How to Make Hair Gel Using Aloe Vera Pulp

Making Basic Hair Gel

Get an aloe vera leaf. While you can always use store-bought aloe vera, using an actual aloe vera leaf is so much better for your hair because it is all-natural and does not contain any extra ingredients. Try to get a large leaf, if you can; a small one won't give you much gel. If you plan on making the homemade gel often, it is more economical to buy an aloe vera plant rather than just a leaf. Your local garden store can help you select one.

Cut the base off of the leaf. Set the leaf onto a cutting board, then cut off the very bottom of the leaf with a sharp knife. Discard the part that you just cut off. You'll see the raw aloe vera gel inside the leaf.

Chop off a segment of the leaf, if needed. If you are using a small leaf, you may not need to do this. If you are using a larger leaf, however, you may want to cut off a 3 to 4-inch (7.62 to 10.16-centimer) segment for the bottom, then wrap and store the rest of the leaf for later.

Slice the leaf apart lengthwise. Make sure that you are cutting the leaf apart from edge-to-edge, like cutting a roll for a sandwich. You'll end up with two, long, skinny halves of aloe vera leaf.

Scrape the pulp out into a bowl. You can do this with a spoon, as long as it has a sharp edge. You can also do it with a knife if you are very careful; you want to only scrape the gel out, and not the skin or rind.

Consider enhancing the gel further. You can apply plain aloe vera gel to your hair. You can also make a fancier gel by adding extra ingredients to it. For example: Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance. Rosemary, lavender, or grapefruit work especially well. Add 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) for every 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of aloe vera gel for a conditioning gel. For extra moisture and shine, add a few drops of your favorite oil. Almond, coconut, or olive oil work especially well.

Blend everything together. It would be easiest to do this in a blender, electric mixer, or food processor. You can also use a fork or whisk, if you’re only making a few ounces of gel. Keep blending the gel until it is thick. If you added any extra ingredients to it, keel mixing until the color and texture are consistent.

Transfer the pulp to a small jar. Apply a coin-sized amount of the gel to damp hair. Comb it through to distribute it evenly, then style your hair as usual. Store the jar in the fridge when you are not using it.

Making a Gel for Shine

Soak the flax seeds overnight. Fill a saucepan with water, then add ¼ cup (42 grams) of flax seeds. Allow the flax seeds to sit in the water for at least 6 to 8 hours; overnight would be better. If you are in a hurry, you can skip this step. Soaking the seeds will simply give you more gel. Discard any excess water after the soaking process.

Cook the flax seeds in 2 cups (475 milliliters) of water. Add 2 cups (475 milliliters) of water to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce it to a simmer. Allow the flax seeds to cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they just start to gel. Stir the seeds often as they cook, otherwise they will get stuck to the pot.

Test the flax seeds for doneness. As the flax seeds cook, they will turn to gel. Scoop up some of that gel with a spoon. If it falls off the spoon in a quick, steady stream, it's not ready and you should cook it longer. If the gel is thick and gloopy, it's ready.

Strain the flax seeds into a bowl and let them cool. Place a fine, mesh strainer over a bowl, then pour the mixture into the strainer. Leave the seeds in the strainer for about 5 to 10 minutes. Gently scrape across the bottom of the strainer to help push the gel through. Pull the strainer away and discard anything caught inside.

Stir in 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of aloe vera gel. This will help give the gel its holding power. If you want to give your gel extra moisture, consider adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin. For extra fragrance, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. It's best to use fresh aloe vera gel as opposed to store-bought.

Pour the gel into a small jar. Apply the gel to dry or damp hair with your fingers. You can use a larger amount to help add texture and shape to your hair as well. Store the jar in the fridge when you are not using it.

Making Gel for Extra-Hold

Heat the gelatin and the water until the gelatin dissolves. Pour 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water into a saucepan. Stir in 1 packet of unflavored gelatin. Heat the two together over medium heat until the gelatin dissolves. This will take about 3 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set the saucepan down onto a heat-safe surface. Stir in 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of lemon juice, preferably freshly-squeezed.

Refrigerate the gelatin until it solidifies. Place the gelatin into the fridge, and wait for it to gel up. This will take about 25 to 40 minutes. You don't have to move the gelatin into a separate bowl or container for this step, but you can if you want to.

Add in 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) of aloe vera. The aloe vera will not only help add moisture to your hair, but also help define it; it works especially well on curls. For a more conditioning gel, you can add in 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut oil. It's best to use fresh aloe vera gel rather than the store-bought kind.

Blend everything together until the gel is thick and creamy. It would be best to do this in a blender using a low speed setting. You can also blend it by hand, but you will need to melt the coconut oil first, if you are using it.

Pour the gel into a small jar. The jar should be small enough to hold the gel without too much excess space left over. Store the jar in the fridge when you are not using the gel.