How to Get Vaseline Out of Hair?

Learn a few handy tricks that will help you get rid of this oily substance easily

Written by Kate Holmsy. Updated on How to Get Vaseline Out of Hair

Vaseline is a very helpful product that can be found in many households. People use it for different purposes, but once it gets stuck on your locks, it can be extremely troublesome to remove! Naturally, people often ask the same question: how to get vaseline out of my hair?

This is exactly what we are going to talk about today. You will learn several useful tips and remedies that can help you cope with Vaseline relatively easily.

And since these remedies are easy to get, you won’t have trouble finding the most suitable way of Vaseline removal from your hair.

Also, we will tell you why Vaseline is often so hard to wash off once it gets stuck to anything including your hair. In addition, you will find out what this helpful product is made of, which will help you better understand the way it adheres to surfaces and hair.

How to Get Vaseline Out of Your Hair?

How to get Vaseline out of your hair fast if this gelly-like substance got somehow stuck on your hair? Well, it can be quite a challenging task since Vaseline is oily and has a texture that is similar to a thick jelly. All these features make this product tricky to get rid of and wash it out from your tresses.

This is why those who have long hair often freak out when Vaseline gets trapped between their strands.

People think that they will have to cut the Vaselined locks off to remove the product! However, there is no need for such harsh measures! Luckily, you can opt for safer and simpler methods of Vaseline removal.

Use Clarifying Shampoo Or a Regular Shampoo

Clarifying shampoo is a product that you can buy from nearly any drugstore or beauty supply shop. Its superpower is in the special formula of the product that allows it to strip hair of oils, product buildup, and excess debris that gets stuck to our locks daily. Also, this kind of shampoo works exceptionally well when you need to remove an oily substance like Vaseline.

The good thing about this method is that it is simple and besides, it requires only the use of products that are affordable and easy to apply.To use this method, you need to take several easy steps:

  • Using a paper towel, try to remove as much of the excess Vaseline as possible
  • While removing it from your hair, make sure you don’t spread the Vaseline throughout the rest of your mane!
  • Next, wet your hair with lukewarm water thoroughly and wring your hair out to remove the excess moisture. The hair must not be dripping wet!
  • Add a generous amount of clarifying shampoo, especially to the areas that are most affected by the Vaseline
  • Work the shampoo into a lather, paying more attention to the most affected areas
  • Rinse your hair thoroughly, ensuring there is no foam or shampoo residue left on your locks

This method works basically the same way as a regular hair wash procedure. It will take you a few minutes to complete, plus, it allows you to get quick results.

After you wash Vaseline out of your hair, dry it the way you typically do and examine the damaged area of your mane. If there is no Vaseline left there, and if you don’t feel any sticky or other strangely-feeling residues on your locks, then you did it and successfully removed the oily stuff!

But should you still feel any Vaseline leftovers on your strands, repeat the entire procedure again until the product is completely washed out? Also, don’t forget to apply a moisturizing conditioner after the wash since a clarifying shampoo can make your hair dry.

Use Clarifying Shampoo Or a Regular Shampoo
AntonMatyukha via VistaCreate

Opt For a Liquid Dish Soap

If you don’t have a clarifying shampoo on hand at the moment and you need to immediately get rid of a Vaseline clump stuck to your hair, you can opt for liquid dish soap, for example, for Dawn products. Since Dawn dishwashing liquid can remove oil and grease from your plates and kitchen utensils, then it will have no problem dealing with a bit of Vaseline for sure.

The procedure of Vaseline removal is pretty much the same as the one used for shampooing your hair. First of all, you need to remove any clumps of Vaseline from your hair if there are any.

And even if there is just some product smeared over your mane, that excessive substance should also be wiped away with paper towels.
Afterward, do the following:

  • Wet your hair with lukewarm water
  • Apply a small amount of dish soap to the area affected by the Vaseline. Don’t use a lot of this soap since it can dry your hair very much!
  • Work it into a thick soapy lather
  • Allow the foamy suds to sit and soak into your hair for at least fifteen minutes. It will allow the dish soap to do its job and break the oily bonds between the Vaseline and your hair
  • Rinse your hair and repeat this step if there is still some Vaseline left on your mane
  • It can also be a good idea to give your hair a proper wash with your regular shampoo (or a clarifying shampoo) afterward to remove any dishwashing soap residue

And once again, after you use dish soap on your hair, remember to treat your locks with a moisturizing product, for example, a moisturizing conditioner. It will help you keep the hair smooth and silky.

Opt For a Liquid Dish Soap
VadimVasenin via VistaCreate

Use Glycerin Soap

Glycerin soap is a soap that is made from natural oils and fats. Thanks to this, it can be very effective at breaking down the oils in Vaseline and as a result, removing it from your hair. Besides, you can easily buy glycerin soap in any store either in a liquid form or as a bar.

The process of removing Vaseline with the help of a glycerine soap is the following:

  • Wipe out all extra Vaseline using an absorbent paper towel
  • Wet the area of hair that is coated with Vaseline
  • Rub the soap onto the affected area of hair with downward moves until it forms a soapy lather
  • If you are using the liquid form of glycerin soap, apply a small amount to your fingertips and carefully rub it into the areas of hair affected with Vaseline
  • Allow the soap to sit on your hair for approximately twenty minutes. If necessary, you can apply more soap during this period of time
  • Afterward, wash the soap from your hair and then shampoo it to remove any soap foam and residue

Now you know how to remove Vaseline from your hair using different washing products like shampoos and various kinds of soap.

However, it can happen that you don’t always have access to these products.

What shall you do in this case?

Well, we know a few non-washing options that you might want to try!

How to Get Vaseline Out of Hair Without Washing It?

So if you need to remove a blot of Vaseline from your hair but you don’t want or you can’t wash it for some reason, you may try out one of the alternative solutions. They all use natural products so you should not be afraid of damaging your mane.

How to Get Vaseline Out of Hair Without Washing It
bertys30 via VistaCreate

Try Out Vinegar

Vinegar is known for its outstanding cleaning properties, which is why it can help you remove Vaseline from your hair. Any type of vinegar will work for this purpose, but apple cider vinegar will still be one of the best. How to remove Vaseline from your hair with vinegar?

  • Remove the excess Vaseline from your hair with paper towels
  • Spray the affected area with a bit of vinegar
  • Wipe your hair moving in a downward direction
  • Continue wiping with the help of a clean paper towel until all traces of the Vaseline vanish
Try Out Vinegar
yulianny via VistaCreate

How to Get Vaseline Out of My Hair With Cornstarch?

Cornstarch is a cooking ingredient, as many of you definitely know. It is a finely ground powder made from cornflour starch and it is very good at absorbing oils. This is why it can help you remove Vaseline from your hair.

To try this method, follow a few simple steps:

  • Remove as much Vaseline as possible using a paper towel
  • Apply a little cornstarch to the Vaseline-affected areas and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes
  • Then carefully remove the rest of the Vaseline using a paper towel

If the hair still seems greasy, apply corn starch once again and give your hair a good washing with your regular shampoo and condition.

How to Get Vaseline Out of My Hair With Cornstarch
albund via VistaCreate

Opt For Olive Oil And Other Natural Oils

Since Vaseline is an oil-based product, it is not soluble in water. This is why you need to use another oily substance to remove it. Olive oil can be a good help in it.

It is relatively inexpensive, and since you don’t need a lot of it, you can use it for dealing with Vaseline in your hair.

  • First, remove any clumps of Vaseline
  • Then, separate all of the unaffected hair by clipping it or tying it back
  • Apply a small amount of olive oil to your fingertips and gently massage into the Vaseline
  • Allow it to sit and completely soak the affected area for at least ten to fifteen minutes
  • Afterward, use paper towels and blot the area. You need to soak up as much oil as possible
  • With downward motions, wipe out all of the remaining oil and Vaseline

And of course, your hair will need a good wash after this procedure since it will still feel greasy.

Opt For Olive Oil And Other Natural Oils
VadimVasenin via VistaCreate

Opt For a Skin-Safe Adhesive Remover

If you don’t have any natural products or shampoos at hand, you might want to opt for an adhesive remover. Some of them are safe to use on your hair, besides, they can work wonders at removing sticky and gooey substances like Vaseline.

However, these products should only be used as a last resort and only if the affected area is very small. Also, you must always make sure that the remover you are going to use is safe to apply to your hair!

  • Wipe away all excess Vaseline
  • Tie back all the hair that’s not covered with Vaseline
  • Apply a very small amount of adhesive remover to a cotton ball and gently wipe the affected area of your hair moving downward

How to Remove Vaseline From Hair With Baking Soda/Baking Powder?

Baking soda can also be used as a Vaseline-removing remedy. It is not only effective as an excellent deodorizer, it is also great at soaking up grease and oil. Besides, baking soda is inexpensive and can be commonly found around the house.

To use it for removing vaseline from hair, wipe away all of the excess Vaseline first of all. Then, follow a few simple recommendations:

  • Apply a liberal amount of baking soda to the affected area of your hair and work it into the strands
  • Allow the baking soda to sit on your strands and soak up all of the excess oily residue Vaseline left there
  • After five to ten minutes, you can remove the baking soda and wash your hair with shampoo

If needed, the whole procedure can be repeated as many times as you need for thoroughly washing Vaseline off your hair.

How to Remove Vaseline From Hair With Baking SodaBaking Powder
ajafoto via VistaCreate

Why Is It So Hard to Remove Vaseline From One’s Mane?

If you have ever had Vaseline stuck in your hair, you know how hard this stuff can be to get from your locks. Why is that? See, Vaseline is made of a mixture of mineral oils and waxes. It also has a semisolid jelly-like texture.

Due to this kind of texture, Vaseline is rather hard to remove once it gets smeared over the surface or over your hair. It doesn’t typically form one clump, so you will have to deal with quite a large blot spread over your head.

Well, dear friends, now you know what to do if such a handy thing as Vaseline ended up on your hair. You are now aware of a few alternative methods of its removal that require either washing products like shampoos or natural remedies like baking soda, cornstarch, etc.

You also learned how to clean your hair with an adhesive remover should Vaseline got onto it. But this must be the last resort since this product is not quite good for your mane!

Why Is It So Hard to Remove Vaseline From One’s Mane
DimaBaranow via VistaCreate

[wp-faq-schema title=”Frequently Asked Questions”]

Written by
avatar
Kate worked in "The Fashion Magazine" for four years as a freelance writer and loved to consult and help people with their style. How to create your own style, how to look beautiful, and select trendy colors for your hair - these are just a few of many issues Kate will happily explain in Beezzly Beauty blogs!
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here.