Step 3 · Extract the Clog with a Hair Snake

This is the step people usually slow down on. Go finger-tight first, then a quarter turn. No rush — replay the clip whenever it helps.

Take your plastic hair snake and insert the barbed end into the drain opening. Push the tool down into the pipe, feeding it in until you feel resistance; this is the clog. Once you hit the clog, rotate the tool several times in a circular motion. The barbs are designed to snag and entangle the hair. After rotating, slowly and carefully pull the tool straight back out. A large mass of hair and soap scum should be attached. Use a paper towel to clean the tool and dispose of the gunk in your bucket. Repeat this process two or three more times, trying to go a bit deeper each time, to ensure you have removed the entire clog.