How to Get Slime Out of Hair

Need to know how to get slime out of hair? Don’t panic, and definitely don’t reach for the scissors! We tested 3 easy methods for removing slime from hair, and the good news is that they all worked.

The best method we tested was vinegar. It worked almost instantly, pulling the slime out of the hair with very little effort. Conditioner also worked really well, and dish soap with hot water worked too, but it took the most time and left the hair quite tangled.

If your child gets slime stuck in their hair, don’t worry, the slime will come out. Even if the slime is really stuck, we repeat, you do not need to cut the hair(!!). Try one of these simple methods first, and breathe a sigh of relief.

 

What’s the best way to get slime out of hair?

The best way to get slime out of hair is with vinegar. In our tests, vinegar started breaking down the slime right away, and we were able to pull the slime out almost instantly.

It does have a strong smell, but it only lasts for a minute or two until you rinse and wash the hair properly. Since it worked the fastest and required the least effort, vinegar is our favourite method by far.

Supplies needed to remove slime from hair

For the vinegar method:

• White vinegar
• A bowl or cup
• Warm water for rinsing
• Comb, optional

For the conditioner method:

• Hair conditioner (or 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner)
• Comb
• Warm water

For the dish soap method:

• Dawn dish soap, or another grease-cutting dish soap
• Hot water
• Comb

Method 1: How to get slime out of hair with vinegar

Pour some white vinegar into a small bowl or cup. Dip the slime-covered section of hair into the vinegar, or pour a small amount of vinegar directly onto the slime.

The slime should start loosening almost right away. Gently pull the slime away from the hair with your fingers. Then use a comb to remove any remnants.

Repeat until the slime has been removed and then rinse the hair with warm water. Wash with shampoo and conditioner to remove any small remnants (and to get rid of the vinegar smell).

This method worked the best for us. The slime started melting off right away, and the hair felt completely normal afterwards.

Method 2: How to get slime out of hair with conditioner

Add a generous amount of conditioner to the slime-covered hair. Really work the conditioner into the sticky area so the hair is fully coated and slippery.

Use your fingers or a comb to gently work through the slime. As you comb, clumps of slime should start sliding out of the hair. Keep adding more conditioner if needed and continue combing until the slime is gone.

Rinse the hair well with warm water, then shampoo and condition as usual.

This method also worked really well. It wasn’t as fast as vinegar, and it was a bit messier because the hair became so slippery, but it did remove the slime without too much trouble.

Method 3: How to get slime out of hair with dish soap and hot water

Add a generous amount of dish soap to the slime-covered section of hair. Then add hot water and gently work the soap into the slime.

Use your fingers or a comb to loosen the slime and pull it out of the hair. Keep adding hot water as needed until the slime softens enough to remove.

Once the slime is gone, rinse the hair thoroughly. Wash with shampoo and follow with conditioner, since dish soap and hot water can leave hair feeling dry or tangled.

This method did work, but it took the most effort. The hot water was uncomfortable on our hands, and the hair ended up more knotted than with the vinegar or conditioner methods. It’s still a useful option if you don’t have vinegar or conditioner nearby, but it wasn’t our favourite.

Tips for removing slime from hair:

1. Don’t pull dry slime out of hair: Pulling on dry slime can tug the hair and make the mess worse. Always loosen the slime first with vinegar, conditioner, or soap.
2. Start with vinegar if you have it: White vinegar worked the fastest and the best in our tests. The smell is strong, but it rinses out nicely after you wash the hair.
3. Use conditioner if you want a gentler option: Conditioner is a great backup method, especially if you’re worried about tangles. It makes the hair slippery so the slime can slide out more easily.
4. Comb slowly and gently: Start at the bottom of the slime-covered section and work your way up. Don’t yank through knots.
5. Wash the hair afterwards: After removing the slime, shampoo and condition the hair to get rid of any vinegar, soap, or leftover slime residue.

Here’s even more helpful slime guides:

How to Fix Rubbery Slime

The Science Behind Slime

How to Get Slime Out of Carpet

Where to buy:

You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada