Q&A for How to Make Hair Gel

No, there are no safety concerns in preparing or applying the flax seed hair gel.

Yes. It will hold as long and as reliably as any store-bought gel.

Put it in the refrigerator longer, or put it in the freezer, but do not leave it in too long with the gelatin method. Otherwise, it will turn into Jell-O.

Unflavored gelatin is clear.

No. The gel is perishable, and it will go bad if you leave it out of the fridge for too long. If it feels too cold when taking it out of the fridge, warm the dollop by rubbing it between your palms.

Hair gel was first invented in 1914 by José Antonio Brancato in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contained gum Arabic, Persian tragacanth, and essences. Luis Montoya created the modern version of hair gel in the 1960s, which had a non-greasy forumla.

Gel works the best when you apply it to wet hair because it helps you achieve a more natural looking style. You can apply it to dry hair too, if you just need to slick back a stubborn strand of hair. For more information, check out Gel Your Hair .

You could, but it would feel very heavy and sticky, and wouldn't work if your hair is fine.

Rub a generous amount of gel between your palms and slick your hair back/up.

Keep it in a sealed container and store in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if you do. Check the container every month. If it doesn't work anymore, make new hair gel.

Most homemade gels will last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If yours starts to smell bad before then, discard it.

Yes, it is perfectly safe!