Similar to removing any buildup, getting Vaseline out of your hair starts by using a clarifying shampoo (via Hair Everyday). Wet your hair and concentrate on scrubbing the areas with the heaviest amount of product. As you lather and rinse, the clarifying shampoo will help strip residue, but keep in mind it may also leave hair feeling coarse and brittle. Follow up with a good conditioner to keep hair soft and smooth.
If you don’t have a clarifying shampoo on hand, you can try something that may seem counterintuitive, like a kitchen oil. This is because oil attracts other oil in ways that a water-based product cannot, which will make it easier to remove from the hair. Baby, avocado, and coconut oil can work. Before you start, try to remove any existing clumps first and then add a few drops of oil to your fingers. Then proceed to massage the oil into the hair where Vaseline is concentrated, leaving it on your hair for 10-15 minutes. Finally, blot the strands with paper towels to help remove the Vaseline and oil. This step can be repeated. Once you’ve gotten out all that you can, wash your hair as you normally would.
