Primer in Hair
April 6, 2006 4:30 PM Subscribe
How do you get primer our of your hair?
2 weeks ago I was priming a wall to paint and my husband thought he'd be cute and put some in my hair. Not so cute. 2 weeks and 9 washings later, it's still there.
Any tips on getting it out? I don't want to use anything to chemically or harsh.
2 weeks ago I was priming a wall to paint and my husband thought he'd be cute and put some in my hair. Not so cute. 2 weeks and 9 washings later, it's still there.
Any tips on getting it out? I don't want to use anything to chemically or harsh.
The only way I've been able to get it out of my hair is to scrape it off when my hair is damp using either my fingernails (for a little) or a painter's tool (for a lot). What I can't get off eventually wears off.
Glycerin might emulsify it enough for you to wash it out. And glycerin won't damage your hair.
posted by lobakgo at 4:46 PM on April 6, 2006
Glycerin might emulsify it enough for you to wash it out. And glycerin won't damage your hair.
posted by lobakgo at 4:46 PM on April 6, 2006
Best answer: I think, based on the situation, your husband should scrape it out with his fingernails while you read a book and have a snack.
posted by divka at 5:18 PM on April 6, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by divka at 5:18 PM on April 6, 2006 [1 favorite]
How about trying a some finger nail polish remover (acetone) on a cotton ball. Maybe hold a segment of hair away from your head and slide the cotton ball around it and rub. I doubtthat the acetone will harm you.
Then again, this suggest using baby oil.
Either one probably beats using turpentine. And I do think your husband owes you breakfast in bed for his behavior! :)
posted by bim at 5:33 PM on April 6, 2006
Then again, this suggest using baby oil.
Either one probably beats using turpentine. And I do think your husband owes you breakfast in bed for his behavior! :)
posted by bim at 5:33 PM on April 6, 2006
Depending on the base of the primer, different things can remove it.
If it's latex, denatured alcohol (ethanol) can be used. You could probably get away with vodka.
Oil based, either mineral sprits or turpentinel.
I also recall seeing on a can of primer that ammonia could be used to remove it.
It would be best to read what the label on the can recommends.
posted by ShooBoo at 5:57 PM on April 6, 2006
If it's latex, denatured alcohol (ethanol) can be used. You could probably get away with vodka.
Oil based, either mineral sprits or turpentinel.
I also recall seeing on a can of primer that ammonia could be used to remove it.
It would be best to read what the label on the can recommends.
posted by ShooBoo at 5:57 PM on April 6, 2006
I seem to lean my hair into wet paint on any surface I paint. For water-based, I use my fingernails while I'm shampooing. For oil-based, any oil (baby, olive, nivea), again with the fingernails. Something else that works is one of those sponges with a scrubber on the back. Hold one hand underneath, and then rub the scrubber downward along the hair...one direction only. Use blue or white scrubbers only...I'd be afraid of the rough green ones.
I bet nail polish remover would work, but try it on a small area first to see if it harms your hair. It dries out my fingernails badly.
Primer is harder to remove than regular paint is. I know a painter who uses a wire brush, but he doesn't care what his hair looks like afterwards.
posted by wryly at 6:34 PM on April 6, 2006
I bet nail polish remover would work, but try it on a small area first to see if it harms your hair. It dries out my fingernails badly.
Primer is harder to remove than regular paint is. I know a painter who uses a wire brush, but he doesn't care what his hair looks like afterwards.
posted by wryly at 6:34 PM on April 6, 2006
I work as a painter in a small shipyard, so this happens all the time to me. I have an impractically long beard that's always getting into the paint. I'm telling you, be glad you're not using industrial epoxy-based primer, that stuff's nasty.
I suggest using turpentine and washing your hair immediately afterwards. Be careful not to get much on your scalp, 'cause it's gonna burn. However, it will certainly get the primer off, as long as it's oil-based.
I don't recommend scraping, as you probably won't get all of the primer off.
posted by Zero Gravitas at 8:05 PM on April 6, 2006
I suggest using turpentine and washing your hair immediately afterwards. Be careful not to get much on your scalp, 'cause it's gonna burn. However, it will certainly get the primer off, as long as it's oil-based.
I don't recommend scraping, as you probably won't get all of the primer off.
posted by Zero Gravitas at 8:05 PM on April 6, 2006
"22 Short Films About Springfield" comes to mind.
Ned walks by the Simpsons' kitchen window, where Marge is squeezing a grapefruit on Lisa's hair to remove the gum Bart stuck in it.
Ned: Marge Simpson! Still making juice the old-fashioned way?
Lisa: No, I've got gum in my hair.
Marge: Oh, we've tried everything: olive oil, lemon juice, tartar sauce, chocolate syrup, gravy, bacon fat, hummus and baba ganoush.
Lisa: My scalp hurts from horsefly bites.
Ned: Why don't you freeze it with an ice cube, and hit it with a hammer? Works for me when I get bubbly-gum in the old push-broom.
[Ned bangs away at Lisa's hair on the kitchen table.
Unfortunately, all this does is flatten the gum out, mashing more hair into the gum. Everyone in town seems to want to take a bash at solving this precarious problem, including Groundskeeper Willie, Lionel Hutz, and the Capital City Goofball.]
Eventually ... Lisa steps in the Snippy Longstocking barbershop, and gets into the chair. She gets her gummy hair cut into a nice-looking style.
"I finally look like a real person!"
Outside, Nelson sees her and goes "Ha-HA".
Lisa sighs and replaces her wool hat.
Save time now, and buy a wool hat.
posted by essexjan at 2:35 AM on April 7, 2006
Ned walks by the Simpsons' kitchen window, where Marge is squeezing a grapefruit on Lisa's hair to remove the gum Bart stuck in it.
Ned: Marge Simpson! Still making juice the old-fashioned way?
Lisa: No, I've got gum in my hair.
Marge: Oh, we've tried everything: olive oil, lemon juice, tartar sauce, chocolate syrup, gravy, bacon fat, hummus and baba ganoush.
Lisa: My scalp hurts from horsefly bites.
Ned: Why don't you freeze it with an ice cube, and hit it with a hammer? Works for me when I get bubbly-gum in the old push-broom.
[Ned bangs away at Lisa's hair on the kitchen table.
Unfortunately, all this does is flatten the gum out, mashing more hair into the gum. Everyone in town seems to want to take a bash at solving this precarious problem, including Groundskeeper Willie, Lionel Hutz, and the Capital City Goofball.]
Eventually ... Lisa steps in the Snippy Longstocking barbershop, and gets into the chair. She gets her gummy hair cut into a nice-looking style.
"I finally look like a real person!"
Outside, Nelson sees her and goes "Ha-HA".
Lisa sighs and replaces her wool hat.
Save time now, and buy a wool hat.
posted by essexjan at 2:35 AM on April 7, 2006
Latex primer? I've always had good luck with that nasty shampoo with creosote (for humans but I use it for my little canine). It's still going to take multiple washings, but if it's just spatter, it'll come out pretty soon anyway. If it's not latex, I recommend a haircut.
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:37 AM on April 7, 2006
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:37 AM on April 7, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Might also try throwing some conditioner in dry hair & running a very fined-tooth comb through it.
posted by artifarce at 4:45 PM on April 6, 2006