There are many things that you can do with paint; use it to redecorate your room, add color to your house, or create eye-catching pieces of art. For some, paint is even used in fun games such as paintball! Imagine a whole balloon filled with it and throwing it to other people-doesn’t it sound exciting? While there are more than one ways to use paint and use it for fun, some paint-ful situations can be a pain in the head-especially if you get some of it on your hair.
Naturally, the first thing you would do is panic. After all, your hair isn’t something that grows long overnight! Depending on how much paint you have, some situations seem like there’s no hope anymore. Lucky for you, there are many ways that you can resolve this problem. In this article, you’re going to learn how to get paint out of hair. Just like that one line goes, have no fear, the solution is here!
Determining the Different Types of Paint
If you aren’t aware yet, paint comes in different types. All of them come in different colors, but no two kinds of paint are exactly the same. You’re probably wondering why this is important, right? Before we go on to discuss the various ways you can get rid of the paint in your hair, you must first understand what you’re dealing with. Generally, there are three types along with brief descriptions on how you can remove them.
Water-based Paint
In a nutshell, water-based paint is commonly used to paint the walls and ceilings of a house. This is because they do not get dull and can maintain their color over time. If this is the case you’re dealing with, then lucky you! Water-based paint is one of the easiest to clean and rid of. In order to remove it, all you have to do is take a bath and shampoo your hair well. You can double wash if you want.
In some situations, it may take a long time before all the paint is washed off so it is recommended that you let your hair soak in shampoo first. After that, you can comb it out just to ensure that no remnants are left.
Oil-based Paint
Another type of paint is oil-based paint or enamel paint. It is the kind of paint that is used to cover up surfaces that plan to retain a certain color for a long time. Compared to water-based paint, oil-based paint is more toxic but more durable and tougher to remove. If this is the type of paint stuck in your hair, then have no fear! The answer is in your own home-oil. Whether it’s olive oil, coconut oil, or any oil there is, it will do.
All you have to do is rub oil on your hair, leave it one for a few minutes, and use a fine-toothed comb to get rid of the paint in your hair. If the paint has already hardened and it’s difficult to budge, you can opt to wrap your head in plastic, let it sit with the oil for a few hours, then rinse it off. After that, you can rinse again with shampoo and conditioner to prevent any hair damage.
Latex-Based Paint
Latex-based paint is the type of paint used as a protective layer on surfaces such as metal or steel. This helps prevent rust and helps retain the appearance of a surface for a long time. If this is the kind of paint that you’re dealing with, you would surely have a long and hard time removing it from your hair considering its composition. But, worry not! It isn’t as hopeless as it seems. All your hair needs is a little soaking-or maybe a lot.
If soaking doesn’t work, then it’s time to get help from lubricating sprays or what you call WD-40. You heard it right, this can be the perfect solution to get you out of your paint-ful situation! Just like how you would do in removing oil-based paint, gently apply the WD-40 on areas that need to be separated. Surely, it would be harsh on your skin but it can be solved by washing thoroughly and soaking it in shampoo and conditioner.
Other Solutions on How To Get Paint Out of Hair
Of course, if plans A, B, C, didn’t work, there’s a whole lot of backup solutions you can try! Removing paint from your hair is a messy, stressful deed, but there are shortcuts that you can do to prevent yourself from stressing out and cutting your hair. Here are a few alternatives you should take note of.
- Remove paint from your hair by scraping it off using your nails. As simple as it sounds, it really works! Especially if you’re dealing with water-based paint, getting rid of paint in your hair wouldn’t require much; just patience and good scraping skills.
- Use dishwashing soap to get paint off your hair. If it can remove the dirtiest stains and sauces, then it can be the key to being paint-free. All you have to do is rub it on your hair, let it soak for a bit, and rinse it off. It may be a little drying, but you can easily bring back your healthy hair with enough shampoo or hair oil.
- Rub toothpaste on your hair to remove paint. As unusual as it sounds, toothpaste can really be helpful in removing paint that’s stuck in your hair. Just dab some on the area of your hair with paint, massage it, and rinse your hair with lukewarm water. You can opt to repeat it if needed.
- Put a small amount of thinner on your hair. If the solutions listed above still don’t work, then perhaps thinner would solve the problem. Since this is a strong chemical, it is recommended that you only use a small amount, and apply it to your hair using a rug. Do not apply directly to your skin as it can cause irritation. Make sure to rinse well with shampoo after.
Now that you know how to get paint out of your hair, then you’re guaranteed to have a great hair day regardless of a paint incident during any time of the day!
