This Gel Is Loaded With Nutrients For Hair Growth & So Easy To Make At Home

Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may earn a small commission.

March 25, 2022 — 11:38 AM

Friends with waves and curls, you probably know the hassle of finding a gel that offers enough hold without weighing down the strands or making them feel stiff. It’s a quest not for the faint of heart, as it can take rounds of testing to find a styler that works best for your individual texture. If you’ve hit a standstill, might we suggest a jar of flaxseed gel? 

Now, flaxseed gel has been dear to the curl community for ages—we also have a full explainer on how to use it, if you’re curious. But like other beauty staples that see a sudden resurgence (rice water is another one), TikTok creators have quickly propelled flaxseed gel back into the spotlight; the search term alone garners 56 million views, and some users even swear it provides better hold than the famous Olaplex bun—the goop hydrates your strands all day long, never drying down to a hard shell on your scalp. 

It’s a multitasking ingredient that elevates your style and your hair’s health, and it’s oh-so-easy to whip up your own concoction at home. Here’s everything you need to know. 

• 3 to 4 tablespoons flaxseeds (the more flaxseeds, the stronger the hold)
• 1 to 2 cups water 
• Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Jar with a lid

1. Pour water and flaxseeds into a saucepan on medium-high heat. Let it come to a boil, stirring frequently. 
2. Once boiled, remove the pan from heat and strain the mixture into a jar. 
3. When it cools, it will form into a gel. 
4. Apply to wet or dry hair; just allow it to cool completely before using. 

As you can tell, creating your own flaxseed gel is incredibly easy—but it’s rich in hair-healthy nutrients that help give the gel its flexible, never-crunchy hold. Specifically, flaxseeds are rich in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which can nourish dry hair. Vitamin E is beloved for conditioning the hair and providing antioxidant protection—when used topically on the hair shaft, it also can “create greater elasticity in the hair while adding shine,” Austin-based hairstylist Sarah Lund tells us about vitamin E in hair care. For waves and curls, this means healthy, bouncy, juicy strands. 

Fatty acids have also been touted for quenching thirsty strands, thanks to their molecular structure: They have a hydrophilic end that aids in moisture retention and a hydrophobic end that boosts shine, which makes them great topical ingredients. Internally, though, those healthy oils can also moisturize the strands: Some research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can support hair growth when taken along with other antioxidants.* Why do we bring this up? Well, using flaxseed gel topically is a great way to keep the strands you have healthy (and secure a smooth, shiny style), but to reap the hair growth benefits of those fatty acids, you might want to consider looking internally.*

So along with your DIY flaxseed gel, you can sprinkle some flaxseeds onto your smoothies and salads, too—or find a supplement that contains flaxseed oil to consume those fatty acids on the daily. mindbodygreen’s vitamin D3 potency+ includes a trio of organic, virgin oils (avocado, flaxseed, and extra-virgin olive), which provide unsaturated omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids (over 400 milligrams in each gelcap!) and offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help support hair health.* 

Those oils also help chauffeur that vitamin D so it’s best absorbed by the body—and vitamin D, for what it’s worth, is also very important for hair growth. “In fact, vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins needed for maintaining and creating functioning hair follicles,”* says board-certified dermatologist and hair care expert Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D., on an episode of Clean Beauty School.