pet with matted fur?
Brush out dead hair and mats before the bath, then bathe with pet shampoo in lukewarm water. For dense matting that brushing won't free, clipping is the option.
Can I use bleach on my hair to lift a stain?
No. Hair can't take chlorine, so skip bleach; oil, shampoo and conditioner are the right choices for stains on hair. Stick to oil, shampoo and conditioner for stains on hair.
What about dye that has already set in my hair?
There's no safe home method for dye that has set into human hair. Stop and see a professional rather than trying harsher treatments.
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.