How to Get Wax out of Hair

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Whether you accidentally dipped the ends of your hair in candle wax or you used styling wax to get the perfect ‘do, washing wax out of your hair can be tough. If you’re dealing with a soft wax, like hair wax, try applying shampoo to your hair while it’s still dry. For beeswax, using a hairdryer to melt the wax may be more effective. And for candle wax or other hard waxes, you may need to use oil to break down the wax to make it easier to remove.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Shampoo on Dry Hair

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Apply a generous amount of shampoo to your hair while it’s dry. You can use any kind of shampoo you want, but don’t wet your hair first. If you wet your hair, the shampoo will mix with the water. Since wax repels water, the shampoo then won’t be able to penetrate the wax to start breaking it down. [1]
    • Use about the same amount of shampoo that you would normally use, or a little more.
    • While your regular shampoo will work fine for this, a clarifying shampoo might give you a little more cleansing power.
    • You could also apply a water-soluble styling product like hairspray or dry shampoo to your hair to start breaking down the wax. Work the product into your hair, then rinse it out and wash your hair the way you normally do. [2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Starting at the roots, use your fingers to massage the shampoo all the way down your hair. You should feel the wax starting to loosen, but don’t worry if you don’t get it all on the first pass. [3]
    • By working on one section at a time, you’ll be less likely to miss any spots.
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  3. Turn on your shower and get the water as hot as you can stand it. Then, thoroughly rinse your hair, starting close to your scalp and working your way down. [4]
    • Cold water will make the wax even harder, but hot water will help soften it so you’ll have an easier time removing it from your hair.
  4. If your hair still feels waxy, you may need to shampoo it again. Use the same amount of shampoo as you did the first time, and follow the same procedure, massaging it into your hair section by section. [5]
    • Since the initial shampoo should have broken down a lot of the wax, it’s fine to apply more shampoo while your hair is still wet.
  5. to your hair. In addition to providing nourishing moisture to your hair, using a conditioner may help break down any remaining wax. You don’t need any special conditioner for this, so just use one that’s formulated for your hair type. [6]
    • For example, if you have very dry hair, you might need a thick, moisturizing conditioner. If your hair tends to be oily, you should use a light-weight detangler that won’t leave behind much residue.
    • Avoid putting conditioner directly on your roots, as this may make your hair look greasy.
    • If there’s still wax residue in your hair, let it rest for a day without putting in any product, then wash it again. [7]

    Tip: If you're having trouble washing out your hair wax, you might be using too much. For most hairstyles, you only need about enough to cover one of your fingernails. Apply the wax near your roots, then use your fingertips to work it through the rest of your hair.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Melting Wax with a Hairdryer

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    If your hair is covered with hard wax, you may need to use heat to soften the wax before it will come out. To protect your hair from getting too hot during the process, it’s best to wrap sections of your hair tightly in paper towels before you apply the heat. The paper towels will also help draw the wax out of your hair. [8]
    • You’ll need to use a clean paper towel for each section.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Turn your hairdryer to high heat, then point the nozzle at the paper towel that’s wrapped around your hair. Be sure to keep the nozzle at least 6 in (15 cm) from the paper towel so it doesn’t burn. Move the hairdryer back and forth for 1-2 minutes until you feel the wax start to soften. [9]
    • Be careful not to burn yourself, and don't leave the hairdryer on any one section for too long, or you could damage your hair.
    • If you need to, ask someone else to help you with this part.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Try to use the paper towel to remove as much wax as you can from your hair, but avoid tearing the sheet, if possible. Some of the softened wax should stick to the surface of the paper towel, although you may need to go over some sections more than once. [10]
    • To determine if you’ve removed all of the wax, run your fingers through your hair. If there are small pieces of wax left behind, try to pull them free by hand. If that doesn’t work, wait a few minutes for the section of hair to cool off, then apply the heat again.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Get a new paper towel and wrap another section of hair tightly, then heat it with the hairdryer until the wax softens. When it’s ready, slide the paper towel off again, and continue until you’ve covered all of your hair. [11]
    • Try not to heat the same section of hair again until it’s cooled. Otherwise, you could cause heat damage to your hair.
  5. Once you’ve gotten the majority of the wax out of your hair, wash your hair the way you normally would. This will help get rid of any residue that’s remaining. [12]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Breaking down Wax with Oil

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Cup your palm, then pour in about 1–2  tsp (4.9–9.9 mL) of oil. If that doesn’t cover all of the wax, add a little more as needed. [13]
    • Olive oil is a popular option for removing wax. However, any oil will work, so it’s fine to use whatever you have on hand.
    • For extra nourishment, use a coconut, argan, almond, or jojoba oils.
    • If you like, you can even try this with your hair conditioner.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    Use your fingertips to work the oil into your dry hair directly over the wax. Be sure to coat the hair above and below the wax, as well, as this will help the oil penetrate the wax more easily. Keep working until you feel the wax start to crumble. [14]
    • The oil should start to break down the wax within a few minutes.

    Tip: Try running ice over the wax to break it down instead of using oil!

  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax out of Hair
    As the wax starts to crumble into pieces, use your fingers to pull it out of your hair. Continue doing this until you’ve removed all of the wax from your hair. [15]
    • Place the wax on a paper towel so it doesn’t make a big mess wherever you’re working!
    • If you’d like, you can also use a wide-toothed comb, but be careful not to pull too hard on your hair. The brittle wax will make your hair more likely to break.
  4. Even after you’ve gotten all of the wax out of your hair, there may still be a waxy residue coating your strands. To get rid of this, wash your hair in hot water, using your regular shampoo and conditioner. [16]
    • Hot water will help soften any remaining residue, making it easier to remove.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I figure out what type of hair I have?
    Bianca Cox
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Bianca Cox is a Hair Stylist, Licensed Cosmetologist, Owner of The Hair Throne, and Co-Owner of Bianchi Salon. Her salons pride themselves on their modernity, individuality, art, and professional services. You can check out The Hair Throne and more of Bianca's hairstyling on Instagram @hairthrone and on her personal Instagram @biancajcox.
    Bianca Cox
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    I think it's pretty difficult for the average person to figure this out on their own. The best way to figure out what kind of hair you have is to go to a professional stylist and just ask them. They spend all day looking at hair, so they should be able to tell you pretty easily.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Using Shampoo on Dry Hair

      • Shampoo
      • Conditioner
      • Hot Water

      Melting Wax with a Hair Dryer

      • Several paper towels
      • Hair Dryer
      • Comb
      • Shampoo and conditioner
      • Hot water

      Breaking down Wax with Oil

      • 1–2  tsp (4.9–9.9 mL) oil (or more if needed)
      • Paper towel
      • Shampoo and conditioner
      • Hot water

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-dry-shampoo-actually-keep-your-hair-clean
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OedLq59D9xw
      4. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/hygiene-basics.html
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OedLq59D9xw
      6. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips
      7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/tips
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY_3zfM9jl4&t=10s
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY_3zfM9jl4&t=10s
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH-Z_Spm9jY
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srDz5klJ6F0
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/
      4. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/oiling-hair
      5. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/oiling-hair
      6. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-wax
      7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/hair-care-habits

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to get wax out of your hair, start by applying a generous amount of shampoo to your hair while it’s dry. Once you’ve massaged the shampoo into your hair, rinse it out with water as hot as you can stand, which will help soften the wax. If you don’t get all of the wax the first time, you can repeat the process or use conditioner, which also helps break down wax. Alternatively, you can wrap the waxy strands of your hair in a paper towel and use the heat from a hairdryer to melt the wax. After a minute or two, squeeze the paper towel as you pull it down your hair, which should collect the melting wax. If you don’t get all of the wax, jump in the shower and wash it out with shampoo. For more tips, including how to get wax out of your hair with cooking oil, read on!

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