We’ve had a bad summer for flies, so I’ve black buckets coated in sticky horse fly glue hanging from trees round the garden. I’ve managed to walk under a bucket and got glue in my hair. I used lashings of shampoo to try to get it out but now that my hair’s dried I realise that the glue is still there.
Anyone any suggestions please for something dermatologically and hair safe that will dissolve it?
I wondered about Swarfega, but am worried it will be too harsh for my hair.
Grateful for suggestions please. Thanks.
Probably resin(rosin) based. Alcohol will probably do it (or iso-propanyl).
Will dry your hair out hough - use a good conditioner afterwards
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Acétone (nail polish remover) rubbing alcohol strong white vinegar. Not sure what it’ll do to your hair?
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Just reread the post try Swarfega first, now this might sound silly, get some dry earth and rub it in your glued hair then rub in the Swarfega.
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Vinegar is used as a finishing rinse on hair so might not be too harmful.
Just seen your second suggestion - good point about dry earth - if I can find any! We had storms on Saturday night.
I’m sorry Sue but that did make me laugh!! Something I would to! I’d try vinegar first,vthen go harsher!
Even damp earth will do it works like a abrasive. I learned that from a colleague when on the farm when all greased up working on tractors
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The point with earth is that the glue will tend to coat the small particles as having a larger surface area than strands of hair. It won’t remove everything, but it will reduce the load.
Avoid smoking during the process.
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Polenta? Or semolina? Those might have similar effect in soaking up the glue
If it’s rosin based it’s pretty sticky and not at all water soluble (which is why it is good for fly paper) - which is borne out by the fact that @SuePJ can’t wash it out with shampoo.
I’m not sure about swarfega and dry earth (I’d suggest diatomaceous earth if you must) might make things worse but rosin is soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene (lighter fuel) and chloroform.
The last three I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole (on hair anyway) but I would have thought most households in France have a bottle of denatured ethanol for cleaning as it is ubiquitous in the supermarkets.
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And Sue, please just buy red top fly traps, generic versions work just as well.
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions - much appreciated.
We don’t have any vodka so I started with the half empty Glenmorangie (which we never drink) then progressed to the domestic alcohol, then to the Swarfega (which has bits in it, that I thought would be a suitable alternative to dry earth). After the Swarfega my hair felt less “stuck together”, so I’ve used masses of coconut shampoo, not least to try and get rid of the smell and (fingers crossed) I think we might be there - though I will get some rich conditioner and apply that as well.
Not sure if it was just the Swarfega or the cocktail of all three.
If people move away from me in the supermarket I’ll know there is still a whiff of Swafega blended with Glenmorangie. 
@Corona Thanks for the red top suggestion. I’ve got those as well, but further away from our guests as they stink. The buckets are strategically placed to cut down the number of flies heading for the swimming pool.
Our neighbouring farmer who has a distant pig farm chose this summer to muck spread the field next to us. Not amused! 
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Scissors.
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WD40 is good too, honestly. Your hair will be clean, just not squeaky clean!
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Being an ex technician i would not use swarfega, pure alcohol or perhaps gin ( a good excuse for getting out the tonic!). Question, what is horse glue and if it’s fly paper why use a bucket? Sam
The idea is that the horse flies (who use sight to find their prey) think the black bucket is a horse’s head. In fact once one or two flies are trapped the smell of decomposing flies attracts others.
The bucket usually costs me 1€ as opposed to the fancy ball trap systems which are more expensive.
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Got any ideas for midges?
What sticky did you use?
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