Montana Camping Fail: How I Ended Up Cutting Tree Sap Out Of My Hair

Over the weekend, I went camping here in Big Sky Country to do some exploring and fly fishing. What I didn’t expect was to end up with a sticky situation—literally. While hiking down to a fishy spot, I somehow managed to get a big glob of fresh tree sap stuck in my hair.

After several failed attempts to get it out using just water and wishful thinking, I decided, "Whatever, I'll cut it out." Yep, I took my pocketknife and sliced off a decent chunk of hair right off my head. Thankfully, it’s not super noticeable, but it was a bummer. If I’d had even one bar of service to look up a solution, I could have saved myself the bad DIY haircut.

So, in case you ever find yourself in the same unfortunate spot, here are 5 ways to remove tree sap from hair. No scissors required:

How Do You Remove Tree Sap From Your Hair?

1. Peanut Butter – Rub it in, let it sit, and gently work the sap out. The oils break down the sticky residue.
2. Olive or Coconut Oil – Massage in oil, wait a few minutes, then comb or wash the sap out.
3. Mayonnaise – Works similarly to oil-based removers and is surprisingly effective.
4. Rubbing Alcohol or Hand Sanitizer – Use with caution and rinse thoroughly, but it can dissolve the sap fast.
5. Hair Conditioner – Soften and slowly comb the sap out after letting it sit.

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Nature happens. But next time, I’ll be prepared; hopefully, you will be too! Also these techniques work for your hands as well.