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Kids put something in my hair

10 replies

Strawberryfields4ever · 27/10/2025 21:45

Some random kids from the estate must’ve put white Halloween stuff in my waist-length hair as a prank. I only realised when I got home, now it’s all knotted and won’t come out even after a bath. Took me years to grow, I’m gutted. Any ideas how to save it?

OP posts:
Motnight · 27/10/2025 21:47

That sounds horrible, Op. I can remember when my DD was little and got that aerosol string stuff in her hair, I used olive oil to get it out and then lots of shampooing. Good luck.

QuirkyHorse · 27/10/2025 21:53

When I worked in a school, I used to use cooking oil to get blutack out of hair, only once did I have to recommend going to get it cut out at the hairdresser.

Werp · 27/10/2025 21:53

Oh poor you, and what horrible kids. I’d absolutely douse it in oil for half an hour, then use lukewarm water rather than hot with the harshest shampoo you’ve got (maybe even add a bit of bicarb or dish soap), and if that’s not working i’d reoil, tie it up and try and find a hairdresser to help tomorrow.

Arlanymor · 27/10/2025 21:55

Ugh, that's horrible, I am so sorry. Immerse in oil, then a stripping shampoo like Vosene or Head and Shoulders. If nothing works (I went through this routine with a chewing gum situation) then pop to the salon - get the professionals to help.

Aparecium · 27/10/2025 22:19

If you don’t want to cut your hair, you may need to accept that it will take several days to clean it properly. It will take patience. Don’t rush. If you have to go out, wrap your hair in a turban or coil it on top of your head and put a beanie on. I would suggest sleeping with a beanie on, too.

Rather than soak your whole head in any treatment, work on small amounts of hair at a time. That way you will also be able to trial treatments and see whether it’s worth continuing.

Oil is probably the best first thing to try. But oil generally works better on dry things, so don’t be too disappointed if it does not clear your hair immediately. Try it on a damp section tonight, and on a dry section tomorrow. Try olive oil and try baby oil.

Other things to try are conditioner and E45. Work a generous amount of conditioner, and a smaller amount of E45, into separate small sections.

Now try combing these sections through with first a wide comb, then a finer one.

Test everything from the ends up. Leave mid-length and then roots til last.

The trouble is that most solvents are very harsh on hair and could damage it. Oil and E45 are a pain to wash out, but will not harm your hair.

You have my sympathies. Dd used to be able to sit on her hair. One lovely summer day she went swimming in a pond, ‘mermaiding’ with her hair loose. Her hair tangled up hideously. Worse, it was full of moss and pondweed, which dried like velcro. In the end she put on her wetsuit and sat in the bath while I treated her hair one 6” section at a time: first rubbing conditioner into short lengths, then combing with afro comb, wide comb, regular comb, finally nit comb. And then rinsing each little section. 6” sections when her hair was nearly 3ft long! It took us all day - hence the wetsuit to keep dd warm. At bedtime I didn’t worry about rinsing her hair, just blotted moisture out and coiled her hair. She slept in a beanie and we completed the job the following day.

Aparecium · 27/10/2025 22:23

Do not use harsh shampoo! If oil or E45 get the stuff out, use your normal shampoo to cleanse your hair over several days. The first couple of times you wash your hair, dilute the shampoo with water and apply to your dry hair and scalp. If you do the usual thing of first wetting your head, the shampoo won’t work as well on so much oil.

Chiefangel · 27/10/2025 22:48

Would coconut oil help? Try soaking it overnight and see how it is in the morning. Hope some of the suggestions work for you.

17to35 · 28/10/2025 09:09

I am prone to getting paint in my hair. Bio oil is fantastic for removal. Just a small amount, massage it in and then gently wash

Strawberryfields4ever · 28/10/2025 12:11

I think it’s mostly sorted now thanks everyone 😊

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 28/10/2025 15:14

Hope you told their parents. I'd go mental if mine did that!

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