DIY Extra Hold White Tea and Ginger Hair Gel For A Defined Wash and Go

Hair gel is probably one of the most problematic hair products because it comes with a ton of downsides like flaking, dryness, hardness, and the occasional crunchiness. Because of these cons, tons of women have started making their own hair gel from natural products and ingredients that can be found at most health food stores and online apothecaries.

Not only do you now know all of the ingredients you are putting in your hair, but you are eliminating most, if not all, of the downsides that come with hair gels and their unknown chemicals.

I recently followed the trend of making hair gel at home because I couldn’t find a product that wouldn’t leave my hair crunchy and hard after a wash and go. So I did my research and came up with a great DIY extra hold white tea and ginger gel for a soft, defined wash and go.

You Will Need: 

1 oz Marshmallow Root

6 oz Flax Seeds

1 oz Coconut Oil*

1 Tbsp of Aloe Vera Gel*

1 Tsp. Guar Gum

6 Cups of Water

Measuring cup

Strainer

Wooden Spoon

Glass Jar

Directions: 

In a small saucepan or pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir 1 oz of Marshmallow root into the boiling water. After 12-15 minutes, the marshmallow root should feel like a slightly thick liquid. At this point, you should remove it from over the heat to prevent any sticking or burning.

Place the small strainer on top of the glass jar and pour the liquid produced from boiling the marshmallow root into the glass through the strainer. The strainer should collect all of the chunks of marshmallow root and only a brownish liquid should be in the jar. Keep the liquid and throw away the root.

Pour the marshmallow root liquid into a small saucepan and begin to stir over medium heat. Add in a whole teaspoon of guar gum; this is when the liquid thickens and turns into a gel. Stir until it is completely thick and free of white clumps, then scoop it out and place it back in the jar.

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 6 oz of flax seeds into the pot and stir occasionally for 10 minutes; the more flax seeds, the stronger the hold of the gel. A white foam may appear throughout the bowling session and cause overflowing so make sure your pot is large enough to prevent spilling.

Strain the liquid into the jar with the already prepared gel and dispose of the remaining flax seeds. Add in 1 oz of warm coconut oil* and cosmetic grade white tea and ginger fragrance. Put the lid on the glass jar, stir or shake the contents, and place it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

After the mixture has cooled and solidified into a gel, take your tablespoon of aloe vera gel* and stir it into the mixture. Voila, your white tea and ginger hair gel is complete and ready to use! If you are using it for a wash and go, make sure you apply a generous amount to your wet and detangled hair for the best results.

Content Facts: 

Marshmallow Root is a protein and vitamin-rich root that comes from the African plant, Althea officinalis, aka the Marshmallow Plant. It is traditionally used for medicinal purposes but it is also a thickening and binding agent.

Like Marshmallow Root, flaxseed is filled with nutrients and is a great source of protein and omega-3 that not only strengthens hair but gives it a nice, healthy shine.

Since both of these ingredients are used to thicken and bind substances, they create an extra hold when combined with the thickening agent, guar gum.

Aloe vera gel* and coconut oil* are added to moisturize and nourish hair while promoting hair growth. They also keep the hair gel from unnecessary (and annoying) flaking and crunchiness.

The added white tea and ginger fragrance is really just a nice touch, but it is important to know that if you are going to add fragrance, you need to buy a cosmetic grade. Cosmetic grade fragrance oils* are safe to use on skin, hair and are usually free of harsh chemicals. Scents that are used for candles and potpourri are filled with skin irritants and flammable chemicals so you should steer clear of these.

The majority of the ingredients in my hair gel are plant-based because I prefer vegan options but if you don’t mind animal products and want a quicker process, try replacing marshmallow root and guar gum with gelatin, cold water, and honey*.

The wooden spoon and glass jar are key factors because you will be dealing with hot liquids for most of the time and you don’t want any of the contents to burn through your container or utensils.

Remember, always be safe and swap out ingredients your allergic too and wear safety gloves and/ or an apron when mixing ingredients.