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We painted a closet recently with a latex/acrylic based paint and no plastic hair caps. This lead to the issue with some unsightly paint splotches on our hair. After several washes the paint still hasn't faded and is very noticeable.

Please let me know what methods are available for removing the paint from the hair on our heads while leaving the hair intact after the process.

UPDATE: We tried several of the solutions here but nothing worked. We had to wait until the hair grew out and it was cut off. Hair dye would not even cover the paint. I think a couple of the reasons we were unsuccessful was the amount of time that went by before we noticed the issue and the fact the hair seemed more porous due to the condition it was in to begin with. We think it was porous due to the frequency of the hair dyes and the very dry nature of Colorado's weather.

James
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9 Answers9

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When this has happened to the kids (we let them help when painting) I just pick the paint out of their hair with fingernails while watching TV - they sit still and it's quite 'Gorillas in the Mist'

It does take a wee while, but it works without the use of any chemicals.

Rory Alsop
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This E-How article says that a soak with your normal shampoo, followed by running a fine-tooth comb through the affected area(s), should remove water-based paints including latex acrylic. By fine-tooth, I assume they mean a comb like a pocket or dressing table comb, but you may have more luck with something like a lice comb.

Now, latex paint with VOCs may cause other types of discoloration, similar to thinners (which is why you NEVER put paint thinner on your hair; no turpentine, no acetone, no methylated spirits, no nothing). Also, certain dyes, like red and orange, will soak into surfaces (even some things you wouldn't consider "porous", like ceramic tile) and become extremely difficult to remove. I dunno what color you painted the closet or exactly what type of paint you used, but it may not be a layer of actual paint causing the discoloration anymore.

KeithS
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I find that olive oil or similar cooking oil usually removes sticky hardened gunk. paint, gum, etc...

Drai
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Water dispersion paint (latex/acrylic is a flavor of those) is not fully water-resistant - it will get much weaker and softer once you leave it in damp conditions for long enough (which is something like several hours). So you need to somehow make hair wet and not let it dry and after a rather long period of time the paint will get weaker and you can try to carefully separate the paint from the hair.

sharptooth
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Try dish soap and really wet hair. If that doesn't work, you might try using some gritty toothpaste. The dish soap would get between the hair and the latex and help it come off, the toothpaste would act as a mild abrasive and chew up the paint so that it could be washed off.

Zach
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Apply water And blue Dawn ASAP. Stroke in hair conditioner and pull through with the thumb nail. Follow up with a vigorous tugging with a fine comb. Reapply conditioning .

Jeanie Leete
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Mayonnaise! My son has bright blonde hair. While we were spray painting beds he got bright pink spray paint in his hair. We tried everything and nothing made the paint come out. I put some mayo on his hair and he jumped in the shower and scrubbed it out. All the paint gone!

Niall C.
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Julie Moss
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a few years ago I was painting a wall and I spilt paint all over my hair and after days of trying i just shaved my head completely bald and it grew back normal. shouldn’t use chemicals or anything like that should just cut it

rowan taylor
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Acrylic paint comes off really easily if you brush your hair while standing under hot water.

ThreePhaseEel
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Sadera
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