How do I unclog a shower drain full of hair?
By the Drain Guru team · Updated September 27, 2026
Quick answer
Unscrew or pry off the shower drain cover, pull out visible hair with gloves or a plastic barbed drain snake, then flush with hot water. If it's still slow, the hair mat is further down: plunge with a little water in the pan, or use an air-pressure drain opener with a cone head to push it through.
1. Remove the drain cover
Most covers have one or two screws, or snap in and can be pried up with a flat screwdriver. Some twist out.
2. Pull the hair
Hair and soap form a tangled mat just below the cover. Gloves and a plastic barbed snake get most of it out in one or two pulls.
3. Push what's left through
Leave a little water in the shower pan so a plunger can seal, or seat an air-pressure opener's cone head over the drain. One strong push moves the loosened hair further into the larger pipe, where it can wash away.
4. Stop it coming back
- Fit a mesh or silicone hair catcher over the drain. It's the single best fix.
- Brush long hair before showering.
- Run hot water for a minute after each use once a week.
More questions
What dissolves hair in a drain?
Enzyme cleaners slowly digest hair over days; caustic chemicals can dissolve it but risk your pipes and skin. Removing it mechanically is faster and safer.
Related answers
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