Hair gel recipes

Hair gel is an easy to use and simple hair styling agent. It consists of water that is thickened with a synthetic gelling agent. When applied to the hair, the water evaporates, but the gel former remains on the hair. There it sticks some hairs together, gives a rough layer on the hairs so that they slide past each other less well. This ensures that the hairs shift less easily. Your hair will stay in shape.OriginFat-based hair styling has been used for thousands of years. Water based was always difficult. Gum solutions were used, but made the hair sticky and therefore dirty: dust stuck. You had to make it fresh: gum solutions are very susceptible to mold. These problems were solved with modern synthetic materials and from about 1970 the current hair gel gained ground. Hair gel recipes are still being developed vigorously, it has now become a mature cosmetic product.

Hair gel

A simple formula for a simple hair gel, as you also see at drugstores and supermarkets.

Supplies

3 ml Polysorbate 20 [10430]
22 drops (± 1 ml) HexaCon 91 [10306]
8 drops (± 0.4 ml) HexaCol yellow [10781]
0.8 g Sodium carbomer [16010]
6 drops (± 0.3 ml) FO Vanilla beans [21113]
Gel jar with white lid 100 ml [14045]
White plastic spatula [14901]
Measuring spoon plastic 2.5 ml [30107]
Dropper pipette plastic 3 ml [30110]
Dropper pipette plastic 1 ml [30111]
100 ml fresh tap water

Procedure

Using a plastic dropper, add about 3 ml of Polysorbate 20 into the gel jar, add HexaCon 91, FO Vanilla beans and HexaCol yellow and mix everything well with the white plastic spatula. Add 0.8 grams (about a level measuring spoon 2.5 ml) of sodium carbomer and stir this well into the syrupy mass. The smaller the grains, the better and faster the gel is made. Fill the jar with tap water little by little. Stir the contents well before adding some more water. When the gel is a bit thicker, you can put the lid on the jar and shake it for a while. Undissolved particles and clumps disappear over time, the fewer clumps the faster.

Polysorbate 20 allows HexaCon 91 and FO Vanilla beans to mix with water. HexaCon 91 is the preservative and FO Vanilla beans provides a pleasant floral scent. You can also use another FO (fragrance oil). HexaCol yellow is there for the colour, you can also choose a different colour here. Finally, sodium carbomer is the actual gel former. The gel former thickens the water into a gel. Normally the hair gel has a shelf life of at least 6-8 weeks, but it can be longer.

Schools: We use the above, in a slightly modified form, in our ‘Educational set making hair gel’ for schools. The package contains all the supplies and a worksheet to make with a larger group of students (or students on open days).

Wet look hair gel

A simple formula for a wet look hair gel. Not just for styling: after use it also looks like your hair is wet.

Supplies

3 ml Polysorbate 20
22 drops (± 1 ml) HexaCon 91
8 drops (± 0.4 ml) HexaCol yellow
6 drops (± 0.3 ml) FO Vanilla beans
0.8 g Sodium carbomer
25 ml Glycerin
Gel jar with lid 100 ml
White plastic spatula
Measuring spoon plastic 2,5 ml
Dropper pipette plastic 3 ml
Dropper pipette plastic 1 ml
Measuring cup PP 25 ml
100 ml fresh tap water

Procedure

Using a plastic dropper, add about 3 ml of Polysorbate 20 into the gel jar, add HexaCon 91, FO Vanilla beans and HexaCol yellow and mix everything well with the white plastic spatula. Measure 25 Glycerine using the measuring cup and add this to the gel jar as well: stir well. In addition, add 0.8 grams (about a level measuring spoon 2.5 ml) of sodium carbomer and stir it well into the syrupy mass. The smaller the grains, the better and faster the gel is made. Fill the jar with tap water little by little. Stir the contents well before adding some more water. When the gel is a bit thicker, you can put the lid on the jar and shake it for a while. Undissolved particles and clumps disappear over time, the fewer clumps the faster.

Polysorbate 20 allows HexaCon 91 and FO Vanilla beans to mix with water. HexaCon 91 is the preservative and FO Vanilla beans provide a pleasant fragrance. HexaCol yellow is there for the colour and finally sodium carbomer is the actual gel former. The gel former thickens the water into a gel. The glycerine provides the wet look effect. Normally the wet look hair gel can be kept for at least 6-8 weeks, but it can be longer.