Natural Hair Gel - DIY

Recently I have been getting a lot of requests for a natural hair gel recipe. If you ever look at the label of a commercial hair gel, you would probably find things like:

Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Triisopropanolamine, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Oxybenzone, Isobutane, Benzyl Salicylate.

These chemicals are often endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, and/or have other toxic effects on our bodies and on the environment. So finding a natural alternative to a commercial hair gel is definitely worth it.

This is a very simple recipe for a natural hair gel. It only requires two main ingredients – gelatin (unflavoured) and water – and takes just a couple of minutes to put together. For a vegan version, you can substitute the gelatin with agar agar. You can also add aloe vera gel for additional moisture and essential oils if you like it to be scented. Now you’re ready for a nice hair day!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon unflavoured gelatin (you might need slightly more if you are using agar agar), depending on how much hold you prefer
• 1/2 cup hot water (optional: you can use distilled water for longer shelf life)
• 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel (optional)
• 4-6 drops essential oils of your choice. Here are some suggestions:
  • Peppermint and rosemary for normal hair
  • Basil, thyme, patchouli, tea tree and lemongrass for oily hair
  • Chamomile, lavender, sandalwood and rosemary for dry hair.
  • Clary sage, tea tree, eucalyptus, and patchouli for treating dandruff

Directions:

1. Heat the water up and add the gelatin in. Then stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved.
2. Add the aloe vera gel and essential oils if you are using them.
3. Transfer the mixture into a clean glass jar or your preferred product container.
4. Place the mixture in the fridge for 1-2 hours until it solidifies.
5. Use as you would with conventional hair gel. If you store it in the fridge between uses, and it should last for 2 weeks.