How to Get Slime Out of Hair

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 11, 2020 References Tested

Slime can be a fun thing to play with, but it can also be messy! If you've gotten it in your hair or someone else's hair, you may be a little worried, as it may seem like it doesn't want to come out. Never fear, try conditioner, an oil-based product, or vinegar to help get the slime out, and your hair should soon be good as new and slime-free!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Conditioning the Hair

1
Take a warm shower and apply conditioner to the hair. You can also just dip the hair in warm water if the slime is near the ends.Massage the conditioner in with your fingers, going the same direction as the hair growth. Use your fingers to break up the slime as much as possible.^{[1]
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Oil helps break down the slime, and conditioners are generally oil-based. By starting with conditioner, you'll begin to break down the slime so you can pull it out of the hair.
2
Use a comb to help break up the slime. Let the water run over the area, massaging it to loosen and pull out the slime. Run a comb through it gently, as you don't want to yank hair out in the process.^{[2]
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3
Rinse out the conditioner. Once the slime is mostly gone, run more warm water over the hair. Use your fingers to rinse the conditioner out of the hair.^{[3]
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4
Massage shampoo into the hair. Apply shampoo to the area with your fingers, going the same direction as hair growth. The shampoo will help remove the last of the slime from the hair.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Oil-Based Products

1
Rub a dollop of oil into the hair. Apply the oil as you would shampoo, massaging it into the area with the slime. Use your fingers to work the oil fully into the hair, moving in the same direction as the hair growth.^{[5]
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- You can use any oil-heavy product, including mayonnaise, peanut butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil. You can even use baby oil.^{[6]
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2
Comb the hair out with a fine-tooth comb. Brush or comb the hair, pulling out the slime as you do. Be gentle, as you don't want to pull any hair out.^{[7]
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3
Wash the hair with shampoo and conditioner. Once the slime is mostly gone, hop in the shower to finish the job. The warm water, shampoo, and conditioner will get the last of the slime out of the hair.^{[8]
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- Plus, you may have lingering odors from the oil you used, which you'll want to wash out.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Applying Diluted Vinegar

1
Remove as much slime as you can. If there are big globs of slime, try to gently pull them out first. If they don't come out easily, just move on to the next step.^{[9]
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Put goggles on the person to protect their eyes. Vinegar can sting quite a bit, so goggles can help solve that problem. Just be sure not to put the strap over the area where the slime is. The person or child may have to hold the goggles on their face.^{[10]
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- Have the person stand in the tub or shower while you apply the vinegar, as it will drip.
3
Rub a mixture of 2/3 vinegar and 1/3 warm water into the hair. You can dip the hair into the mixture if the slime is near the ends. Otherwise, pour the mixture on the hair. Massage it in with your fingers to loosen the slime.^{[11]
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- Keep dipping the hair or pouring on vinegar as needed.
- You can use white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
4
Use conditioner to rinse out the remaining slime. Hop into the shower, and apply conditioner to the area. Use a comb to gently break up the remaining slime in the hair, then wash the hair like you normally would.^{[12]
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Community Q&A

Question

Is it the same process for slime in cat hair? I have a Maine Coon cat with very long hair (and a 4-year-old that is grounded for life).

Barbara Lindsey

Community Answer

Hold ice cubes on it. It will freeze the slime and then you can crack it off. If this doesn't help, you may have to cut the slime out or take her to a professional groomer.
Question

How can I do this for dolls?

jp b

Community Answer

Put a couple of spoonfuls of mayo on the slime. Massage the mayo through the clump, using your fingers and comb to tease it apart. Make sure to clean the comb as you go.