The Sticky Situation Savior: How Peanut Butter Can Remove Gum from Hair

Peanut butter can remove chewing gum from hair without scissors. Its natural oils break down the gum's sticky rubber base, so after a short wait the gum can be brushed out of the strands. Use creamy peanut butter, cover the gum completely, let it sit, then comb it out gently and wash.

If you have kids, or are just prone to bad luck, you will probably meet this sticky nightmare at some point: a wad of bubblegum mashed into a chunk of hair right down to the scalp. The first instinct is to grab the kitchen scissors for a very unplanned, and likely very uneven, haircut. Before you do, try the old wives' tale that sounds like a myth: peanut butter.

Why does peanut butter work on gum?

Peanut butter works because its oils act as a solvent on gum. The science behind it is actually pretty straightforward.

Chewing gum has a hydrophobic (water-repelling) base. That is why you can't just wash it out with water and regular shampoo. Peanut butter, however, is packed with natural oils and fats. The oils in the peanut butter act as a solvent, breaking down the synthetic rubber base of the gum and making it less sticky. It basically dissolves the grip the gum has on the hair fibers.

How do you apply peanut butter to gum in hair?

Prepare the area, then cover the gum completely with creamy peanut butter:

• Choose the right peanut butter: This is crucial. You absolutely must use creamy peanut butter. The chunky kind will just add small pieces of peanuts to the tangled mess, making your life significantly harder. A standard commercial brand is a good choice because these tend to have extra added oils, which can help the process.
• Isolate the area: Keep the peanut butter off the rest of the clean hair. Use a hair tie to gently pull back the unaffected hair, leaving only the gum-covered section exposed.
• Apply generously: Scoop a large dollop of peanut butter onto your fingers and completely cover the wad of gum. Massage it in slightly so the oils make direct contact with the gum and the tangled hair.
• Let it sit: This requires a bit of patience. Leave the peanut butter on the gum for several minutes to give the oils time to penetrate and break down the sticky bonds.

How do you get the gum out once it softens?

Brush it out gently from the edges. After the waiting period, take an old toothbrush (a fine-toothed comb works too, but a toothbrush is gentler) and brush downward, starting from the edges of the gum wad.

Once the oils have done their work, the gum can lose much of its elasticity and stickiness and take on a softer, slightly crumbly texture. As you work the toothbrush through the hair, the gum may slide out alongside the peanut butter with little pulling, and ideally no scissors required.

Getting the peanut butter smell and oil out of the hair afterward may take more than one wash with a clarifying shampoo, but that is a small price to pay.

Does the peanut butter trick really work, and on clothes too?

It can, and it is an incredibly cheap thing to try before reaching for the scissors, though results depend on how badly the gum is tangled.

• Will it work on clothes? The principle is the same. However, the oil from the peanut butter will likely leave a grease stain on the fabric. If you use it on clothing, be prepared to immediately treat the area with a heavy-duty degreasing dish soap before throwing it in the washing machine.

Next time you find yourself facing down a wad of stuck chewing gum, skip the panic. A simple jar from your pantry may be all you need to solve the problem.