DIY Flaxseed Gel Recipe for Moisture and Growth

If you’ve read my last post about flaxseed gel, then you know that I have a love/hate relationship with flaxseed gels for my natural hair. While it is extremely nourishing, and has great hold, it would sometime’s flake a bit and wasn’t very moisturizing. This recipe has fixed that issue for me!

The following recipe allows me to have both moisture and a decent hold. My buns are sleek, and my type 4 wash-n-go’s are defined without the crunch. I also like to use this flaxseed gel recipe for twist and braid outs when I want a bit more hold without the crunch of traditional gels.

Ingredient list:

1. 1/2 cup Whole flaxseeds
2. 4 cups of filtered water
3. 1 tbsp slippery elm bark powder
4. 1 tbsp marshmallow root powder
5. Avocado oil, Olive oil, or Grapeseed oil (or any oil of your choice)
6. 3 tbsp vegetable glycerin
7. Tea Tree essential oil (EO), Orange EO, Lavender EO, Peppermint EO, Rosemary EO, or any EO of your choice (optional)

Finally… The recipe:

1. Mix a 1/2 cup of flaxseeds with 4 cups of water.
2. Place the flaxseeds and water mixture in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, stirring at least once per day.
3. Once the water becomes a slimy, jelly consistency, transfer the the mixture (seeds and all) into a saucepan.
4. Add 1 tbsp of slippery elm bark and 1 tbsp of marshmallow root powder to the flaxseed mixture and stir well
5. Place the flaxseed mixture on medium heat and bring to a gentle boil then reduce heat. Continue stirring consistently.
6. Allow to simmer/slow-boil for 10-15 minutes.
7. Remove flaxseed mixture from heat, and using a spoon remove any foam that has formed on the top of the flaxseed gel.
8. Strain the flaxseed gel through a pantyhose into a bowl.
9. Add 1 tbsp of an oil of your choice. I like to add my ayruvedic oil mix or my hair growth oil mixture, but any oil of your liking will do.
10. Add 3 tbsp of vegetable glycerin.
11. Add any essential oils of your liking. If I’m not using an oil in step 9 that already has essential oils in it, then I like to add tea tree oil, orange oil, rosemary oil, and peppermint oil. Remember that, while essential oils are natural, they are also powerful and should be used carefully. Also, if you are pregnant you should consult your Physician before using them.
12. Mix all of the ingredients well, and store in an airtight container. I prefer to store my flaxseed gel mixture in a mason jar.
13. This flaxseed gel typically keeps in my refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

FYI:

This gel has been BOMB for my type 4 hair, but it still comes with some things to note:

1. I’ve tried this recipe without the marshmallow root powder, and honestly it still worked just as well. The slippery elm will definitely be missed if you don’t use it. However, the marshmallow root… not so much.
2. While this gel doesn’t flake right away, it does kind of start to “ball up” after about 3-4 days of no water. I’ve found that spritzing my hair with a bit of water, and rubbing a bit of oil in my hair gets rid of it. Typically though, I like to water rinse my hair after about 2-3 days anyway and start over.
3. The cost of some of these items can be daunting, but I try to use whatever I have available before going out and purchasing anything new. The biggest investment for me was the slippery elm bark powder, but it’s what makes one of the biggest differences in the flaxseed gel recipe. While it’s a bit costly, since I’m only using a tablespoon at it time, it’ll last for quite some time.

Conclusion:

This flaxseed gel recipe has been exactly what my hair needs. My hair is moisturized, the gel has great slip for raking it through my hair, and it has great hold with little to no flaking. It’s versatile enough to be used for twist/braid outs, buns, and wash-n-go’s. It’s an all-natural hair gel, so I don’t have to worry about whether it is damaging my hair; in fact, I know that it’s doing the exact opposite!

Have you tried this all natural flaxseed gel recipe? Share your recipe or experience!

-Sea