Homemade Hair Gel for Amazing Hold and Style (also Tame Frizz)
Are you looking for a no-fuss recipe to make hair gel or rice or maybe both?
When I decided I wanted to learn cooking, I knew I didn’t want to burden myself with an exhaustive list of ingredients to create a complex dish which I would rather frame and not eat.
So I went to my mother with the desire to learn cooking with few ingredients, requiring minimal time and energy. And she taught me to cook perfect rice. Now every time I cook rice, I follow her simple formula, and I get perfect fluffy rice.
What if life gives you such simple formulas for everything? Well, they may not be easy to find. Or what if they are?
I am going to share with you a recipe of homemade hair styling gel that’s not only simple to make but will also give your hair amazing hold, texture, definition and gloss. And you need just two ingredients: flaxseed and water. Yup, nothing more.
But before we see how to make it, let’s find out why make hair gel at home…
Why Make Your Own Hair Gel?
Because it works and it’s easy to make, and you know what goes into it. Whereas, the store-bought gel can contain preservatives, artificial fragrance, colours and other hormone-disrupting ingredients, which can irritate the scalp and give you an itchy rash, thereby causing more harm than good.
Besides, many a time, you douse your hair with all those chemicals, and you are not even getting beautiful hair. So why not give flaxseed gel a try.
Flaxseeds contain high amounts of a gluey, slimy substance called mucilage. It’s released when you cook the seeds with water, turning water into a gel-like consistency. This slimy gel will provide hold, definition and style to your hair.
What’s more, flaxseed gel is not just for external appearances. Since it’s made with natural seeds and that too ‘very beneficial seeds for hair’, it will offer your hair so much more. Flaxseeds are tiny but incredibly nutrient-dense. They are rich in omega-3 fatty, protein, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc and more. All these nutrients are super moisturising and nourishing for hair. Along with good looking hair, you can expect less hair fall and faster and healthier hair growth.
Here’s what flaxseed gel can do for your hair:
- Gives hair nice hold with definition
- Enhances curls and waves
- Spikes short hair
- Tames frizz and flyaways
- Moisturises hair and leaves it soft, shiny and bouncy
- You will also notice less shedding and faster hair growth
How To Make Hair Gel With Flaxseeds
As promised, the basic hair gel requires only two things: flaxseeds and water. No extras if you don’t want to add. But for the hair enthusiasts who wish to add more stuff, I have given few additions below that work well with flaxseeds. So wear your DIY hats, and let’s get making, shall we…
You will need:
- 1/4 cup flaxseeds
- 2 cups water
Making:
- Place flaxseeds and water in a pot and bring to a boil. You will notice white froth on the top.
- Now reduce the flame and let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. During this time, you need to stir it constantly. While you are doing, you will see the water turn to a gel-like consistency.
- The best way to check if your gel is ready is to do a spoon test. Dip the spoon into the cooking gel and watch it drop back into the pan. If it drops too quickly, it needs some more cooking. When the gel starts to run off the spoon in a string form, then it’s done.
- Strain with a steel strainer whilst it’s still hot (use the back of a spoon to press the gel out of the seeds as best as you can). The gel will get thicker as it cools down.
- Once cool, get styling your hair.
Take 1/4 cup flaxseeds and 2 cups water.
Place flaxseeds and water in a pot and bring to a boil. You will notice white froth on the top. Now reduce the flame and let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
The best way to check if your gel is ready is to do a spoon test. When the gel starts to run off the spoon in a string form, then it’s done.
Strain with a steel strainer whilst it’s still hot. The gel will get thicker as it cools down.
Customise Your Flaxseed Gel
The beauty of making flaxseed gel at home is you can put other ingredients to suit your hair needs. It’s like making your own designer gel.
Things to add after flaxseed gel has cooled down:
Aloe vera gives hair a sleek, defined look and adds shine. You can add a tablespoon of aloe gel.
Coconut oil helps lock in moisture and gives hair a soft, conditioned look. Add a tablespoon of coconut oil into the gel and whisk well. You can also try other oils like almond, castor or avocado oil.
Glycerine is a natural humectant and helps to attract moisture from the air. Use a teaspoon if your hair needs extra moisturisation.
Citric acid helps with pH balancing and also great for high porosity hair. Add a tiny pinch (1/4 teaspoon) to the gel.
Things to add when making the flaxseed gel:
Marshmallow root and hibiscus: for those of you with very tangly hair, add a tablespoon of marshmallow root and hibiscus flowers along with flaxseeds. This will help provide slip for easy combing and detangling.
Now that you know about making the gel, and adding all the extras, let find out how you can use it to make your hair behave and look great.
How to Use flaxseed Gel to Style your Hair
The gel works best when you put it on wet hair after shampooing. Take a small amount and rub it in your palms. Apply to your hair from the roots to the ends. If you have thick and long hair, work in a smaller section, and if you have short and fine hair, you can work in a larger section.
For those with curly, wavy hair, use your hands to scrunch the ends to encourage curls and waves. Once the gel is on your hair, don’t manipulate it too much, wait for it to dry before styling.
As with all new thing, it will take 2-3 application to know how to and how much to apply and get comfortable styling with homemade flaxseed gel.
How do you store the Flaxseed Gel?
As we are not adding any preservatives, you have to store it in the fridge. It will keep for a week. But you can extend the shelf life by freezing flaxseed gel in ice cube trays and popping out a cube or two each time you want to style your hair.
Mistakes to Avoid: When making flaxseed gel, don’t let the gel get too thick as it will be difficult to strain. But don’t worry if gets thick, just add more water and make it thinner, and strain whilst it’s still hot. Matter solved.
That was simple to make flaxseed gel. Have fun creating, see you next time…and with the hope you and I find many more simple formulas to make hair and life in general better.
Do let me know how flaxseed gel works for you…
