This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Style your hair easily and on a budget with this DIY hair gel! Dive into this recipe, where I show you how to make hair gel from scratch using just two basic ingredients.
I know it sounds weird, but it works amazingly well! And with just two ingredients, this recipe for homemade hair gel is totally worth a go.
Perhaps for that wonderful man in your life who occasionally favors a wet gel or sculptured style look on their hair? Or maybe for you too! This is a great product to have on standby when you need it.
Read on to discover the recipe!
How to make hair gel
You will need:
- 2/3 cup of distilled water
- 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin
Instructions:
- Warm the water in a small saucepan to 150°F. (This just helps the gelatin to dissolve better)
- Dissolve the gelatin. Be aware that it’s going to get stringy and clump together. Don’t add more; just keep stirring, and it’ll eventually dissolve.
- Once it’s dissolved, transfer it to an airtight container with the lid off to set it up in the fridge. This will take several hours to set up.
- Once it has set up, secure the lid and store it in the fridge. Use it as needed!
How to use homemade hair gel
The secret with most hair styling products is this: Less is more.
Now, with this particular hair gel, you’ll find as you take it out of the fridge, it will be all gelled up.
Scoop a small amount with your fingertips and rub it between your hands to warm it first, and only then apply it to your hair.
Work it through a little before using a comb or brush to even it out. Essentially, use this hair gel like you would any conventional hair styling gel.
Remember that gel is a hair-styling product. It’ll firm up once it dries on your hair, so go sparingly and only apply to the tips of the hair you want to style.
Oh, and style it before it hardens for the best results!
Benefits of homemade hair gel
100% natural ingredients: This means it’s far better for your hair than synthetic, fragrance-heavy styling products.
Environmental benefits: Nothing in this homemade hair gel will harm the environment, and it washes out cleanly without harming the drain pipes.
It’s simple to make and use: 2 ingredients! That’s all. Compared to store-bought hair gel, the ingredients on this hair gel barely cover one sentence. Haha!
It washes out easily: Have you or your other half ever had hair gel that seemingly takes days to wash out? Or worse, ends up in ghastly white flakes all over your hairbrush and clothing?
Well, not with this gel. That’s a real plus – it washes out easily with no residue.
A couple of notes regarding this hair gel recipe
This hair gel recipe provides a medium hold. You can adjust the amount of gelatin to provide a stronger or lighter hold.
This hair gel is not for everyone. My husband will use this gel from time to time, but he actually prefers a hair pomade for styling.
So I mostly have this hair gel to myself, and it easily lasts for 2 weeks with extras left over. If you use hair gel daily, you might consider doubling the recipe.
I also have a styling cream recipe, which you might prefer to a gel.
My advice is to try them all out and see which you like! The finish is different when you use either a gel, pomade, or cream.
Hair gel is completely different from hair pomade. Put simply, a pomade provides a shiny finish with a medium to strong hold, gel offers a stronger hold still with a wet look, while styling cream gives a more natural finish with a lighter to medium hold.
FAQs
What ingredient makes the hair gel hold?
In this recipe, it’s the gelatin that provides the hold. The good thing about gelatin is it’s a natural product that works great as a hair styling product.
Can I use Vaseline as hair gel?
I wouldn’t recommend Vaseline as it’s super greasy and doesn’t harden up to provide a firm hold, like the homemade hair gel recipe in this post does.
How should I store this homemade hair gel?
You must store it in the fridge and use it within two weeks. Gelatin doesn’t last as it’s a meat-based product without any preservatives; however, I’m working on another hair styling recipe right now, which will last longer. Watch this space!
Do you have a vegan hair styling product recipe?
Yes, I do! My DIY styling cream recipe is vegan.
Is gelatin good for the hair?
Yes, I think it is! And this source agrees with me.
Gelatin is primarily made up of protein, which is great for hair strength and durability.
The fact is that this homemade hair gel recipe contains no added fragrances, preservatives, or synthetic ingredients, making it gentle to use on your hair and suitable for regular use.
Summary
So there you have it. An easy, natural, two-ingredient method to make your own hair gel at home.
Will you make this recipe and try it out? I’d love to hear how it works for you if you do, so please leave a comment or review in the section below.
More great hair recipes.
- How to naturally dye hair with black tea
- How to make a natural hair toner
- How to lighten hair naturally
How To Make Hair Gel
Equipment
- A jar for storage
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup of distilled water
- 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin
Instructions
- Warm the water in a small saucepan to 150°F (this helps the gelatin to dissolve)
- Dissolve the gelatin. Just be aware that it’s going to get stringy and clump together. Don’t add more; just keep stirring, and it’ll eventually dissolve.
- Once it’s dissolved, transfer it to an airtight container with the lid off to set it up in the fridge. This will take several hours.
- Finally, secure the lid and store it in the fridge. Use it as needed!
