How to remove vasoline from hair

Raising children is not an easy task. Each stage presents different joys and different challenges. One of the most laborious stages is when children are toddlers and preschoolers. These are the years of exploration. That means parents have to always be alert and on guard with their children. But parents can’t keep their toddlers on a leash. And sometimes toddlers get into things they should not, such as Vaseline.

Naturally the little tyke will not take a finger full and moisturize their lips. They are more likely to take two fistfuls and introduce it to their hair. They love the slick feeling, and think it is the height of fun. But when their parent discovers their new hobby the first question that comes to mind is: How do I get this Vaseline out of their hair?

To start, one wants to remove as much as possible before washing the hair. Using a wide tooth comb, comb through the hair, rinsing the comb after each comb through. Repeat the process using a medium tooth comb, and repeat again using a fine tooth comb. Next, use a textured hand towel to remove any left over Vaseline. More Vaseline can be removed if the hair is sectioned before using the hand towel. Once you have used one section of the hand towel, rotate to another section or you will just be replacing old Vaseline back into the hair.

The next step is to shampoo the hair. The main active ingredient in shampoo is sulfate. Sulfates are the detergent compound and are responsible for cleaning the hair by cutting dirt and grease. To remove Vaseline one will need a shampoo that is high in detergent content.

The strongest sulfate is ammonium laurel sulfate, followed by sodium laurel sulfate. A variation of these sulfates are ammonium laureth and sodium laureth sulfate. Baby shampoo carries a very mild sulfate, olefin sulfonate. It is for this reason that baby shampoo will not work as effectively. One would need a full ten-ounce bottle to remove Vaseline from the hair.

Once you have the necessary shampoo, wet hair and place a palm size amount of shampoo onto the hair. Lather and then rinse. Repeat but before rinsing, allow the shampoo to sit on the hair for about ten minute. This will cause the shampoo to penetrate past the coat of Vaseline on the hair shaft. After shampooing, it is important to condition the hair. Conditioning will replace any excess moisture loss from the hair due to the shampooing. After conditioning and rinsing again, dry and style as usual.

Life’s little emergency come in all shapes and forms. Having preschoolers and toddlers multiplies the amount of unexpected events in a day. But with a little patience and a lot of ingenuity, all things can be conquered. This includes large amounts of Vaseline in the hair. To avoid Vaseline removal becoming a regular occurrence, place the Vaseline on a high shelf or get a child proof safety lock for you cabinets. If not, buy your shampoo by the dozen because you will definitely need it.