I'm kind of a closet curly girl. It's not that I don't embrace my naturally curly hair, it's just that I often prefer a ponytail rather than experiment with a variety of products, methods, weather and days of the week that may or may not result in my hair curling “right” and looking decent enough to go out in public.
If you don't have curly hair, or unmanageable hair, or hair that frustrates you in its unwillingness to just do what you want it to do, you may not need this hair gel recipe, because you probably haven't spent most of your teenage-to-adult life searching for that holy grail hair product that will make your hairstyling process flawless every time you use it.
I'm not saying that this homemade organic hair gel is that magic hair product for myself and other curly-haired women. After all, I've approached nearly everyone I've ever seen with amazingly-styled curly hair and asked excitedly, “What products do you use?” With that tiny hope that whatever product they use will magically make my hair look just like theirs. (note: it rarely does, and it never lasts.)
Instead of making promises I can't keep, I'd rather tell you that anyone with a saucepan, a stove and a handful of flaxseeds can make this hair gel in minutes and it will literally cost just pennies for your efforts. Further, it can easily be organic, and the only ingredients are flaxseeds and water. From what I understand, neither of those things will do any type of damage to your hair and the proteins in the flax may actually condition it and make it healthier than ever!
Let me sum this up for you: It will cost you about $0.28 to make it, it will take about 15 minutes to make about two cups (that's a lot of gel!), it might make your hair healthier and it could possibly be the magic potion of a curly-hair gel that you've been waiting your entire life to find. Why not order some flax seeds or run to the drugstore to get some and get ready to make some gel?
Homemade Organic Flaxseed Hair Gel Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup whole flaxseeds
- Essential oil (optional)
- Combine water and flaxseeds in a small saucepan on the stove over medium heat.
- Stirring often with a wooden spoon, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Leave the pan on the burner but turn the heat off. Stir occasionally as the solution begins to cool. As it cools it will continue to thicken. When it resembles the consistency of egg whites take it off the burner and let it cool completely.
- After it cools, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth. I actually used a section from a new pair of (cheap) pantyhose because I never have cheesecloth!
- Stir in a few drops of essential oil if you want to scent your homemade hair gel
- Store your gel in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
Use your homemade hair gel as you would usually use any other gel with “hold” properties in your hair. I applied it to wet hair, then scrunched my hair and let it air dry. Here's what it looked like once it was dry:
After that I scrunched the “crispiness” out of the curls and my curls remained curly all day!
With whole flaxseeds priced as low as $0.15 per ounce* your hair gel will end up costing you just $0.01 per liquid ounce. That two cup batch in the recipe above costs all of $0.15 to make!
*Although it costs more per ounce you might be better off buying a single pound of flaxseeds rather than the large quantity of flaxseeds if you're buying them for the first time!
If you have naturally curly hair, check out my story about everyone wanting the hair they don't have.
Have you ever made your own hair gel before? Leave a comment sharing your recipe!
Suz Greer says
Do you know if this will work with ground flax seed? I have a bunch from Costoco…
Marybeth Hamilton says
It might, but you’ll have to be more careful when you strain it.
Jen says
So, I made this over the weekend and have used it every morning. I love it! But it’s not really a gel—mine came out more like slime. Have you tried it in a pump bottle or anything like that? I feel like it might be easier to use it at this consistency.
Marybeth Hamilton says
Hi Jen, I’m so glad you love it! I haven’t used it in a spray bottle because I like the consistency.
I also use the hair gel when my hair is pretty wet out of the shower, so I don’t mind that the gel is more liquid than traditional hair gel.
Angela says
Mine is like slime as well. I use a flip top squeeze bottle like the containers at Walgreen’s. I had been using it as a setting gel for when I wear my hair straight. I’m excited about using it for my naturally curly hair.
Maggie Plumberina says
That is so awesome. I have tried so many products that are disappointing or really expensive. I am going to try this. Thank you so much for posting. 🙂
Linzy says
Mine isn’t straining through the cheesecloth. It’s very thick. Not sure what to do now…
Victoria Otto says
mine too:(
Sandra Rooks says
What is the shelf life?
Marybeth Hamilton says
It needs to be refrigerated in a sealed container. If you do that it lasts about two weeks.
Dave says
How long will it keep
Marybeth Hamilton says
If you refrigerate it in a sealed container it lasts about two weeks.
Laura Daniel says
I have had trouble with it turning out too thick… Perhaps I cooked the flax seeds too long? Straining them through cheesecloth then did not work at all; the pantyhose did a better job. I like the product a lot, but not the process!
BTW, I left one batch on the bathroom counter and it turned rancid or something nasty really quickly, so I definitely recommend storing it in the refrigerator!!
Georgeanna says
I have been meaning to try this. I currently make my own gel using 1 teaspoon plain Knox gelatin to 1 cup boiling water. Stir till all dissolved, add a few drops of Rosemary eo and Lavender eo. Also has to be kept in the fridge. I pour it into one of those squeeze bottles they use for hair color. Try it. Super easy.No straining. You can adjust the strength of the hold by using more or less than the 1 teaspoon of gelatin to the cup of water.