What Is the Fastest Way to Get Hair Out of a Drain?

What Is the Fastest Way to Get Hair Out of a Drain?

What Is the Fastest Way to Get Hair Out of a Drain? (What Actually Worked for Me)

Let me tell you, there’s nothing like the gross surprise of standing in an inch of water during your morning shower. That slow drain crept up on me, and suddenly I had myself a full-blown clog. I knew right away it was hair—because let’s be honest, between me and my wife, our shower drain probably collects enough to stuff a throw pillow every week.

When you’re stuck with a stubborn clog, you want results fast. No waiting for chemicals to “maybe work overnight.” No plumber appointments. You want that water draining right now.

So, what is the fastest way to get hair out of a drain? After trying everything from baking soda and vinegar to gadgets and hacks, manual removal with a drain snake (or even a wire hanger) was hands-down the winner.

👉 Here’s the full guide that walks you through every option, including chemical-free DIY fixes:
🧰 How to Unclog a Drain With Hair – The Best DIY Solutions

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Why Most Drain Clogs Are Just Hair (Yep, Even Yours)

Before we dive into fixes, let’s get clear on why this happens. Shower and bathroom sink clogs are almost always caused by hair, mixed with soap scum and grime. Over time, that mess forms a sticky net that grabs even more gunk.

Especially if you:

  • Have long hair
  • Shave in the shower
  • Use conditioner or hair oils
  • Own a dog that gets the occasional bath in the tub

Then you already know — this is just part of home life.

But that doesn’t mean it has to be a nightmare every time your drain slows down.

The Fastest Fix: A Drain Snake or Zip-It Tool

When my shower drain stopped flowing, I ran to the hardware store and picked up a cheap plastic drain snake (sometimes called a Zip-It). It cost me under $5 and worked in seconds.

Here’s what I did:

  1. Removed the drain cover
  2. Stuck the tool down into the pipe
  3. Gently pulled it back up
  4. Boom. Instant hairball removal. I’ll spare you the gross details, but it looked like a small animal came out of that pipe.

It was fast, satisfying, and cleared the drain immediately.

No Tool? Use a Wire Hanger

If you don’t have a drain snake lying around, I’ve also had luck using a straightened-out wire hanger. Just bend the tip into a small hook, carefully slide it into the drain, and fish around.

Be gentle — you don’t want to scratch the inside of your pipe. But trust me, it works. You’ll pull up hair, soap gunk, and who knows what else in no time.

Why I Skip the Harsh Chemicals Now

I used to be a big fan of pouring a bottle of Drano and hoping for the best. But over time, I learned two things:

  1. It doesn’t always work on hair
  2. It can damage your pipes — especially older ones

Worse, it’s no fun having that chemical stench linger in your bathroom. And if you splash some accidentally, it can burn your skin or eyes.

Now I stick to manual removal or gentle options like baking soda and vinegar. You can see how I use that combo right here:
🔧 DIY Hair Clog Fix – Natural and Effective Methods

How To Tell If You Got All the Hair Out

After clearing the clog, run hot water for about 2 minutes. If it drains fast, congrats — mission accomplished. If it still backs up or drains slowly, you’ve either missed some hair deeper down or you’ve got a secondary blockage (like soap buildup or hard water minerals).

In that case, I use a baking soda + vinegar flush to clean it out:

  1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain
  2. Follow with 1 cup vinegar
  3. Wait 10–15 minutes (it’ll fizz and bubble)
  4. Flush with a full kettle of boiling water

What About Tub Drains or Bathroom Sinks?

The process is basically the same:

  • Remove the stopper
  • Use a snake or wire hook
  • Pull out the hair
  • Flush with hot water or baking soda/vinegar

Pro tip: bathroom sink stoppers trap more hair than you think. Pull that stopper out, and you might find the entire clog right there wrapped around the stem.

Best Tools for Hair Clogs (From My Toolbox)

If you’re tired of battling hair clogs, I highly recommend keeping one or two of these on hand:

  1. Drain Zip-It Tool – Cheap, flexible, and reusable
  2. Wire hanger – Great in a pinch
  3. Manual drain auger – For tougher or deeper clogs
  4. Plunger – Not just for toilets, it works on sink and tub clogs too
  5. Needle-nose pliers – If you can see the hair near the top

Honestly, since I grabbed the Zip-It tool, I’ve never looked back. I even keep a spare under the sink.

Want to Prevent Hair Clogs in the First Place?

Here’s what I started doing, and it’s worked wonders:

  • Use a hair catcher over the drain
  • Clean the catcher weekly (seriously, don’t forget)
  • Brush your hair before showering
  • Avoid washing shedding pets in the tub
  • Flush your drain monthly with hot water or baking soda + vinegar

Just doing those things has saved me from monthly drain disasters.

Fastest Fix for Hair Clogs? Don’t Overthink It

If your drain’s slow or fully clogged, grab a simple tool and pull that hair out. It’s quick, cheap, and you’ll avoid making it worse with chemicals.

That nasty clog in my shower was gone in 60 seconds, and I didn’t have to call a plumber or wait overnight for some cleaner to maybe work.

👉 Want step-by-step help with more DIY fixes for your drain? Check out the full guide here:
🛠️ How to Unclog a Drain With Hair – The Best DIY Solutions



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