Best Flaxseed Gel for Curly Hair: Very Easy Recipe

Gel and curly hair can be a great combination if you use the right formula. Homemade flaxseed gel is a great product to add to your curly hair routine, because it’s a natural product that creates beautiful curls and good hold.

Plus, flaxseed gel for curly hair is very easy to make with just a few nutritional ingredients that can bring your curls back to life. Especially when you compare it to sticky and dehydrating gels found in your local beauty aisle.

So here’s a simple recipe and all you need to know about making your own homemade hair gel and curl enhancer!

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How do you make flaxseed gel at home?

Creating homemade hair products can be very beneficial for your tresses. Sometimes going back to basics can help your curls reset instead of using chemical-ridden gels or multiple products at once.

Plus, when you get compliments on your curls you’ll be lucky enough to say that you made your hair products yourself!

This flaxseed hair gel is one of the easiest recipes to follow and doesn’t take long to make. It’s also very Curly Girl Method proof and affordable.

Here’s what you need to buy and the easiest method to follow:

Flaxseed gel ingredients

As a basic you will need the 3 following items:

• 1/3 cup of whole brown flaxseed (buy organic flaxseed if you want to avoid pesticides)
• 2 cups of water
• cheesecloth or an old pair of stockings (pantyhose/tights) for straining the mixture
• a small mason jar

Can I add oils to my flaxseed gel?

Do you have dry hair? If your curls have additional needs such as locking in moisture, then you can make a DIY flaxseed oil by adding essential oils into the mix or other additional ingredients.

If you have low porosity hair you’re probably better off without adding any oil.

• Collagen Peptides: add 1 teaspoon – If your curls could do with a protein treatment hydrolyzed collagen can give your curls more shape and improve elasticity. Although if your hair is protein sensitive, be mindful of possible protein overload!

• Oils: add 15 drops or more – Including essential oils to flaxseed hair gel can be a good move if your curls are lacking moisture. Although flaxseed gel is less drying than other gel formulas, curly hair loves to be moisturized and oil such as jojoba oil and coconut oil can reduce frizz. You can also add olive oil or a little bit of castor oil if you like.

Some people even add aloe vera juice for extra moisture (add 1/4 cup) and/or marshmallow root to prevent hair breakage. It also helps to condition a dry scalp and hair (add 1/4 cup).

Recipe: homemade flaxseed gel for curly hair

Once you have all of the items you’re ready to start making flaxseed hair gel with this very easy recipe. You can either use it on dry or wet hair, but for best results use it on your wet curly hair.

Step 1

Add your two cups of water and flaxseeds to a saucepan.

Step 2

Let it boil over medium heat. This will take about 6 to 10 minutes.

Step 3

When it starts boiling: allow to boil for 6 minutes while stirring the mixture occasionally.

Step 4

Once the water and flaxseed have combined into a slimy, gel-like texture remove from heat.

If you’re using oils or collagen in your flaxseed hair gel then add it before it cools to prevent clumps.

Step 5

Let it cool for no longer than 30 to 60 minutes.

Step 6

When the gel has fully cooled you can then grab a bowl or mason jar then carefully pour the flaxseed gel into your stockings (or cheesecloth) and strain it into a small mason jar (see video).

To keep the DIY flaxseed oil fresh for as long as possible, it should be stored in the fridge for no longer than 2 weeks.

See video below so you can see what it looks like and how you strain the gel from the stockings or cheesecloth.

See video for visual instructions:

How long does homemade flaxseed gel last?

As mentioned, once you’ve made your flaxseed hair gel it’s good to use for up to 2 weeks.

However, you can extend this duration a little longer by adding natural preservatives but alternatively, the most important thing to do is keep the gel refrigerated.

How do you use flaxseed for curly hair?

Flaxseed gel is amazing on natural curly hair including tight coils and afro textures. Yet, it can be used on other hair types such as straight or wavy hair and straight hair.

Just make sure you are mindful of the consistency so you don’t weigh down your hair instead of enhancing it. 

There are many different ways of using flaxseed gel on natural curls. In most cases, the gel is used on wet hair as part of your washday styling routine.

Yet, you can also use it for restyling purposes. Give the two following techniques a try:

Use flax gel to define your curls

Flaxseed gel can be used in combination with a leave-in conditioner or curl cream to condition and hydrate your natural curls.

You’ll get nice curl clumps and your curls will stay defined for longer – this is great for those with frizzy curls.

Simply apply:

1. your leave-in or cream of choice first
2. secondly use the flaxseed gel for extra hold.

For the best results, flaxseed gel should be smoothed over your curls using the ‘praying hands’ method or scrunching.

Once dry, your curls may have a crunchy ‘cast’ so use a little oil to break the cast and your curls should appear bouncy, defined and frizz-free!

Use it to slick down your hair

Sometimes you want your curls out of your face so a slicked-down hairstyle is a must!

While standard gels can cause flaking or dryness, this DIY hair gel is a great alternative as it’s lightweight, isn’t overly sticky and provides moisture.

All you need is a small amount to smooth over your hair before brushing with a smoothing brush or edge brush.

This lightweight gel provides amazing hold but doesn’t make your curls feel dried out which is perfect for all natural hair types.

What are the benefits of flaxseed gel for curly hair?

Curly hair does need care and attention but once you’ve nailed a good routine and understand your hair’s needs, looking after it is simple!

Since flaxseeds are full of nutrient-rich components, flaxseed gel can be a great addition to your hair product collection and provide many benefits to the lengths of your curls and hair shaft. 

Some of the top benefits include:

Added moisture

Frizzy hair can be a big concern for people with curly hair, but most of the time it’s down to lack of moisture.

Flaxseeds are full of properties such as vitamin E, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are good for your scalp and can provide a boost of hydration and combat frizz.

Increased shine and hair elasticity

As the gel coats your curls, you can benefit from added shine especially when used to slick down your hair into low ponytails or neat buns.

Also, the vitamine E can have a positive effect on the elasticity of your curls. Which will result in better hair health and bouncy curls.

Adequate hold and curl pattern definition

If your curls tend to drop and only stay defined for the first couple of days after washday, this gel can help you achieve better hold without weighing down your curls.

For best results, apply after your main cream styling product and ensure that the gel is evenly distributed for perfectly defined and bouncy curls.

New hair growth

Since flaxseeds provide your curls with moisture and nourish your hair follicles, you may notice an increase in hair growth!

There’s often a common misconception that curly hair will not grow past a certain length, but when you feed your hair the nutrients it needs, there’s no reason why you can’t have long healthy curls.

Have a go at making DIY flaxseed gel today and it could become a firm favorite on washday!

About the author

Angela is a curly girl and has been a beauty blogger since 2012. Because of her passion for beauty and hair, she has been a certified makeup artist since 2016 and has done multiple hair styling trainings. As a cosmetics lover, she writes reviews on cosmetics and provides different solutions that facilitate your daily beauty and curls routine.

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