How To Remove Gorilla Glue From Hair

How to Remove Gorilla Glue From Hair | From Non-invasive to Invasive Methods

Dried Gorilla Glue is a very strong adhesive that forms a permanent bond.

According to Gorilla Glue, this bond is moisture resistant.

So, it goes without saying that if it’s in your hair, it’s not coming out very easily. 

Particularly when you think about how the glue is known for having “industrial holding power”. 

How, then, do you remove Gorilla Glue from your hair? 

All hope is not lost.

If dealt with quickly enough, acetone might do the job without too much hassle. In fact, this ingredient found in nail polish was part of the combination that a plastic surgeon used to remove Gorilla Glue from a woman’s hair which had stayed on for a whole month!

If you’ve never heard of her, her TikTok struggles went viral, showing just how strong Gorilla Glue is.

(If this actually was an advert for Gorilla Glue, it definitely would have been on the strange side.)

Related Article: How to Get Gorilla Glue Out of Clothes

What We Can Learn From Her Struggles 

Firstly, we learn to heed the warnings on the glue bottles we purchase.

Do not inhale, ingest or let it make contact with your skin. 

There’s a reason, aside from liability purposes, that companies say this!

We also learn what might help to remove the glue, and what definitely won’t. 

Her plastic surgeon, Dr Michael Obeng, used a combination of medical-grade adhesive remover, acetone, olive oil and aloe vera. 

Now I’d not recommend that anyone try his specific combination, particularly because we don’t want to cause more damage than good.

And:

Even with his expertise and in a medical setting, the procedure took a total of 4 hours!

Typically, if someone gets gorilla glue in their hair, it’s a lot less than she used.

And has been in their hair for just a few minutes to a few hours, rather than an entire MONTH. 

So, I’m going to start with non-chemical options, and if these prove unsuccessful, move on to other options. 

I know I already mentioned acetone, but let’s start here first:

Using a Comb & Shampoo 

Keep it simple at first.

 This is what you’ll need:

  • A Comb
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • And rubber gloves

Whether it’s your whole head or just a few strands of hair, start by combing your hair. 

See if you can get any glue out at all.

Follow this up by shampooing your hair, washing that out, and then applying conditioner. 

Leave it in for a couple of minutes, and then wash it out. 

Hopefully, the glue might’ve softened a bit from being “washed out”. 

Make sure that you wear rubber gloves the entire time to keep the glue from touching too much of your skin. 

Trying Using Certain Oils

Olive Oil

What you’ll need: 

Put some oil on your hair, and let it sit for an hour. 

After this is done, rinse it off.

Attempt to remove some of the glue with your hands while wearing rubber gloves.

If this is unsuccessful, try my next suggestion. 

Using A Baking Soda Mixture 

What you’ll need:

  • A few tablespoons of baking soda
  • ½ a cup of water 
  • Rubber gloves

For this, you’ll need to make a mixture of baking soda and water.

Apply it to the affected area and let it sit there for about 15 minutes.

After this attempt to either comb or wash it out. 

If you’re still not coming right, I have a more “invasive” suggestion: 

Cut Off Your Hair (I Know, Not Ideal)

Cutting Off Hair

What you’ll need:

  • A straight razor/electric shaver/pair of scissors
  • Rubber gloves

This is probably not your first choice.

But if all else fails, and you’re not interested in the risks associated with using strong chemicals on your hair or scalp.

Then this is probably your best option. 

Now, depending on the severity, you might want to find someone who can comfortably use a straight razor.

An electric shaver may not work very well.

But, if it’s only on a small part of your hair, then a pair of scissors might do the trick as well.

Acetone 

What you’ll need:

  • Rubber gloves
  • Acetone

Now we’re getting into one of the harsher methods of removing Gorilla Glue. Acetone is powerful stuff!

This might be immediately necessary if the glue has been allowed time to set.

Applying small amounts of acetone to the affected area may help remove the glue. 

But be careful not to leave it on too long as it can damage your skin. 

Acetone

Goo Gone (Use With Caution) 

Now, this isn’t supposed to be used on your skin. 

If you do use it, use it sparingly, and only leave it on as long as needed.

Afterwards, make sure to rinse your hair out thoroughly, and wash your scalp with hot water and soap. 

This is a very effective method of removing Gorilla Glue from hair, but it is less than ideal. 

The product was not designed for use on the skin, it is only by happenstance that it was discovered to be effective. 

Misusing this product can result in damage to both your skin and your hair. 

If All Else Fails, Contact Your Doctor

I understand that for most of us, this is a very embarrassing situation.

So, you’d probably like to keep it the hush-hush if possible.

That said, your doctor may be able to help, so a quick phone call may help.

Gorilla Glue has to be removed as soon as possible.

The longer you leave it, the harder it’ll be to remove! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Strong Adhesive In Mans Hands

What removes glue from hair? 

As I’ve mentioned in the above article, acetone is a great way to go about it. Putting a small amount of it in the affected area for a few minutes using a rag or cotton ball will break up the glue, making it easier to wash out. 

Will Goo Gone remove Gorilla Glue?

Yes, Goo Gone does remove Gorilla Glue, and very effectively on different surfaces. That said, it’s not meant to be used on the skin, so a lot of caution is needed if you do decide to go this route. Make sure to apply sparingly, and for as little time as possible. 

Will rubbing alcohol remove Gorilla Glue? 

Rubbing alcohol might help to remove Gorilla Glue, but it’s not as effective as something like Acetone. If you have it at home though, it’s certainly worth giving a try.