Make Hair Gel

Hair styling products can be expensive and unhealthy, but you can protect your health and your wallet by making some of these products at home. It is possible to avoid the harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances and dyes frequently found in store-bought goods. Creating your own hair care products allows you to have complete control over what goes into them. Making hair gel is a very straightforward process that requires only a few ingredients. Just follow these steps to learn how to make simple gelatin gel and flaxseed gel.

Steps

Making Flax Seed Gel

  1. Buy flax seeds. Flax seeds produce a gel that works wonderfully on curly, coarse or frizzy hair.[1] It adds shine and tames flyaways. Flax seeds are available at most grocery stores and health food stores. Make sure you get raw, unflavored flax seeds that have not been toasted or flavored with spices.
  2. Boil 1/4 cup flax seeds and 1 cup water. Place both items in a small saucepan and heat them on the stove over medium high heat until the water comes to a rolling boil.
  3. Turn down the heat. Once the water and seeds have come to a boil, turn down the heat until the water slows to a simmer. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon and let it cook for 10 minutes. The seeds will start producing a gel.
  4. Cook the liquid down. Continue cooking and stirring the liquid until the water has cooked down and reached the consistency of a gel. Keep cooking until it has the same consistency as aloe or a store-bought hair gel.
    • If your hair is extremely curly, you may find it easier to apply a looser gel. Take the gel off of the heat while it's still a little runny, so it will be easier to smooth through your hair.
    • If your hair is not curly, let the gel thicken as much as you want. It will provide a stiffer hold if you let it get thick.
  5. Strain gel. Pour the gel through cheesecloth into a bowl, or straight into the container you want to use to store it. If the gel is thick, you may have to squeeze it a bit to help it through the cloth. Continue straining until you've gotten as much of the gel through the cloth as you can, then throw away the cloth and the seeds.
    • Use a new pair of pantyhose if you don't have cheesecloth on hand.
  6. Add other ingredients. You can customize the gel to your preferences by adding a few drops of essential oil, aloe, or a moisturizing ingredient like liquid vitamin E. Stir the extra ingredients well so that they're distributed throughout the gel.
  7. Store the gel. Place the gel in a glass container with a lid and keep it in the refrigerator. It will keep for several weeks. Use on dry hair or smooth it through wet hair after a shower.

Making Gelatin Gel

  1. Pour 1 cup (8 oz.) of warm water into a glass jar. Be sure to choose a jar with a lid, so you can store your gel to use later. A mason jar or an old cosmetic jar are both good options.
  2. Mix in 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of unflavored gelatin. Unflavored gelatin can be found in most grocery stores on the baking aisle. Resist the temptation to use flavored gelatin; the sugars and dyes in flavored gelatin aren't good for your hair.
  3. Scent the liquid. Drop 2 to 3 drops of essential oil into the jar to create a fragrant gel. Essential oils can be found in many health food, hobby and specialty stores. Don't add too much essential oil, since these substances are strong; a little goes a long way.
    • Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids that have been derived naturally from the stems, flowers and roots of plants. They contain the purest essence of plants and can benefit the condition of skin, hair and organs.
    • Essential oils that provide the most benefit to hair health are lavender, coconut, rosemary and tea tree oils. You do not have to limit your options to only these oils for this hair gel recipe. You can also choose an oil that has a fragrance that is pleasing you.
  4. Stir the mixture with a spoon until it is well blended. Make sure the gelatin is completely dissolved and the oil gets distributed throughout the liquid.
  5. Cover the jar with the lid. If you leave it uncovered it may get contaminated with food particles or other debris, or pick up the smells from the food in your refrigerator. Keep it fresh by covering it with a lid.
  6. Set the gel. Put the covered jar in the refrigerator and allow the gel set for 3 to 5 hours. Within that time it will begin to take on a solid form, like jello.
    • Your hair gel will be ready to use after it has set. Check the consistency before using. It should be similar to that of store-bought hair gel.
    • Use the same amount of this hair gel as you would any store-bought variety. The amount you need will vary according to the length and thickness of your hair.
  7. Store this homemade hair gel in the refrigerator. If you let it sit out of the refrigerator, it will turn back into liquid.



Tips

  • Making your own products at home can have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of chemicals you put in your body, in the atmosphere and in the water. The use of glass jars instead of plastic can help prevent the leeching of BPA into your products. Thick, sticky products can be much easier to clean out of glass containers, allowing them to be more readily reused or recycled.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 cup (8 oz.) warm water
  • 1 tsp. (5ml) unflavored gelatin
  • Jar with a lid
  • Spoon
  • Essential oil (optional)

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ creativelycc.hubpages.com/hub/Make-Your-Own-Natural-Hair-Gel
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