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This is a sticky situation all around.
Louisiana woman Tessica Brown, 40, has gone viral over the past week after turning to her social media followers for help in undoing her “forever ponytail.” She had run out of her go-to hairspray while putting the finishing touches on her look a few weeks before, so she used Gorilla Spray Adhesive by Gorilla Glue, instead — and now she can’t get the industrial-strength adhesive off of her head.
“My hair has been like this for about a month now. It’s not by choice. No, it’s not by choice,” she says in the video that has been viewed 21 million times on TikTok, and about 3 million times on Instagram FB, +1.08% over the past week. She revealed she washed her hair 15 times, but the glue simply would not come off.
“My hair, it don’t move. You hear what I’m telling you? It. Don’t. Move,” she adds. Subsequent posts have shown her trying to loosen it up with a mixture of tea tree oil and coconut oil, which she called an “epic fail,” as well as a trip to the St. Bernard Parish Hospital Emergency Room in Chalmette, La., which was also apparently unsuccessful.
While she didn’t disclose any details about her hospital visit on her post — other than a tearful emoji — sources told TMZ that she reportedly spent 22 hours in the ER. Health care workers tried putting acetone on the back of her head to break up the adhesive, according to the report, but it burned her scalp and only made the glue gooey before it hardened back up.
Gorilla Glue initially responded to one of her videos on Twitter by suggesting that she use warm water and rubbing alcohol to remove its adhesive, noting, “We do not recommend using our products in hair as they are considered permanent.” Its product page suggests removing dried glue using “mechanical means,” such as scraping the adhesive off while being careful not to damage the surface below. And its first aid guidelines recommend rinsing the glue off of skin by using water, or calling poison control if swallowed. It also lists a medical emergency number at 800-420-7186.
As more and more viewers, including Chance the Rapper, have become invested in Brown’s ongoing attempts to remove the adhesive from her hair, Gorilla Glue followed up with a statement shared via its official Twitter TWTR, +2.94% account.
“We are very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident that Miss Brown experienced using our Spray Adhesive on her hair,” the company says. It describes this as a “unique situation,” and emphasizes that its product is not indicated for use on hair, and that the label warns against getting this in eyes, on skin or on clothing.
“We are glad to see in her recent video that Miss Brown has received medical treatment from her local medical facility and wish her the best,” Gorilla Glue adds.
While some initial reactions were snarky or mocked the situation, Brown’s struggle to save her scalp has drawn a groundswell of empathy and support, particularly among Black women who have come forward to described the complicated relationship they have with their hair in a society that has discriminated against natural and textured hairstyles. Essence writer Candice Benbow describes this in her column, “Tessica Brown Isn’t The ‘Gorilla Glue Girl,’ She’s A Black Woman Who Deserves Empathy,” that “Many of us tortured our hair into compliance.”
“Perhaps, all of that history is what joined so many of our hearts to Tessica’s plight,” she adds. “We may have never used an industrial product for styling purposes but we’ve done things to our hair and to ourselves we wished we hadn’t. We were endeared to her because we know what it’s like to be judged by the biggest mistake you’ve made.”
“The View” cohost Sunny Hostin takes a similar view, and many other followers have chimed in to support Brown, as well.
Some noted that they didn’t blame Gorilla Glue for the situation, but still felt the company could do more to help Brown. “It would be a really kind act of humanity for you to find some way to help Tessica Brown,” wrote one woman. “It’s not your fault by any means, but I’m sure a little kindness would go a long way for her right now.”
Beyonce’s stylist, Neal Farinah, has also offered his help and services for her over Instagram. “We [are] not going to keep tearing her down. Let’s help her!” he writes. “When she leaves the hospital if she needs a wig or taking care of her scalp I’m here for her.”
TMZ reports that Brown has hired a lawyer and is considering her legal options. While the Gorilla Spray Adhesive label warns against using it on eyes, skin or clothing, there is no mention of hair, which sources close to the situation say Brown feels is “misleading.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser set up to cover her medical expenses has also drawn $14,000 and counting.
