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How to make a natural hair gel using flaxseeds for safe, nontoxic hair care. Works especially well for curly heads!
I first learned about how to make a natural flaxseed hair gel from a friend who told me that she was looking into making some herself at home.
She suggested I look into it also as we both have long curly hair.
I started researching the idea of making this personal haircare product for myself right away as I found the concept intriguing. I’ve had success in the past making rice water for hair, and I also blend my own deep conditioning hair mask. So why not try my hand at making gel too?
I scoured the internet for various recipes and started experimenting to see which would work best for my type of hair. (1)
In the video included with the recipe below, I demonstrate the best natural hair gel formulation I tried for curly or wavy hair, and it only takes about 10 minutes to make!
Commercial vs Natural Hair Gel
If you use store hair gel, I would recommend that you give this homemade gel a whirl and see what you think.
If you’ve ever checked the label on commercial hair gels, you know that they are loaded with chemicals and synthetic fragrances.
Even though these toxins aren’t going to absorb into your bloodstream like they would if you slathered it on your skin, these chemicals still get on your pillowcase at night potentially contacting your skin while you sleep. Â
In addition, anything on your hair is close to your nose so you would breathe in the hormone-disrupting fragrances.
I would particularly recommend this natural hair gel if you are pregnant or nursing as you don’t want to come into daily contact with the toxins that could potentially harm your baby.
Do you make your own homemade, natural hair gel? Â If so, please share your recipe in the comments section!
The natural hair gel I demonstrate in the video below is made with flax seeds, but there are many other ways to make it. Â
Don’t worry that you can’t use this recipe if you have thyroid issues because flax seeds are a bit goitrogenic. Â
While this would be a problem if you ate them, putting them on your hair is fine!
Homemade Hair Gel How-to Video
Flaxseed Hair Gel Recipe
Makes about 4 oz
Ingredients
1 cup filtered water
2 Tbl organic whole flax seeds (sources)
Few drops of essential oils for natural fragrance (optional)
Few drops of aloe vera gel for a moisturizing effect (optional)
Directions
Bring the cup of filtered water to a boil. Â Stir in the flax seeds, turn down the heat to medium and let simmer for between 7-10 minutes.
*Do not simmer longer than 10 minutes else you won’t be able to strain out the flax seeds from the gel.
Strain out the flax seeds using a strainer or fine cheesecloth and let the gel cool. Mix a few drops of essential oils and/or aloe vera if desired.
Pour natural hair gel into a small bottle and use immediately or refrigerate.
Pour a dollop into the palm of your hand and mix through wet hair as frequently as desired.
Because this natural hair gel has no preservatives, it will last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
I’ve not frozen this natural hair gel before as I prefer to use it fresh or cold out of the fridge. But if you’ve tried it, let us know if it maintains the proper consistency when it thaws!
I am currently looking for a good thermal guard/anti friz treatment for hair that does not affect ones lungs or skin poorly? This is for long, Straight hair with a little body, but not curly. Most everything on the shelves hurt my lungs, especially after blown dry. I am getting tired of looking.
After watching that video, I am really exited to use this gel on my hairs…
I am wondering what you do to clean your hair. I have very similar hair and have been using the conditioner-only cleansing method for years now, but would love something a little cheaper and more natural. The baking soda/vinegar idea that is popular was terrible for my hair – very drying. I am interested in trying this gel. I have lots of curls, but my hair is fine and gets very limp very quickly.
Very nice and very healthy tip for health because its natural
Hair styling Tips, Tricks and Ideas
I made a batch using rosewater. It smelled funny while it was still hot, but once cooled, it smells wonderful! I’m going to use some orange blossom water next.
I have been making this hair gel (without EO’s) for years. I love it!
I have waist length curly hair and it works wonderfully. Initally I made it during
a time where we were very tight on money, but now, I would never go back to
store bought stuff!
A hint I didn’t see mentioned: it helps to add honey to prevent frizz. I just eye the honey into the gel when it hot and stir with a fork. I also store it in a peri bottle in the fridge, it is easier to apply that way. I wrap my hair in an old cotton t-shirt after applying it helps the drying process and gives me less frizz.
Rachel thanks for the “slime” idea. My grand daughter has been wanting to buy that stuff and I refuse. I’ll be making some for her tommorrow colored with beet juice.
V ivian –
Great idea! I’d be curious to hear how the slime-making goes. ☺ One suggestion: try using either more water or less seeds and/or cooking it longer to make the mixture thicker and easier to hold. Won’t your granddaughter be surprised when you tell her it’s edible (though definitely not advisable if the slime goes everywhere the store-bought slime typically goes). ☺
Rachel
Okay, so I’d made three different batches of this gel the other day. (See my post above regarding reusing the flax seeds in subsequent batches.) This evening, I was reheating some bean mixture on the stove and it was a bit dry. I’d already throw out the “bean juice” from cooking, and I didn’t have any broth to use to add moisture to the mix. I saw the gel in the fridge and thought, hmm. No weird odor. Doesn’t seem like it would affect the taste of beans. It might even add nutrients….
So, after my kids finished their beans, I disclosed the fact that they’d just eaten some of Mom’s hair gel (clean batch, of course). The look on their faces was priceless. ☺ (After they smelled it and watched me pour it back and forth between two jars, they were fascinated by the gooey substance. My sons decided it was as good as the colored “slime” in the stores.)
Then I got curious, and Googled it. Turns out that consuming “boiled flaxseed oil” has other health benefts, including clearing mucus from the lungs and helping rid the body of disease.
Awesome! I’m drinking a version of the orange drink as I type. I got right up when I read the link you posted and made some. I’ve had horrible congestion and a cough that doubles me over (and makes me cross my legs – oy!) for a week. I’m now hoping that’s gone by morning. I didn’t have orange juice concentrate, so I used a fresh clementine and raw honey instead of sugar. It’s very palatable.
By the way, I was also happy to find a use for the flaxseed oil, as it didn’t do well on my hair yesterday… guess I won’t be retiring that flat iron just yet (re: my comment above).
Thanks, Rachel!
your curls are pretty, sister, if not easy to manage!
hmmm, maybe. i did try the gelatin version. didn’t love it. curly hair changes so much each season, too and what works keeps changing. plus, then there’s the grey component. ah, what fun it is!!!