Beautiful African American female with long curly hair that uses Vicks vapor rub to grow hair

Vicks is a household staple for countless everyday people. It is mainly used to suppress coughs, mitigate chest congestion, and alleviate muscle pain. Yet, many people use it for various other purposes, including hair growth.

If you’ve used Vicks on your hair and realized that you don’t know how to get it out, you’re in the right place. We’ll share several tips you can use to get Vicks out of your hair quickly and easily.

Vicks for Hair Growth?

Many influencers and hair gurus claim that Vicks is great for hair growth. When used on spots with sparse growth and balding, it’s said to improve blood circulation. Vicks is also believed to combat dandruff, as the soothing eucalyptus helps relieve itching.

Like many other trends, Vicks has proven successful for some and has been a disaster for others. In any case, whether you liked the results or not, you’ll need to know how to remove Vicks from your hair.

Below, we’ll share a few Vicks removal remedies that actually work. Then you can get back to doing better things.

How To Get Vicks Out of Hair: 3 Easy Solutions

A young black lady standing in the woods with bouncy curls styled with several aromatic essential oils

Vicks contains ingredients like camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol. The rub has a thick, gummy texture that’s perfect for adhering to your skin.

Unfortunately, this thick texture makes it a hassle to remove. Below, we have three methods to get Vicks out of your hair quickly, each using ingredients you likely have in your home.

Method #1. Use Shampoo and Olive Oil

Olive oil is used by many to get stronger, shinier, and healthier hair. But did you know that it can break down other oils? This cool property makes it a great Vicks VapoRub removal remedy.

What you’ll need:

One cup of olive oil
A shower cap
Your favorite shampoo

Note: You can use regular shampoo or a clarifying shampoo if you’re an adult. If the Vicks is stuck in a kid’s hair (e.g., a toddler), you might consider using baby shampoo or more gentle shampoos. Also, it’s important to note that some people use baby oil instead of olive oil when working with a kid’s hair.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1. Add Olive Oil

First, add the olive oil to your hair and work it in from roots to tips.

Quick Tip: Why not pamper yourself and heat up the oil a bit before adding it? It will feel relaxing and give your hair a substantial shine boost.

Step 2. Put On the Shower Cap

Next, put a shower cap on and let the oil set in for at least 10 minutes. You can let it sit for longer if you’d like.

Step 3. Rinse Hair and Shampoo

When time is up, take off your shower cap and run water over your hair, squeezing out the excess a few times. After rinsing your hair, apply your favorite shampoo and lather.

Once it’s nice and worked in, rinse really well and repeat. Though two shampoo sessions should be enough, you may need to shampoo once more if your hair tends to be oily. You certainly don’t want to remove the Vicks, but end up with greasy hair.

Step 4. Style and Go

From here, you can dry and style your hair as you please.

Black girl rubbing her fingers through her bouncy curls styled with eucalyptus oil

Method #2. Dishwashing Liquid

Dishwashing liquid (e.g., dish soap) is a lifesaver in the kitchen. It helps to break down food and grease residue on your dishes and kitchen surfaces. Just like it combats tough grime, it can also break down Vicks, getting it out of your hair without a hassle.

What you’ll need:

Dishwashing liquid
Your favorite shampoo

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Add Dishwashing Liquid

For this method, you’ll start by applying dishwashing liquid straight to the Vicks-covered areas of your hair. Use your fingertips to work it in. Don’t skip the massage, or else the dishwashing liquid may just sit on top of the Vicks.

Step 2. Rinse Hair

Before shampooing, you should rinse the dishwashing liquid out of your hair with warm water. Jump in the shower and make sure that all the suds are washed out completely before moving on to the next step. Massage your scalp as you rinse.

Step 3. Shampoo

Next, grab your favorite shampoo and work it into your hair. You might want to rinse and repeat for an extra deep clean, but you should only do it if you feel it’s necessary.

Step 4. Dry Your Hair and Style

From here, you’re free to style your hair any way you’d like.

Adult female with type 3C curls playing in the sand at the beach

Method #3. Baby Powder

Baby powder has multiple uses, one of which is absorbing oils. When you have Vicks in your hair that just won’t come out, you can use baby powder to soak it up and get it out quickly.

What you’ll need:

Baby powder
Paper towels
Your favorite shampoo

Note: You can use baking soda as an alternative to baby powder if needed. Baking soda is often used to remove cooking grease, so it works great as a baby powder substitute when combined with a regular shampooing session.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Sprinkle Baby Powder

Sprinkle some baby powder into one of your hands. With the other hand, grab a pinch of baby powder and begin working it into the hair. Add more if you can still see the Vicks but don’t add too much. Baby powder can be a pain to wash out.

Step 2. Use Dry Paper Towels

As the baby powder begins to work, the Vicks will turn into semi-dry clumps. Using a paper towel, grab the clumped-up pieces and gently pull outward to remove the clumps from your hair. You won’t be able to remove it all, so just focus on the bigger chunks.

Step 3. Rinse Hair

Next, hop in the shower and rinse the baby powder out of your hair with just warm water. Don’t stop rinsing until the water runs clear. Be sure to feel around where the Vicks was to ensure that it’s all rinsed out.

Step 4. Shampoo

Once you’ve rinsed out all of excess Vicks, apply your favorite shampoo and wash your hair. Doing so will give your scalp some extra love. Rinse and repeat to get the best results.

Step 5. Dry Your Hair and Style

Air dry and style your hair as desired.

Tips for Using Vicks in Your Hair

Cute young black mom sitting on a sandy beach with a head full of curls

Vicks hasn’t been professionally tested or proven to promote hair growth, but some swear by it. If you do decide to try it, there are some things you can do to avoid buildup issues in the future.

Before using Vicks in your hair, check out these tips.

Mix It Up

Vicks has a goopy texture that can be a pain to get out of the hair. To prevent the buildup of Vicks, try it with a carrier oil like grapeseed oil or argan oil.

To do that, put some Vicks on the tips of your fingers, add a few drops of the carrier oil, and then rub them between your fingertips to mix.

Use Sparingly

Another mistake that people make is putting too much Vicks in their hair. A great trick is to add just a tiny amount to the fingertips, first working it into your fingers and then applying it to your scalp.

Vicks has a very thick texture, so a little goes a long way. The less you use, the easier it will be to remove during your regular wash day.

Look for Alternatives

African American female wearing a black and white striped dress shirt and shorts walking beside the ocean

These days, there are all kinds of remedies to combat hair loss. So, instead of reaching for Vicks, use a different natural product that isn’t hard to get out of hair.

Try lavender oil, lemon oil, or coconut oil, all of which have produced amazing results and aren’t nearly as difficult to remove from the hair.

Vicks is a great product with a myriad of uses. If you’re going to give the Vicks haircare trend a try, keep our tips at your fingertips in case things go south.

If you’ve already tried Vicks and are dealing with a goopy mess, these tips will help you eliminate it quickly. We hope that this article has been helpful to you. Now you’ve got all you need to get Vicks-free!

How To Get Vicks Out of Hair With Our Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Vicks for Hair Growth?

How To Get Vicks Out of Hair: 3 Easy Solutions