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Wondering how to get slime out of hair? You’re not alone. While it’s fun to play with, many kids end up with it in their hair. Ugh! Fortunately for you, getting it out is much easier than you probably think.
How to Get Slime Out of Hair in 4 Steps
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It’s a lot of fun to make slime, but it’s not the cleanest activity in the world. After playing with this goo, you may find it everywhere — in the carpet, on your clothes or your child’s clothes, and even in their hair! Stop! Take a deep breath before the panic starts to set in. Slime is relatively easy to clean up, even when it’s ground into your kiddo’s hair, or your hair if it’s been that kind of day. Follow this guide to learn how to get slime out of hair.
Believe it or not, regular shampoo and conditioner can help you get slime out of your hair in four steps:
- Soak your hair in a hot shower
- Use your fingers to work out the slime
- Use conditioner
- Wash with shampoo
Don’t feel the need to reach for the scissors and cut slime out of your hair. Remove as much slime as you can using your hands, and then follow the simple steps below.
Step One: Soak Your Hair in a Hot Shower
Use hot water to soak your hair. If you can change the setting of the showerhead, try to use the most forceful option. This might blast the slime out of your hair without any work on your part.
Step Two: Use Your Fingers to Work Out Slime
When your hair is completely saturated with water, start massaging your scalp. Work your way out to the hair that has slime stuck in it. Scrape the slime off the hair with your fingers and nails, starting at the root and working your way down to the tip.
If slime builds up underneath your fingernails, take time to wash it out. Otherwise, it might get deposited back on the hair you just scraped it from.
Step Three: Start With Conditioner
Conditioner makes your hair slick, so using it before shampoo can remove more slime. Apply a lot of conditioner to your hair and massage it in.
Start at your roots and run your fingers to the tips so you’ll be combing out the slime instead of pushing it towards your scalp. You can also use a fine-tooth comb for this step. Slime will stick to the teeth, so rinse it off between each pass.
After combing, let the conditioner sit in your hair for a few minutes. Rinse it out with hot water.
Step Four: Wash With Shampoo
Use shampoo to lather up your hair. The soap will help scrub away any remaining slime and conditioner. Apply shampoo all over your head and let it sit for a few minutes. This gives the soap a chance to eat away at the slime.
After shampooing, you can apply more conditioner if you want smooth hair. Rinse your hair a final time. If any slime remains, you can repeat these steps, but usually, one try does it.
Bonus Content: Homemade Remedies
If shampoo and conditioner didn’t get all the slime out of your hair, don’t give up. Try these other substances:
- Peanut butter
- Mayonnaise
- Coconut oil
- White vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Baking soda and water
- Soda
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter contains oil that can make your hair so slick the slime will work its way out. Apply it to the slime and work it around with your fingers. After you coat your hair, wash it out following the steps above.
Mayonnaise
While you’re in the kitchen, consider grabbing the mayonnaise. It also has oils that can get sticky substances out of hair. Start with a few spoonfuls and massage the mayonnaise into the hair.
Use a comb to start at the scalp and comb your way to the end of the hair. Rinse the comb after each use, so no slime gets back in your hair. When you’re done, wash your hair following the steps above.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil will lubricate your hair enough to remove anything that’s stuck. Put one cup of oil on your head and massage it into your scalp. Work the oil into the slime, and you’ll find it coming off in your hands.
When most of the slime is out, wash your hair twice with shampoo to remove the remaining slime and the coconut oil.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a simple ingredient that can do so many things around the house. It shouldn’t be a surprise that it can remove slime, but it can burn your eyes, so cover them with a washcloth or wear goggles before attempting this solution. You might want to dilute it with an equal measure of water to make it less harsh.
Since white vinegar is a liquid, it’ll be messier to use than the previous oil-based options. Stand or sit in the bathtub and pour the vinegar over the slime. It will start to dissolve and fall into the tub.
Rinse your hair after one application and try it again until all of the slime is out. Then wash and condition your hair as normal. You might want to shampoo twice or use a fragrant shampoo to overpower the lingering vinegar scent.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is less acidic than white vinegar, so you don’t have to dilute it with water unless you want to. Apply it to your hair as you did the white vinegar, and use a comb to work it through your hair.
When most of the slime is out of your hair, you can go ahead and wash it with shampoo and conditioner as you usually would. The scent of apple cider vinegar is strong like white vinegar, so again, you might want to use a fragrant shampoo or wash twice to eliminate the smell.
Baking Soda and Water
Baking soda is a natural way to wash your hair. It gets your hair cleaner than shampoo and cuts down on scalp oil. Therefore it only makes sense that it can also get slime out of your hair.
When you use baking soda and water to remove slime from hair, you have two options:
- You can either apply baking soda to the hair and work it into the scalp with water from the showerhead
- Or you can make a paste that you apply to your hair
To make a paste, mix one cup of water and four tablespoons of baking soda in a cup or jar. Stir the solution until you have a paste about the consistency of shampoo. Apply it to your scalp and start working it into your roots.
Coat your entire head with the paste and let it sit for a few minutes. Before you rinse it out, work your fingers through your hair again. Work at any stubborn slime with your fingernails. The baking soda adds a nice grit to your hair that can loosen tough clumps.
Once your hair feels clean, rinse out the baking soda mixture. Make sure you massage warm water in your scalp to remove all of the baking soda.
Soda
You just learned about using baking soda, but this is a way of using regular soda, the carbonated beverage. The drink contains carbonic acid, which can help get sticky substances out of hair. The carbonation also works to dissolve slime’s chemical bonds.
If the slime is at the ends of your hair, it’s best to dip the hair into a cup or bowl of soda. If not, sit in the bathtub and apply soda to your scalp. Work it into the slime as best you can and let it sit. Then gently use a fine-tooth comb from root to tip and see how much slime comes out.
When you’re done, wash your hair as you normally would. Any remaining slime might come out with the use of shampoo and conditioner.
Things to Consider
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Even though you know the ways to get slime out of hair, there are still some things to consider before you start:
- It’s easier to remove wet slime than dry slime, so try to wash it out as soon as it gets in your hair. Dry slime creates clumps that harden and take a lot of work to loosen.
- Be gentle when you’re combing hair with slime in it. The comb can hit a snag and pull at your scalp. It can also break hair if you’re too rough.
- Try the simplest solution first. In this case, it’s easiest to use conditioner and shampoo in the shower. Start there and see how much slime you can remove before raiding the kitchen.
- All of the items on this list are nontoxic. You don’t have to worry about using harsh chemicals on your hair to remove slime.
So, How Do You Get Slime Out of Hair?
Slime can be a huge mess. If you’re tired of getting it stuck in your hair, consider making slime without glue. It’ll be less sticky—but just as fun—so you won’t have to struggle to clean up after.
Don’t feel like you have to reach for the scissors to cut slime out of your hair. Instead, try conditioner and shampoo. If that doesn’t work, all you need to do is raid the kitchen and try other household items like peanut butter, mayonnaise, coconut oil, or baking soda.