There are several ways in which liquid latex could get into your hair. Latex colors or paints are often used to create special effects and for Halloween make-up.
How to Remove Liquid Latex From Hair
Moreover, ordinary paints used for walls and other parts of the house could contain liquid latex as well.
Whether you are painting a room in the home or giving yourself a makeover to look like your favorite character, liquid latex could easily splatter onto your hair.
This could make your day turn south as you struggle to find a way to get the paint out of your hair, which seems impossible.
Do not despair; there are several chemical and natural methods that can come to your rescue. Below are tips on how to remove liquid latex from hair without damaging it.
Know What You Are Working With.
Before you get started, it is essential to find out what you are dealing with. As you may already know, there are several types of body and wall paints.
Oil-based paints, water-based paints and latex-based paints are the most common types. It is essential first to find out the type of paint that got into your hair. This information will help you decide on which method of removal will work best.
How To Remove Liquid Latex From Hair
If you are sure that what you are dealing with is liquid latex, then there are a few ways you can deal with the situation. First, you can soak your hair in water for a few hours.
Unlike the general belief, liquid latex is not entirely waterproof. It begins to break down when soaked in water for a long enough period. Soaking your hair in water will weaken the latex. Once this is done, you can begin to separate it from the strands of your hair carefully.
If the first option is not for you, here is another great option on how to remove liquid latex from hair. Use WD-40 or any other type of lubricating spray to remove liquid latex from your hair. You may be surprised how well lubricating spray works to remove latex from your hair.
Apply the spray on any parts of your hair that are covered in latex. Once you have done this, rub the spray gently into the hair, ensuring not to spread the latex further.
Leave the lubricating spray in your hair for a few minutes and allow it to loosen the liquid latex.
Follow this process by washing your hair using hot water and shampoo, two or there times. If you have sensitive skin, ensure to keep the lubrication spray away from your scalp to avoid irritation.
Removing Oil Based Paint
For the removal of oil-based paint, the best product is one that you may already have in your kitchen. Olive oil will gently remove this paint from your hair without causing any damage to it.
For this method, apply olive oil to any parts of your hair where the oil-based paint has splattered. Let it sit for a few minutes and then comb your hair with a fine-toothed comb, like this available on Amazon to remove the oil.
If the paint had already dried up in the hair, do not apply water to it beforehand. Instead, use a generous amount of olive oil on your hair and wrap it with a plastic wrap.
Wait for a few hours to allow the oil to soften the paint. Once you have unwrapped your hair, use a fine-toothed comb to remove the paint. Olive oil will not only cleanse your hair but also leave it feeling smooth and looking shiny.
Dealing With Water Based Paint
If what you have in your hair is water-based paint, then removing it should be a walk in the park.
Simply apply your usual shampoo to the parts of your hair that are covered in color. Use your fingers or a fine-tooth comb to loosen the particles of paint from your hair. After you have done this, rinse your hair off with warm water.
Let the shampoo sit for a few extra minutes if the paint had already dried up.
It will allow the paint to soften and make the process of scrubbing or combing much easier. Once you have completed this process, rinse off with warm or cold water as desired.
Don’t Know What You are Dealing With
Perhaps the body or wall paint you were using before your hair got messed up was borrowed from an old friend. You may have no idea what exactly the type is or how to handle the situation.
Luckily, there are a few universal methods that can be applied in such a case. For a start, you can try to gently remove the paint from your hair using a small comb or your fingers.
Though this method is effective, it requires you to be extremely patient and gentle to avoid damaging your hair.
Secondly, you can try using some household items. Toothpaste and dish soap can be useful in removing liquid latex and other types of paint from your hair.
Apply dish soap and some water to the affected areas of your hair and rub gently and continually until the paint comes off. If this method is not sufficient, try toothpaste. Toothpaste contains abrasive properties that can help in breaking down liquid latex or other types of paint.
Once you have completed this process, wash your hair with shampoo to remove any traces of toothpaste dish soap or paint and rinse with warm water.
Preventive Measures When Dealing With Liquid Latex
If you are thinking of using products containing liquid latex, applying preventive measures beforehand could save you a lot of time and inconvenience. Here are a few tips.
Use a Shower Cap
Whether you are dealing with latex paint applied to the body or just general paint, it is essential to protect your hair beforehand.
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A shower cape will ensure that any splattered paint does not get to your hair. You will enjoy your painting job without having to worry about any incidences.
Clean Up The Area Beforehand
Whether it is your head, eyebrows, or armpits, it is essential to shave the area if you are certain that you will apply liquid latex to it.
Having hair will cause the paint to stick to it while it dries up and causes pain and discomfort during removal. Cleaning the area beforehand will make it easier to eliminate the liquid latex when it is no longer in use.
Apply Moisturizer
Before you get started on using liquid latex, it is essential to ensure that you have adequately moisturized your skin and the shaved area.
Your daily moisturizer should work just fine for this step.
Alternatively, you can apply liquid latex prep to the areas that will be painted. It will make the latex come off quickly while removing, due to the cream.
Coat Your Hair
Coating your hair with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil is another excellent alternative while working with liquid latex.
It will minimize the chances of latex getting into hair and make it easier to remove if it does.
Cover Up Your Working Area
Before you start off, cover up your working area with a plastic sheet.
It will prevent the paint from dripping off on various surfaces and making it messy.
Assemble all the tools and equipment that you will need in the process. Liquid latex dries off very fast. Leaving your work station to go find a missing tool or equipment can make your paint job messy.
Shake The Bottle Before Use
Liquid latex tends to have a small portion of ammonia in it. It is, therefore, essential to shake the bottle well before use and ensure that you leave it open for a while. This step will allow the strong smell of ammonia to disappear.
Ensure That The Painting Area is Warm
Latex paints often tend to be cold. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that the room where you will be doing your painting job is warm. It will prevent you from being excessively cold and shivering.
Don’t miss our 10 step guide to protecting hair from heat damage.
Do a Patch Test
Though only a few people are allergic to latex, it is essential to be on the safe side. Do a patch test before you continue to paint your body.
For this step, dab a tiny portion of the latex paint on your body.
Let it sit for about an hour. Check for itchiness, swelling, and redness. These are the most common indications of an allergy. If none of these signs are detected, you can continue to paint your body.
Working on a Shaved Area
When you are working on a shaved area, ensure that you start off by painting a thin layer.
Always work in small sections, ensuring that you do not leave any spaces in between. Let this first coat dry completely.
If you wish to speed up the drying process, a blow dryer will come in handy. You can then proceed to apply the second coat using a brush.
If you are going for a thick fake skin, continue applying layers, ensuring that you let each layer dry before applying the next.