It happens to the best of us. One moment, your child is happily playing with a glistening glob of slime, and the next, you’re faced with a sticky, gooey hair emergency. The initial panic is real, but take a deep breath. Getting slime out of hair is entirely possible, and the key is to avoid the first instinct to pull or tug at it.
Rough handling can tangle the slime deeper and cause unnecessary pain or even hair breakage. With a gentle approach and a few common household items, you can turn this stressful situation into a manageable, and even educational, moment.
Your First Line of Defense: Patience and Oil
Before you reach for any tools, start by gently separating any large chunks of slime from the hair with your fingers. Do not pull. Then, grab a bottle of oil from your kitchen. Common cooking oils like olive, coconut, or even baby oil are incredibly effective at breaking down the slime’s polymers.
Apply a generous amount of oil directly to the affected hair and the slime itself. Use your fingers to gently work the oil into the mess, loosening the slime’s grip. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the oil to penetrate. You’ll notice the slime start to lose its stickiness and become more pliable.
Working the Slime Out Gently
After the oil has had time to work, take a wide-tooth comb. Starting from the very ends of the hair, carefully begin to comb through the slimy section. Work your way up slowly towards the scalp, little by little. The oil should help the comb glide through, pulling the slime out in clumps rather than tangling it further.
If you encounter a particularly stubborn spot, apply a bit more oil and use your fingers to gently roll the slime away from the hair shaft before attempting to comb again.
The Final Cleanse to Remove Residue
Once the bulk of the slime is out, you’ll likely have an oily residue left in the hair. It’s time for a good wash. Apply your regular shampoo directly to the oily hair, before adding water. Massage the shampoo in to help break down the remaining oil and slime traces. Then, add water and lather as usual. You may need to shampoo twice to ensure all the oil and stickiness is gone, leaving hair clean and slime-free.