Q&A for How to Make Flaxseed Hair Gel

Flaxseeds work on dreads as a great moisturizer. If you look up tutorials, you see that many people use flaxseed gel to re-lock their dreads.

Use in the same way you would use whole flaxseed, just make sure you use a stocking to strain it.

Chia seeds work well as a replacement for flaxseed. They both create a sort of gel product.

As long as it's fresh, whole flaxseed, the brand doesn't matter. Some people claim that golden flaxseed makes better gel than regular brown flaxseed. The most notable different will be the color: brown flaxseed makes a grayish color, while golden flaxseed makes a beige.

Boil for about 8 minutes before straining. You can simmer the strained gel for a while to evaporate more water out, but not for too long -- you don't want to burn it. Sometimes the refrigerated gel separates a little, leaving water and a blob of gel in the container. You can avoid that by using a whisk attachment on an electric mixer to whip the heck out of it after it's strained.

Stir some sugar or citric acid into the mixture before boiling. These work as a preservative. But keep in mind that keeping it in the fridge is the best option, as flaxseed gel tends to separate if kept in a warm place.

Yes, it does, but it doesn't have as much hold as many store-bought options.

Yes, although it might not hold your hair as well as some store-bought gels.

The entire point of hair gel is to leave it in after washing your hair, to dry or to style. If you wash your hair, the gel will be gone & of no use.

Sure! As long as the essential oils of the seeds have not dried out, it should work the same and may even be easier to strain.

I freeze a batch of gel in a silicone ice cube tray. When the freezing is complete, I remove the gel from the silicone ice cube container and store the gel in the freezer in a freezer proof container. I defrost it before applying it to my hair or just pour some boiling water over it in a small dish. I use an ice cube's worth of gel per treatment.

It is not a treatment, it is a styling product. You only wash out when you wash your hair next.

Stockings (knee-high panty hose); they are cheap, they keep small seed out of the gel, and they're reusable. You could also try cheesecloth.

Flaxseed gel doesn't have as much hold as normal gel, but it should be fine for laying edges.

The gel forms on its own. The flax seeds thicken the water, leaving a thick consistency.

Yes, you can add flaxseed gel to your hair while it's damp to add soft curls, or use it to add more body and definition to your hair when it dries. You can also use flaxseed gel to style your hair. To wash it out, use shampoo and conditioner like you normally would. You don't have to wash flaxseed gel out of your hair sooner than other hair gel.

Flaxseed hair gel can last up to 2 months if it's stored in a covered container. But, you should smell the gel every time you open it to see if it smells rotten. In your hair, the gel can add texture and definition to your hair for as long as you leave it in. However, you'll likely need to use more flaxseed gel than you would a storebought hair gel.

Yes, but your hair may look oily or greasy if you don't wash it regularly. Use shampoo and conditioner, then add your flaxseed gel to give your hair more definition and body. If your hair starts to smell or get weighed down by the gel, wash it out before you add more.

Heat destroys some nutrients in all food products. Most of the time though, it doesn't destroy enough for it to be of concern. As long as you don't boil it for too long, it shouldn't be a problem.