Okay, here’s my blog post about making tea tree oil styling gel:

So, I’ve been trying to be more conscious about the stuff I put on my hair. I saw a bunch of recipes online for DIY hair gel, and a lot of them used flaxseed. I figured, why not? And I wanted to add some tea tree oil because I love the smell and it’s supposed to be good for your scalp.

Getting Started

First, I gathered my ingredients. I already had some flaxseeds in the pantry (I use them in smoothies sometimes). I also grabbed my trusty bottle of tea tree oil, some aloe vera gel (the kind you use for sunburns), and a little bit of vitamin E oil (I figured it couldn’t hurt!).

I followed a basic recipe I found online: about 1/4 cup of flaxseeds and 2 cups of water. I dumped those into a small pot.

The Cooking Process

I put the pot on the stove and brought it to a boil. Then, I turned the heat down to low and let it simmer. The recipe said to simmer it for about 20-30 minutes, or until it starts to thicken up. I kept a close eye on it, stirring occasionally. It started to get kind of slimy and gooey, which is apparently what you want.

Straining and Mixing

Once it seemed thick enough (honestly, I just kind of guessed), I took it off the heat. Now, this is the messy part. I needed to strain out the flaxseeds. I used a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth (you could also use an old, clean t-shirt). I poured the mixture into the strainer and let the gel drip through into a bowl. It took a while, and I had to squeeze the cheesecloth to get all the gel out. Be careful, because it’s hot!

After I strained it, I added the other stuff. I put in about a tablespoon of aloe vera gel, a few drops of vitamin E oil, and about 10 drops of tea tree oil. I stirred everything together really well.

The Final Result

I poured the gel into a small jar. It was still a little warm, so I let it cool completely before I put the lid on. It looked kind of like… well, snot. But it smelled good! Like tea tree, obviously.

I tried it out the next day. I scooped a little bit out with my fingers and worked it through my damp hair. It felt a little sticky at first, but it dried nicely. My hair had some decent hold, and it definitely smelled good. Plus, I felt good knowing exactly what was in it.

• Pros: It’s all-natural, smells great, and provides decent hold.
• Cons: It’s a bit messy to make, and the texture might take some getting used to.

Overall, I’d say it was a success! It’s not the strongest hold, but it’s good for a more natural look. I’ll probably keep experimenting with the recipe, maybe adding a little more aloe vera for extra moisture. If you’re looking for a natural hair gel alternative, definitely give this a try!