Shower Not Draining? Pull the Hair Plug With This Cheap Tool
Standing water in the shower usually means a hair plug a few inches down. Pull it out with a barbed plastic strip, no chemicals, in about 15 minutes.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read
- Time
- 15 min
- Cost
- Under $20
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
A shower that will not drain almost always has a plug of hair and soap scum within the first foot of pipe. Lift the cover, pull out what you can see, then slide a barbed plastic strip down the drain and pull the hair out. It costs little and uses no chemicals. If the sink and toilet drain slowly too, call a plumber instead.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Pull the hair by hand and plunge
- Lift the cover and pull out visible hair with gloves on
- Plunge with water over the cup, if no cleaner is in the drain
- Flush with very hot tap water and a squirt of dish soap
- If water still stands afterward, the plug is deeper
How long it lasts: Works when the clog sits in the first couple of inches. A deeper plug stays put.
A barbed plastic hair snake
Hair plugs form a few inches to a foot down, past where your fingers reach. A barbed strip hooks the hair and drags it out of the pipe, which a plunger and cleaners cannot do. That is why this cheap tool clears what the free fix cannot.
What to get: Barbed plastic hair clog remover strips
How long it lasts: It removes the whole plug, not a channel through it. Run it again whenever the drain slows.
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What you'll need
-
Rubber gloves
Hair and scum are messy, and gloves guard against any leftover cleaner
You have it -
Flat screwdriver
Lifts or unscrews most drain covers
You have it -
Plunger
Try it before the strip
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Barbed plastic hair snake
A multi-pack covers the next few clogs
- Illustration
Hand-crank mini drain auger
Only if the strip comes up clean and the drain is still slow
- Illustration
Silicone drain hair catcher
Keeps new hair out afterward
Why it happens
A hair and soap plug in the first foot
Hair slips through the cover and snags on rough pipe. Soap scum glues it into a mat that grows with every shower.
A deeper clog at the trap
The trap is the U-shaped bend under the shower that holds water to block sewer gas. It is also where hair can lodge, and a short strip may not reach it.
A clog partly cleared by cleaners
Chemical cleaners often burn a channel through the plug but leave the mass behind. Water drains a little, then the plug fills again.
A bigger line problem
If the toilet and sinks are slow or gurgle too, the blockage is further down the shared line, and no shower tool will reach it.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Check whether only the shower is affected
Run the bathroom sink and flush the toilet. If they drain normally, the clog is local to the shower. If not, stop here and call a plumber.
-
Lift the cover and pull out what you see
Tool used: Rubber glovesLift the cover, or unscrew it with a flat screwdriver, and shine a phone light down the drain. Wear gloves, grab the hair mat and pull it out slowly. Bag it. Do not rinse it down the sink.
-
Plunge, unless a cleaner is in the drain
Tool used: PlungerCover the plunger cup with water, press a good seal over the drain and push firmly 10 to 15 times. This can loosen a mat just below the opening. If a chemical cleaner is still in the drain, skip this step.
-
Run the barbed strip
Tool used: Barbed plastic hair snakeSlide the strip down until it stops at the bend, wiggle it, then pull it out slowly. Hair comes up on the barbs. Repeat until it comes up clean.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Barbed plastic hair snake · A multi-pack covers the next few clogs
-
Flush and test
Run very hot tap water with a squirt of dish soap for 2 minutes. Never use boiling water, which can soften PVC. Put the cover back and watch how fast the water goes.
When free fixes aren't enough
If the strip comes up clean and the water is still slow, the clog is deeper than a strip reaches, so a mini hand-crank auger is the next step. If the drain slows again within a few weeks, hair is getting past the cover every shower, and a catcher stops that. Call a plumber if the sink and toilet are slow too, other drains gurgle, you smell sewage, or water backs up in the tub. Those mean a blocked main line. If a chemical cleaner did not work, do not reach into the standing water, because it can burn skin. Wear goggles and gloves, and tell the plumber what you used.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Barbed plastic hair clog remover strips | a hair and soap plug that holds water in the shower | Anyone with a slow or standing-water shower who wants to avoid chemicals. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Hand-crank mini drain auger | clogs past the trap that a plastic strip cannot reach | Anyone who has already run a strip and still has a slow drain, or who clears the drain often. | Check price |
Barbed plastic hair clog remover strips
Fixes: a hair and soap plug that holds water in the shower
Look for: About 18 inches or longer, enough to pass the first bend; Barbs along both edges to hook hair; Flexible plastic that will not scratch the pipe; A multi-pack so you have spares.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a slow or standing-water shower who wants to avoid chemicals.
- Honest downside
- The sink and toilet are slow too, or the strip comes up clean and the drain is still slow. Move to an auger or a plumber.
Hand-crank mini drain auger
Fixes: clogs past the trap that a plastic strip cannot reach
Look for: A cable thin enough for a shower drain opening; A plastic or coated tip that will not scratch the pipe; A crank handle with a firm grip.
- Who it's for
- Anyone who has already run a strip and still has a slow drain, or who clears the drain often.
- Honest downside
- You have old, brittle or corroded pipes. A plumber works with more control, and a forced cable can damage them.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on plumbing and drain-care guides, instructions from drain tool makers, and the problems and fixes people report in owner reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Where is the clog? Three quick clues
- Only the shower is slow: a local hair plug, or a deeper clog at the trap.
- Shower and tub or sink are both slow: a blockage in the shared branch line. A mini auger may reach it. If not, call a plumber.
- Gurgling, a sewage smell or water backing up in another fixture: a main line or vent problem. Stop running water and call a plumber.
What to skip
Wire hangers, boiling water and a second chemical cleaner
A bare metal hanger can scratch the drain and push the plug deeper. Boiling water can soften PVC joints. A second chemical cleaner on top of the first can mix into dangerous fumes and leave burning liquid standing in the shower. Pull the hair out mechanically instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my shower drain not draining after I used a snake?
Why is my shower still not draining after Drano?
Why does my shower drain slowly instead of stopping?
Can baking soda and vinegar fix a shower drain?
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