How to Clean Lip Gloss from Hair

Beautiful on the lips, not so great in the hair. Removing these waxy and oily substances can be a real nuisance. Regular shampoos, especially children’s shampoos, are not strong enough to cut through the ingredients found in lip glosses and other make up items. Fortunately, it doesn’t require any fancy remedies, just some simple cleaning products you likely already have in your home.

• Shampoo
• Dawn dish soap
• Warm water
• Quality conditioner (Deep conditioners are recommended)

1. Depending on the amount of lip gloss present and the type of shampoo, it may be possible to remove it with shampoo alone. The key is to apply the shampoo BEFORE wetting the hair. This allows the shampoo to come in direct contact with the greasy residue from the lip gloss.
2. Apply the shampoo and work it into all the greasy parts of the hair. Be generous with the amount of shampoo used.
3. Rinse the hair thoroughly.
4. If the greasy residue remains, it will require a stronger cleaning product that can cut through the grease. Dawn dish detergent can handle the toughest grease jobs. Other dish liquids can work as well, but it’s best to use one specifically formulated for fighting grease.
5. Wet the hair.
6. Apply a tablespoon or two of the dish detergent.
7. Massage it through the hair to form a good lather.
8. Rinse thoroughly.
9. Repeat once if necessary.
10. Once the greasy substance is removed, apply a quality conditioner. The dish soap can be damaging to hair because it’s often alkaline (whereas hair is naturally acidic), so a deep conditioner will help restore the softness.
11. Allow the conditioner to set on the hair for several minutes.
12. Rinse thoroughly.
13. Allow the hair to dry and style as normal.

• Not all dish soaps are effective in cutting through grease. Dawn is well known for its grease-fighting capabilities and is recommended, although other brands may work as well.
• If the greasy residue remains, condition the hair and allow it to rest between washings. Dish soap is harsher than shampoo and repeated uses may lead to dry, damaged hair.