How to Get Paint Out Of Hair?

Whenever we are up to any home painting project, paint will most likely end up not only on the surface that we are going to paint, but also on ourselves, especially on our hair.

And of course, parents of little children know perfectly well that painting with their little ones often comes along with paint marks on your clothes and hair as well!

But what do you need to do if you find paint marks on your chevelure?

Is it possible to remove them somehow and do it both safely for your locks and quickly?

Fortunately, both options are possible and quite easy to do!

In this article, we will tell you how to get interior paint out of hair. In addition, you will learn how exactly you should remove different types of paint.

Like this, chances are that you will not damage your hair by using the wrong products!

With our tips and life hacks, you will be aware of how to get paint out of your hair easily, quickly and safely.

How to Get Paint Out Of Your Hair?

Getting paint out of your locks must be done immediately, right after it gets onto it.

Of course, we don’t always have a chance to notice some minor paint splatters or dots on us when we are busy with the painting project.

This means that paint tends to dry on our hair if it gets there.

This is why, if you want to know how to get paint out of hair fast, you need to consider some important factors first of all:

• Do you want to remove wet or dry paint?
• What type of paint do you need to remove?

Depending on them, you will want to make use of different methods and paint removing products.

Below, you can find a detailed explanation of how you remove different types of paint if they get on your tresses accidentally.

PAINT STUCK IN HAIR!

How to Get Water-Based Paint Out Of Your Hair?

All you have to do is to simply grab your regular shampoo and apply it to the parts of your hair that are covered with water-based paint.

The next step is to remove the paint using a fine-tooth hairbrush or comb.

It will help you to get rid of the smallest particles of paint that might get stuck in between the hairs and strands.

After this, you will just need to rinse your hair, just like you do when you wash it.

However, do pay attention to one nuance! If the paint has already dried on your hair, then you should let the shampoo sit on your locks for some time in order to let it work better.

This will also allow the paint to soften much better and faster. Once this process is done, simply comb and rinse your mane as described above.

This paint-removal method is a great option since almost everyone has shampoo in our home all the time.

The only downside is time since you have to wait for the paint to soften in case it is dry.

@gettysignature via crello

Related: Watercolor vs Acrylic Paint

How to Get Latex Paint Out Of Hair?

The first method for removing latex/acrylic paint from your hair is to soak your tresses in water for several hours. This type of paint is not completely waterproof.

This is why soaking your hair in water helps to break down the paint.

Once the paint gets weak, begin to separate it from your hair. The only obvious downside to this method is that it might take a few hours to work.

@gettyimages via canva.com

WD-40 For Latex/Acrylic Paint Removal

If the method of soaking doesn’t suit you, then this one might. Yes, that’s exactly what we mean!

The lubricating spray that is used to fix things like squeaking doors might help to get rid of paint that is stuck in your mane.

The trick is simple:

• You need to apply WD-40 to the parts of your hair that have been covered in latex or acrylic paint.
• Once you have applied the product, gently rub it into your hair.
• After the paint is loose, wash it off with your shampoo and hot water.

The disadvantage of this method is only one but rather serious: WD-40 can be pretty harsh to your hair and your skin!

If you have any skin allergies on your scalp, or if your hair is too sensitive or already damaged, avoid using this method!

How to Get Oil Based Paint Out Of Hair?

If you happen to stain your hair with some oil-based paint, the easiest way to get it from your hair is to make use of a product that you are likely to have in your kitchen cupboard.

Olive oil.

The secret is to apply the olive oil to the parts of your hair covered in paint. Once this is done, take a fine-tooth comb and remove the particles of int from your strands.

@annasubbotina via crello.com

What if the paint has already dried into your hair?

Well, then olive oil is still your best friend! Only in this case, please consider applying liberal amounts of it to your hair. Also, make sure that you wrap your hair in plastic wrap, and then wait for a few hours.

This will make the paint way soften, and as a result, you will be able to get rid of it with a fine-tooth comb rather easily.

The good news about this method is that using olive oil has no real downsides!

So you can use it not only as a paint removing product, but also utilize this product as a hair conditioning treatment.

How to Get Spray Paint Out Of Hair?

Spray paint is very easy to get on your hair since it is pulverized all around! If you got some paint on your locks accidentally, and you don’t know how to wash it off, dish soap can be a great benefit.

This is a good option, and this is why:

• Dish soap is strong enough to cut through the oily paint texture and remove it
• All of us have dish soap available at home

The paint removing method will be the same as the one that works on your pans and casseroles.

• Apply some dish soap and water to your hair where it is stained with paint.
• Let the soapy solution sit for a while.
• Scrub the paint off using either a washcloth, a comb, or your fingers.

Once you have scrubbed the paint as much as possible, make sure that you rinse your hair out with water thoroughly. There must be no particles of paint left!

In the majority of cases, this procedure will remove all the paint from your hair.

But even if not, you can always take a second or even a third round with the dish soap!

@gettyimages via canva.com

Removing Dry And Fresh Paint

Now that you know how different types of paint should be removed if they get onto our hair, you might have a reasonable question: what about dry and fresh paint?

Do I have to wash them off differently as well?

Well, basically yes, for removing dried and wet paint, you will also have to make use of distinct approaches. Fortunately, this is quite easy to do.

How to Remove Dry Paint?

If you have some paint on your hair and this paint has already dried, there are two options that can be used in order to deal with the issue.

Just make sure that you act delicately and don’t pull your hair too strong!

Otherwise, you put your mane at risk.

@gettysignature via canva.com

Scrape It Off With Your Fingernails

This method might seem way too simple to you, but it is first on the list that should be tried. And yes, it is also extremely simple.

You don’t need anything to attempt this, just your hands and fingers.

• Take your hair with one hand tight.
• Scrape the paint off your hair using the fingernails of your other hand.
• Do it by pinching them together and dragging them down your hair.

In order for this method to be effective, we would recommend you repeat it several times. It will allow you to process each area where the paint is stuck. Of course, this factor makes this approach a bit time consuming, but if it works, the time investment is worth it!

However, you should note that this method works best for small patches of paint!

If you have large swaths that cover half your head, you’d better look for another, more effective solution instead.

@gettyimagespro via canva.com

Comb it Out

Combing the paint out is another alternative, especially if using your fingernails didn’t quite succeed and you still have paint stuck between your tresses.

You should take into consideration though that this approach works best if there isn’t too much paint you need to remove.

Also, combing the paint out can be done with the hair that is either wet or dry, and you may benefit from trying it both ways.

Simply pull the comb through your hair vigorously.

You can take a handful of hair and hold it tight, dragging the comb up and down along the strands, scraping off the paint.

You will most likely have to rearrange the hair a few times so that you could scrape it all off since the comb can only scrape paint it can touch.

How to Get Rid Of Fresh Paint?

Do you have some wet paint on your hair? This is not a problem at all if you noticed those paint marks instantly! In this case, regular dish soap is all that you need.

• Apply some dish soap and water to your hair.
• Leave it there for some period of time so the product can start working on the paint.
• Then, scrub the paint with a washcloth or a comb.

After you scrub the paint off, rinse your hair out to remove any paint leftovers and particles that might get stuck deep between the tresses.

This method will allow you to remove all the paint from your chevelure easily.

@gettysignature via crello.com

What If I Don’t Know What Type Of Paint I Have In My Hair?

It happens sometimes that we don’t know what type of paint ends up on our hair during the painting project.

The reason why it happens is usually that we find some paint that we stock in our garage and we decide to make use of it!

Luckily, even if you have no idea of the type of paint on your hair, there are a few methods of how to get that paint out of hair.

• Try removing the paint by picking it off your hair using your fingernails. This can be an effective and chemical-free method, but be prepared to test your patience!
• The second option to try involves dish soap and toothpaste. Dish soap can be applied to your hair along with water, and with some rubbing, it can remove paint from your hair.
• If this fails, however, then opt for regular toothpaste. Its abrasive properties can help to break down the paint, allowing it to be washed away with shampoo.

As you surely know, getting paint in your hair is a messy business.

However, with all the life hacks and recommendations that we gave you here, you can always make use of one of the methods listed in this article!

With all that, you should be able to remove any paint without too much effort or stress.

Other Methods Of Paint Removal You Should Try

Of course, you are now aware of a handful of methods and products that can be used in order to successfully remove paint, both wet and dry, from your hair.

You even know how to deal with different types of paint!

Nevertheless, we find it handy to share a few more alternative solutions with you just in case.

How To Remove Paint Stains From Clothes* FAST & EASY!

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is gritty and abrasive, and this is the perfect tandem for removing paint that has dried onto your hair.

• Squirt some of the toothpaste onto the paint smeared on your hair.
• Use your fingers to massage the toothpaste into the painted area of your hair.
• Keep massaging as hard as you can until either the paint is gone or your fingers are too tired to continue.
• Then, rinse your hair out well with water and examine your handiwork.

If you did everything as described step by step, then your hair should be back to its original state with no more paint in it.

Try Soaking Your Hair

Soaking your hair is another way to get rid of paint that got stuck in between the strands and won’t come out.

• Fill a tub or bucket up with warm water.
• Soak your hair in it for as much time as you can stand.
• Wash your hair with shampoo.

Like this, you will no longer have any paint in your hair.

Should you find that this process didn’t work for you well enough, or it did not work at all, check the label on your paint.

It might not be water-based! In this case, you will want to use stronger, often chemical products to cope with the issue.

Opt For Turpentine, Paint Thinner Or Mineral Spirits

Any of these will work just fine if you need to remove a massive paint spill from your hair, or if you didn’t succeed with all the methods described above.

You only have to keep in mind that none of these products are safe for your hair or your skin!

These chemicals are of course powerful and they are almost guaranteed to work. But use them as the last option only.

In order to use these products correctly, make sure that you apply them right.

• Apply some of the chemicals you choose to a rag.
• Use the rag to wipe down the hair that has the paint on it.
• Continue wiping until the paint is removed. You may need to reapply the chemical to the rag once or twice to finish the job.

Note that paint might not start coming off after the very first product application!

So you might need to do several moves before it starts peeling off. As soon as you are done wiping the paint off, you will need to wash your hair.

Make sure that you do it very thoroughly using your regular shampoo.

In some cases, you may even want to wash twice (for example, if you can sense the product residue on the tresses).

The last thing you want is for those chemicals to sit on your head and keep burning through your hair, so wash them out well.

Well, now you know everything that one might want and need to know about paint removal from your hair!

You know what types of paint can get onto your hair, and how to deal with them to keep your mane paint-free.

In addition, you now have a bunch of methods and products that you can use for removing paint from your locks.

Moreover, we have explained how to wash that paint off in case it is wet or dry.

With all that in mind, you can now devote yourself to create and paint your entire home freely without being afraid to sit a stain on your chevelure!

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