My daughter had to be treated for recurrent lice infestation. The doctor told us to coat the hair with vaseline and now I can't get the vaseline out of her hair. I have washed it with Dawn and Selsun Blue as this was suggested. NOT WORKING VERY WELL. I need to know if someone out there knows anything else I can do. I have a Christmas party to take my children to tomorrow and I am at my ropes end.


HELP:confused:

Hair Emergency - Removing Vaseline From The Hair
I used Google, there are many links you can click on, I hope you find something that works! Good luck!
Removing Vaseline

If you apply a little cornstarch to the hair and carefully pat it into the hair, it will absorb some, if not all the vaseline. After you apply the cornstarch you can shampoo it out with a good clarifying shampoo and it should be removed. If the vaseline is not completely removed in the first treatment, it will be removed to the point where one more treatment will remove all of it. Be sure to use warm to hot water in the shampoo. Cold water makes the vaseline worse.

Or you can try putting about 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mixing it with a regular baby shampoo and this should help. Unfortunately Vaseline is petroleum based and can be almost impossible to remove. If the clarifying or baking soda does not work, try using soft tissue to blot the hair and see if that removes some of it.

You can try a good clarifying shampoo like Edwin Paul Classic Shampoo, Vain Peppermint Strip or Philou Green Apple. Or you can try putting about 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mixing it with a regular baby shampoo and this should help. Unfortunately Vaseline is petroleum based and can be almost impossible to remove. If the clarifying or baking soda does not work, try using soft tissue to blot the hair and see if that removes some of it.

Apply a little cornstarch and rub it into the hair, it will absorb some, if not all the vaseline and then you can shampoo it out and it should get better.

Be sure to use warm to hot water. Cold water makes the vaseline worse.

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Cider vinegar works as a good rinse too once you have it out.

I would try these steps on a small section of hair first , if it works then go for the rest:

- Go down to the auto parts store or walmart and buy some gojo hand cleaner.
- (Use the crème only , no gritty compounds)
- This should remove anything petroleum based.
- (DO NOT LEAVE IT IN TOO LONG)
- just work it through and keep wiping it out with dry cloths
- However you will be left with the smell and residue of the hand cleaner.
- For this you may use dawn dish detergent and warm water.
- RINSE GOOD
- Then regular shampoo and conditioner to rid the dawn smell.
- NOTE: Don't forget to try a Sample patch of hair first in case of any skin reaction to the mineral spirits.

May remove fade hair dyes as well.

Simply use a clarifying shampoo or an anti-residue shampoo to remove the vaseline from your daughter's hair. It may be useful to wash her hair several times to remove all trace of the vaseline.