Flaxseed Gel For Curly Hair + DIY Hard Hold Flaxseed Gel Recipe - The Holistic Enchilada (2024)

If you’re tired of dry, frizzy curls, let me introduce you to flaxseed gel. This homemade hair gel works wonders for curly girls, creating the soft, long-lasting, and frizz-free curls you’ve always wanted without harmful chemicals, dryness, or the yucky flakes regular gel leaves behind.

Are you ready to learn how to create beautiful curls the natural way? Read on.

What is flaxseed gel?

You’ve seen flaxseed before. Maybe you even eat them on your oatmeal or yogurt. I know I enjoy them for their protein, omega-3s, and fiber. I knew what they did for my body, but using it on hair?

I was excited to find out flaxseeds could provide my hair with the same benefits as my body and not by consuming them, but by creating a gel. So, I could stop using store-bought products? Yes, please.

I could create homemade hair gels that I knew what went in it and it would give me the bouncy curls I desired. Sign me up!

Flaxseed Hair Gel Vs. Flaxseed Oil

You might wonder if you can use straight flaxseed oil in your hair versus making flaxseed gel. While there are flaxseed oil benefits for hair, flaxseed gel benefits often outweigh them.

First, let’s start with the benefits of straight flaxseed oil.

• Helps heal scalp – Nutrients in flaxseed oil, including fatty acids, may help moisturize the scalp if you have a dry or itchy scalp. It may also help heal serious issues, such as eczema or dandruff.
• Helps with hair growth – If you’re worried about fine hair or hair loss, flaxseed oil may nourish and stimulate hair follicles to promote growth and inhibit hair loss. The vitamin E content will also help with growth and breakage issues.

Flaxseed hair gel provides each of these same benefits but in a gel form, so it’s easier to define curls and make your hair feel lighter.

Flaxseed Hair Gel Vs. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is another homemade gel recipe to help curly hair, but which is the best gel for curly hair?

Aloe vera gel is a good moisturizing gel for curly hair but doesn’t hold as well as flaxseed hair gel. Even with its watery consistency, flaxseed hair gel holds curls much better than aloe vera gel. In addition, flaxseed hair gel provides the desired clumping you want for defined, beautiful curls, whereas aloe vera gel doesn’t.

Typically, aloe vera gel doesn’t mix well with other hair products. It may leave behind the telltale signs of flaking or crunchiness that you don’t get with flaxseed hair gel. So while you must be careful with what you layer with flaxseed hair gel, you can layer it other products with it.

Benefits of flaxseed gel on your hair

• Eliminates dryness
• Provides moisture
• Increases shine
• Reduces scalp inflammation
• Reduces frizz
• Helps curls clump
• Increases bounce
• Prevent breakage
• Improve your scalp’s health and reduce itchiness
• Encourage and stimulate hair growth
• It provides adequate hold
• Won’t cause any buildup!

Does any of this sound like something you need? If your curls are lifeless, dry, or don’t have the bounce they used to have, making your own gel may bring them back to life.

Why flaxseed gel is better than other gels

How does your hair feel when you use some store-bought gels? Crunchy? Flakey? Goopy? Dry? That’s exactly why I have stopped using certain gels in the past. Who wants the embarrassing flakes, obvious crunchiness, or that unhealthy dry look?

Flaxseed gel doesn’t do any of this, AND it provides incredible hold. Even aloe vera gel can’t do this. While it seals in moisture and provides shine, it doesn’t hold those beautiful curls all day long, but flaxseed gel does.

Store-bought gel usually includes alcohol (unless you’re using curly girl approved gel). All alcohol does is dry out your hair. Sure, it may hold your style, but is holding dry hair the style you want? What happens when you scrunch your hair after using the regular gel? It gets flaky, right? That’s probably not the look you were going for.

Flaxseed gel is also super cheap and a great low-waste option. Making flaxseed gel costs only as much as the ingredients you put in, which can be as simple as flax seeds and water. 🤑

Flaxseed gel is amazing at creating nice curl clumps to reduce frizz. Clumping is an area many struggle with, especially when first embracing your curls. Flaxseed gel helps clumps come together easier than with other styling products, dramatically reducing frizz.

My favorite benefit of DIY flaxseed gel over others is that it’s water soluble, meaning it won’t build up on my fine hair. I like to use all water-soluble products for healthy hair, and this is the cheapest water-soluble gel you’ll find!

What will you notice?

First, you won’t feel sticky. Your hair may feel a little slippery, which is why I recommend that you apply it to conditioned and detangled wet hair. You want your hands to easily slide through your curls, covering every curl with the flaxseed gel goodness.

I find that flaxseed gel leaves my hair softer and more defined than any other styling product. It does give me a cast that very easily comes out. My curls seem to clump a little better and have a lot of shine and bounce. I do notice less volume, but I think it’s because flaxseed gel is more moisturizing than other gels and creates so much more definition.

Add-ins to your flaxseed gel

Do you want to add even more goodness to your flaxseed gel? Here are a few of my favorites:

• Aloe Vera gel – If you prefer a thicker (less watery) gel, add aloe vera gel
• Shea butter – For thick, dry curls, if you want even more shine and a thicker gel, add shea butter
• Essential oils – Do you have a favorite scent? Add natural essential oils to your gel for the scent and maybe even more benefits for your hair. Lavender oil and tea tree oil are both great for strengthening hair.
• Honey – If you worry about moisture, add raw honey to your gel to draw it in.
• Emollients (argan oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and more) – If you want moisturizing properties without a humectant’s frizz, add a few drops of lightweight oil help.
• Collagen peptides – For an added boost of protein to add hold and give your curls more shape and bounce, some hydrolyzed collagen will do the trick
• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) – Epsom salt is commonly added to DIY hairspray recipes because it creates a stronger hold. Add some into your DIY flaxseed gel for more hold and to enhance curl. BUT leave it out if you have dry or damaged hair, as Epsom salt can cause drying for some people. (source)
• Preservative – If you want a little more life out of your flaxseed oil, add natural preservatives, and you’ll get several months out of it. I like to use Optiphen, but there are many options.

How to make flaxseed gel

This is my simple recipe for a hard-hold version. Basic flaxseed gel is just water and flax seeds, but I added a few other ingredients based on their benefits and my hair.

This recipe works best on my hair compared to other recipes I have tried. I also added a preservative because I know I won’t use it within 2 weeks and am not a fan of mold and bacteria in my products.

Flaxseed Hair Gel Recipe

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How to use flaxseed gel

Like any DIY recipe for curly girls, certain steps make it work better. Here’s what I’ve found.

• Give your hair a nice, deep clean. If you have a lot of product buildup, consider a clarifying shampoo.
• Don’t skimp on the conditioner. Make sure you thoroughly detangle your hair so the gel reaches every curl.
• After showering, apply your leave-in if you use one, and squeeze out as much water as you can. Apply the flaxseed hair mask gel in sections, carefully working it through each of your hair strands, combing it through with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Don’t dry your hair before application.
• Don’t go too light. Usually, the more flaxseed gel you use, the better. This isn’t like a traditional alcohol-based gel that will look crunchy or obvious that you’re wearing gel. More is better in this case (even for my fine hair).
• Don’t touch your hair after you apply it. I know it’s tempting, but just like any other product, if you touch your curls, you create frizz.
• If you use any other products, ensure they are water-based to avoid excessive flaking. It’s not recommended to pair flaxseed gel with other stylers.
• Many people say diffusing gives you the best results. I did not try air drying, so I can’t say but keep this in mind if you try air drying.

Frequently asked questions

Can There Be Negative Flaxseed Hair Gel Side Effects?

Like any new product, there could be less than desirable side effects of using flaxseed hair gel, but it varies by person. While it promotes hair health, there are some adverse side effects some people experience.

For example, you may experience redness or itching if you are sensitive to flaxseed. Some people may also experience a rash or acne. Test it on a small area first to see how your skin reacts to ensure it’s safe.

Can You Leave Flaxseed Gel In Your Hair?

Yes, the gel should stay in your hair until your next shampoo. Don’t worry; it won’t flake or make your hair crunchy. It provides shine and a bounce in your curls that you’ll love.

What’s in Flaxseed That Makes It Great For Hair?

Flaxseed is packed with vitamin E, Omega-3s, and fiber, all of which your hair needs for strength, elasticity, and shine.

Does Flaxseed Expire- How Long Does The Gel Last?

The right flaxseed gel recipe should have a shelf life of a week or two in the fridge, but if you add a preservative, it will last several months.

Some people freeze their flaxseed gel in ice cubes and take out one cube at a time.

Is It Hard To Make Flaxseed Gel?

With my flaxseed gel recipe, it’s easy and, dare I say, fun? I personally love knowing what’s in my hair products, so I enjoy making flaxseed gel, among other products.

How Often Should I Use The Gel?

You can use it as often as you want, BUT make sure you wash your hair first. If you didn’t wash your hair, don’t reapply the gel to dry hair. You’ll get flakes if you do that.

I find that you can apply some to refresh your hair the next day only if you wet your hair first.

Is Flaxseed Gel Curly Girl Approved?

Yes, it is! Since flaxseed gel is water soluble, as long as you don’t add any silicones to it, then it’s curly girl method approved.

Fall in Love with your Curly Hair Again

Create the beautiful curls and healthy hair you desire with ingredients you may even have at home. Flaxseeds are a wonderful nutrient for your internal organs but are great for your hair too. Creating your own flaxseed gel puts you in control of what goes in your hair, giving you the best chance at moisturized, shiny, and beautiful natural curls.

Not into DIY life?

No problem, below are a few great premade options you can buy online.

• A Simple Planet Flaxseed Hair Gel – great basic gel for all hair types
• Miribel Naturals Flaxseed Gel – great for dry and protein sensitive hair
• Ecoslay Orange Marmalade – not a true flaxseed gel but it contains flaxseed extract
• Curl Mix Pure Flaxseed Gel – this is a small sample you can purchase

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