Help! My daughter has gum stuck in her hair. What is the best way to get it out?

Oh no! She’s gotten herself into a real sticky situation (pun intended). Never fear, mother dear, there are many items found around the house that can aid in gum removal without having to cut the gum out.

Peanut Butter is generally the most well-known solution to this issue. Work the peanut butter into the hair surrounding and inside the gum with your fingers (use creamy peanut butter because it has a higher oil content) and let it sit for about five minutes. The oil will loosen the gum and you can get to work pulling the hair out of the gum. Cooking Oil works in this same fashion. If you give the oil enough time to soak into the gum, it should loosen its hold on the hair and slide off. Then wash the hair with a clarifying shampoo to get the oil out.

Other Items That Work Similarly: Mayonnaise, Hair Mousse, Vaseline, Cold Cream, Adhesive Remover (Goo Gone), WD-40 (can be used on clothing as well) & Eucalyptus Oil.

Ice can be used as well. The cold will harden the gum and make it easier to pull hairs out of the sticky mass. Soak the gum in salt water first (this raises the freezing temperature, making the gum harden faster).

Other Items That Work Similarly: Alcohol (this should only take about a minute) & Toothpaste.

If all else fails, just cut it out. Its not the most appealing option, but sometimes the only solution.

Good Luck!