Curly Hair Salvation: Flax Seed DIY Gel

Curly haired women listen up! You don’t need a bunch of chemical-laden serums and gels that weigh hair down, feel crunchy, or leave behind a dull residue. We’ve got a curly hair gel recipe you’re going to love!

You can have a luscious head of curls with a completely natural DIY recipe that I created,which is more effective than any store-bought product I’ve ever found. I have a lot of very curly hair, and I’ve been using this recipe for over five years to create shiny, frizz-free curls.

This flax seed gel is amazing because it doesn’t flake like a normal alcohol-based gel and it doesn’t leave behind a yucky residue. Meaning, you’ll need to wash your hair less often, something your curly hair will really appreciate! And here’s the best part, you can apply it generously even on hot and humid days without it looking heavy.

My recommendation is to apply the gel on damp hair, then let it air-dry. Once dried, gently scrunch the hair until it is soft.

Easy DIY, natural recipe for gorgeous ringlets

For this project, you’ll need a large sauce pan, a mesh strainer, a large glass bowl, a spoon and a container to store your hair gel once you’re finished.

This recipe is very flexible. Once you’ve made this gel a few times, you can always tweak and adjust your measurements to suit your needs. You can always add more or less water and flax seeds.

The proportions in the recipe below are what I use and work wonderfully for most people.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons of flax seeds
• Optional ingredients: aloe vera (2 ounces) and essential oil for scent (2-3 drops max)

Directions:

Boil the water on medium heat. When it reaches a boil, add the flax seeds and let simmer for 10 minutes. You will want to keep a watchful eye while it’s simmering, and stir frequently so the flax seeds do not stick to the bottom of your pan. You will see a gelatinous mixture form that will look like egg whites. (You’re almost done!)

Once it’s finished simmering, remove from heat and put the mixture through a strainer. You’ll want to act fast during this step because this gel will thicken as it cools.

In the picture above, you can see the gel from the strainer is already nice and thick. If you would like to include some aloe vera gel to the mixture, add it now while the gel is still warm and stir well. If you’re using essential oils, add them once the gel has cooled. Wash your pot and utensils immediately!

Once cooled, store the gel in a clean jar or travel container. This gel is preservative-free so it will keep for a 1-2 weeks in the fridge. If you have extra gel left over, or would like to make a larger amount, you can safely freeze it. This gel freezes well in ice cube trays.

Alright all you curly-headed gals, I’d love to hear how this worked for you! Leave a comment below.

About Our Guest Contributor:

Marnie Cipriani, 43, is the founder of the skin care line Pelle Beauty™ in Toronto. Holding both a business degree and a cosmetology license, her passion and enthusiasm have remained focused. For over two decades she has been an aficionado in the beauty industry.

Starting out as a Makeup Artist and Consultant, her detail-oriented attention to perfecting image is equally matched by her knowledge and first-hand experience of how one cares for their skin.

The impact is as direct as her mantra; if your skin glows radiantly, so do you as a person. In her off time, she passionately pursues DIY projects that are healthy & fun for her family and promote clean living.

All photos by Marnie Cipriani.