Anyone know of any methods for removing waterproof sunscreen from hair?
 

My 3 year old put an entire tube of waterproof SPF 50 sunscreen all over his hair, face and arms. His entire head was completely white and the tube was totally empty when I found him. I washed his hair with regular shampoo, then a type of clarifying shampoo multiple times and then finally two lathers with Dawn dishwashing liquid. I can still feel it in his hair! I'm not sure what to do.

Does anyone have any tried and true methods for removing this stuff from hair? He has school tomorrow and he looks like a reject from Sha Na Na!

LOL!! Hope you took pics first -- this would be great for blackmail or just plain old embarrassing the boy when his first girlfriend comes to meet you...

try a white vinegar rinse,it will take out all the oil left!

sorry, i am laughing so hard i can barely type. the picture is so vivid in my mind. no idea how to remove it. good luck.

reminds of the time my son cut his hair in the front, right down to the scalp. he had fairly long hair, about 2 in long all over. we had to take him for a g.i. buzz.

I'm laughing and so is my husband. I used to cut my grandaughter's bangs. So one day she took the scissors and cut her hair all over. Her mother said why did you do that? And she said, NaNa did it. hahahah

When my youngest son was about 12 he washed his hair in Avon's Skin so Soft!!! Though dry it looked wet for a couple of weeks! I also tried it on my cats for fleas. I thinked it helped with the fleas but (memo to self) put a capfull in the wash water and do not use as a rinse! Long haired cats look strange for a week or so if you use it as a rinse. LOL

All I can say is, I hope you got a photo! I have one of my daughter after she got into the lipstick. Colored both palms along with her face. :)

That is so funny! Vinegar will probably help get the rest out.

Oh I wish I'd seen him! The vinegar rinse suggested by others should work.

Sadly, I did not get a photo. I was on the phone with a church member and in so much shock I was even having trouble speaking! I did a vinegar rinse this morning and then another wash with Dawn. That seems to have helped. It feels like what is leftover is the zinc part of the sunscreen. I think in a day or so I'll do another vinegar wash and then just a clarifying shampoo and it should be ok.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and stories. I definitely had a few chuckles.

Double post.

I too thank you for the laugh. Makes me miss the good old days when my now 42 year old decided to make a cake while I went to change. She was 3 and when I came back (about 3 minutes later) the kitchen ceiling was splattered with chocolate cake mix, raw egg, egg shells. I can see it in my mind as clear as day - need no pictures. She was very gifted and knew she could do it "by herself". She just didn't have the coridination (sp?) to do it alone.

Yep, definitely have to have pictures to use against him when he grows up. Try the vinegar thing if the Dawn didn't work.

Have you tried lemon juice and apple cider vinegar instead of regular vinegar?

They move fast, don't they!

Tartan, it was Neutrogena Baby sunscreen in a pink tube. Yes, it is a good heavy one. I actually use it for myself and my husband since it is so gentle but thick!

Now THAT should have been on America's Funniest Videos.

It would have one first prize hands down....

oh my, I'm thinking peanut butter?? not sure but it removes lots of things.

Ah, the things the little ones can get into. My son used to cut his hair every time it was picture time for something. You just can't take your eyes off them!!

I have to say I was going to suggest the vinegar rinse as well.It not only removes the oil from teh sunscreen but for all teh years our kids went to school they were made to use the vinegar rinse after every shower to deter lice.We NEVER had any lice and am proud of that fact. It is also good if you want silky hair,just leave in and don't worry the smell will disappear and if you can't stand the smell of the white vinegar you can substitute cider vinegar .We took an old 24 oz plastic soda bottle added about a tablespoon of vinegar to the bottle full of water for them to use each and every shower.

I just remembered something my sister told me about. When she was in beauty school they made a special deep cleaning solution for their customers. It would get the buildup of shampoo and conditioner out of the hair. It was just baking soda in warm water--about 2T in 1C warm water--and work it through the hair and rinse. You might try that to see if that will work if the other suggestions here don't do the job.

Hi

My advice would be to use dish soap, as that will cut the grease and oil from the sunscreen, after you do that, I would recommend leaving some good conditioner in your hair, that will replenish any "natural oils" that you stripped out. Hope this helps.

Louise

Ultimately, what I ended up doing was using canola oil to break up the zinc that was left over then I washed with Dawn dishwashing liquid. After that I rinsed his hair again a couple more times with white vinegar and then a light conditioner. On Saturday I will wash his hair again with a clarifying shampoo and then deep condition his hair. This has been quite an experience and I am going to make sure that we don't repeat it again!!

hey Mom...it looked like shampoo. I think vinegar will help you might have to do a couple of times.

That reminds me of the time Emily got into my sisters dipidy do. It was hard to keep a staight face and scold her at the same time. I didn't get pics either ;]