If you’re reading this article, it probably means that you or someone you know decided to do a hair treatment using Vaseline, aka petroleum jelly. Whatever the reason, you’re the lucky one who is literally “stuck” figuring out how to get Vaseline out of hair.
Quick Guide
- Blot and squeeze out as much Vaseline as you can before you add water.
- Use warm water (around 100°F or 38°C) to soften the Vaseline.
- Clarifying shampoo or a small amount of dish soap helps remove oily buildup.
- Oil can help thin the petroleum jelly, so shampoo can lift it away.
- If you use baking soda, follow with conditioner or a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse.
Get Vaseline Out of Hair
Things to Consider
Fortunately, several tricks can help you get rid of the sticky, gooey mess. Knowing which one to select will depend on the answers to six basic questions:
- What is the original texture of the hair (curly, straight, fine, coarse)?
- How long is the hair?
- What color is the hair?
- What was the original purpose of applying Vaseline to the hair?
- How much Vaseline is in the hair?
- How much time can you dedicate to solving the problem?
Getting petroleum jelly out of your own straight, blonde pixie isn’t the same as getting it out of your girlfriend’s long, black curly tresses.
And convincing your squirmy 3-year-old toddler to sit still while working the Vaseline out of his hair is a completely different ball game!
Here are some suggestions that will help you remove Vaseline from hair as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Tried and True Ways to Remove Vaseline from Hair
Before you start, do your best to remove as much of the excess petroleum jelly from the hair by wiping and blotting it off with dry paper towels.
Do not wet the hair at this stage. Grip the saturated strands of hair between your fingers and squeeze them as if you were trying to get the last bit of toothpaste out of a tube.
To make it easier, use a hairdryer to melt the Vaseline further. The goal here is to get as much out before moving on to one of these next suggestions:
Safety Notes
- Hairdryer: Use low heat, keep it moving, and do not aim it at one spot. Stop if your scalp feels hot.
- Eyes and skin: Keep dish soap, vinegar, and oils out of your eyes. Rinse right away if contact happens.
- Stop signs: Stop if you feel burning, stinging, or see redness. If symptoms continue, contact a clinician.
More dermatologist-backed hair care tips: American Academy of Dermatology (Everyday hair care).
Baking Soda
When you mix a tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of baby shampoo or non-conditioning shampoo, you get the dual benefits of absorbency and abrasion.
It won’t get rid of Vaseline from hair, but it will help loosen it.
Note: Baking soda is very alkaline and can leave hair rough or dry. After this step, use a deep conditioner or follow with a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse to help rebalance your hair.
Dishwashing Liquid
Certain brands of dish soap are specially formulated with powerful cleaning agents that cut grease and break down baked-on food from pots and pans. That’s why they’re a great choice for removing Vaseline from hair.
Apply it as you would your regular shampoo and rinse with warm water (ideally around 100°F or 38°C). Use a moisturizing conditioner after washing your hair.
Warning: Do not use scalding hot water. Warm water is enough to soften Vaseline. Very hot water can burn your scalp and damage the hair cuticle.
Glycerin Soap
Scrub your hair repeatedly using a bar of inexpensive glycerin soap. Again, wash with warm water and deep condition afterward.
Warning: Avoid very hot water and harsh scrubbing. Both can irritate your scalp and make hair feel dry.
Baby Oil
You might assume there’s no way oil could remove Vaseline from hair, but you’ll be happily surprised to see that it does. This works based on the scientific principle that “like dissolves like.” The liquid oil blends with the thick petroleum jelly, thinning it and making it easier for shampoo to lift away.
If you don’t have baby oil on hand, olive or coconut oil will also work. Massage it into all the affected areas and be sure to cover the entire hair strand.
When finished, use a clarifying shampoo and wash hair several times until clean. Deep condition afterward.
Tip: Start with a small amount of oil. Add more only if you need it. Too much oil can mean more washing later.
Cornstarch (or Baby Powder)
Cornstarch isn’t just for thickening gravy or sauce; it’s also perfect for absorbing grease and oil from the hair and scalp.
Sprinkle it generously on the hair affected by petroleum jelly and comb it through thoroughly, ensuring that all the strands are coated. Let it sit on the hair for at least 10 minutes.
When you’re confident the cornstarch (or baby powder) can’t absorb any more grease, then wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo or bar soap. Repeat if necessary.
Vinegar Rinse and Clarifying Shampoo
Wash hair with clarifying shampoo first, using warm water (ideally around 100°F or 38°C). Then follow with a vinegar rinse. Repeat if needed until you feel your hair is clean.
My advice: Do not mix vinegar and shampoo in the same bowl. Dilute vinegar with water for a rinse, and keep it out of your eyes.
This method works best if you don’t have to remove Vaseline from hair that is over-saturated and greasy.
Conclusion
By now, you might have discovered that a combination of one or more of these methods worked best to get Vaseline out of hair completely. That’s perfectly fine; when it comes to removing petroleum jelly from your hair, there are no strict rules — whatever works best is the solution you should use in the future.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about Vaseline in hair.
Vaseline is essentially waterproof, so if you don’t put in the effort to get it out of your hair, it can last a long time. Exactly how long it will last depends on your hair type and what your normal hair routine is.
Yes, Vaseline likely won’t do any damage to your hair. If your hair is dry, damaged, or breaks easily, using a little jelly can infuse some moisture into your hair.
However, whether or not you have oily hair, Vaseline will make your hair look and feel oily.
Yes! It may sound strange, but peanut butter can be an effective method for removing Vaseline from hair. Peanut butter is oily, and while it isn’t pure oil like baby oil, it still works similarly.
The oils within peanut butter work on the idea that “like dissolves like,” which can help loosen the Vaseline. Just be sure to wash with shampoo after!
Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, repels water and is not water-soluble, so plain water will not wash it out of your hair. You will need to incorporate something, like dish soap, that can lift and rinse away the Vaseline.
Using something like corn starch can also help absorb the Vaseline, making it easier to remove from your hair when you wash it.
Yes. Because Vaseline can’t be removed with just water, it can be very tricky to get out of hair. It’s especially tricky if you have very fine or thin hair.
However, it’s certainly not impossible, and as you can see above, there are many methods and tricks you can try to get it out of your hair.
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