Chewing gum is fun and also has several health benefits until it gets stuck in the wrong place.

Gum's chewy, sticky texture is created using synthetic rubbers and resins, which is why it stretches when you pull on it. Its molecules are chemically bonded to one another, making it challenging to remove from hair. 

Additionally, it's hydrophobic, which means it won't dissolve in water. So, you can't rinse it off.

Due to these characteristics, chewing gum is difficult to get rid of. In the worst of situations, people have to cut off pieces of hair where the gum is stuck. 

To get chewing gum out of your hair without using scissors, you can try using some common household items. Let's take a look at how you can use each one.

Table of Contents: 

• How to Get Gum Out of Your Hair?
• Peanut Butter
• Oil
• Ice
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Toothpaste
• Mayonnaise
• Petroleum Jelly

How to Get Gum Out of Your Hair?

First of all, don't panic and don’t visit your hairdresser right away. Even though it might seem difficult, it is possible to get rid of gum from hair using simple home remedies. 

The quickest and easiest home remedies are listed below for you to try.

• Peanut Butter

With hydrophobic qualities, peanut butter is a dense, oily substance. Peanut butter and gum stick to each other since both substances are hydrophobic. 

Just cover the affected hair with smooth peanut butter to remove the gum. With your fingers, work the peanut butter into the hair, and then wait for it to work. The gum should stiffen up and easily slip out from your hair with your fingers or a wide comb.

Remember to wash your hair with a nourishing shampoo afterward.

• Oil

Oil is naturally hydrophobic. This makes it perfect for removing gum, just like peanut butter. You can use any kind of cooking oil such as vegetable oil or olive oil for this.

Alternatively, you can use coconut oil or castor oil, which is not only great for removing gum but is also very nourishing and beneficial to your hair.

Use your fingers to completely cover the area of your hair where the gum is stuck. It can also help to cover each hair strand so that the gum can slip off more easily. Leave it on for some time and let the oil work on the gum. Then ease the gum out of your hair with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.

Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and a hydrating conditioner.

• Ice

You can freeze the gum with ice if using oil is inconvenient. Gum's stickiness can be decreased by freezing it, making it simpler to remove from your hair. 

For 5 to 15 minutes, or till the gum hardens, place an ice pack on it. You could also wrap some ice cubes in a cloth and place them over your hair. Then remove the gum with your fingers once it's hardened. Even though it works, this technique works best when only a small gum is lodged in the hair.

• Vinegar

The adhesive holding can be broken down by a solvent. Apply vinegar liberally to the area to remove gum. You can use a cloth to cover your hair in vinegar or dip it in a bowl of vinegar. The gum comes out more easily the longer your hair soaks in it. Before using vinegar on your hair, use a little heat on it for an added boost. 

Based on the quantity of gum stuck to your hair, this procedure may take some time. Use a wide-tooth comb and work through your hair once the gum starts to soften.

Using vinegar does leave behind a pungent smell, though. You may want to follow up this method with a floral shampoo to get rid of the smell.

• Baking Soda

While it's not as popular as some other methods, baking soda can be an effective way to remove gum from your hair. 

Just take a spoonful of baking soda and mix it in with a small amount of water to make a thick paste. Then apply this mixture to the gum and the portion of hair where the gum is stuck with your fingers or an old toothbrush. Let it dry for some time, and then use a wide comb to remove the gum.

Remember to use a moisturizing hair mask or conditioner afterward, as the soda may dry out your hair.

• Toothpaste

Toothpaste works similarly to baking soda. Simply apply a layer of toothpaste over the gum and affected hair. Let it dry for a while. And then, remove the gum from your hair using your fingers. This is a quick solution as toothpaste is readily available in every household.

• Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is an oily and dense food similar to peanut butter. Using mayonnaise to remove gum works similarly to using cooking or other oil on the gum and hair. 

Work a dollop of mayonnaise through the hair strands and the gum. Let it work for a few minutes, and then slide the gum out with your fingers or a comb. 

You can also use an oil-based make-up remover. It will have an effect similar to oil, mayonnaise, or peanut butter.

• Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is a safe, non-abrasive lubricant that works effectively against chewing gum. To use this, it's important to dry your hair. Once your hair is dry, start working the jelly around the gum and continue working slowly until the gum comes off. Remember to wash your hair with a cleansing shampoo afterward, as petroleum jelly is sticky and oily.

Chewing gum is hard to remove from wherever it gets stuck, but it's especially difficult to get it out of hair without cutting the hair off. You can use the easy home remedies given in this guide on 'how to get gum out of hair' before visiting your hairdresser or picking up a pair of scissors. Most of these remedies can help you remove gum from hair easily and without having to cut it!