Xanthan Gum Hair Gel Recipe (Vegan)
What is Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide with many industrial uses, including as a common food additive. It is an effective thickening agent and stabilizer to prevent ingredients from separating. It can be produced from simple sugars using a fermentation process, and derives its name from the species of bacteria used, Xanthomonas campestris.
Xanthan Gum Hair Gel Recipe (without Gelatin)
Ingredients
- 3g Xanthan gum
- 5g Vegetable glycerin
- 91g distilled or filtered water
- 3–5 drops essential oils
- 1g preservative (natural preservative options can be: sugar, salt, citric acid, Vitamin E oil, Lavender essential oil, Lemon essential oil)
- Mixing bowl
- Immersion blender or manual whisk
- Kitchen scale
Directions
- Mix Xanthan gum and vegetable glycerin in bowl thoroughly.
- Add water and whist vigorously and continuously as gel forms in order to avoid lumps.
- Add choice of preservative and whisk again.
- If a smoother consistency is desired, use immersion blender or electric blender.
- Store in the refrigerator before use.
- Keep refrigerated between uses—it will keep for up to 6 weeks.
Suggestions for Tweaking This Recipe
- You can add Epsom salts or Magnesium flakes (Magnesium Oil) to define curls. While Epsom salts produce more defined curls, they also leave your hair dry. An alternative would be Magnesium flakes (Magnesium oil) that produce curls but won’t leave your hair dry.
- You can add a few drops of Vitamin E oil as a preservative, or for nourishing your hair. I used Argan oil as it won’t weigh hair down, and also contains Vitamin E.
- If your hair is dry, you can add a teaspoon of Avocado or Apricot kernel oil.
- You can opt for any essential oil. I chose Tangerine and Eucalyptus for their scent and energizing properties.
- If you want a hair gel that helps with detangling add Slippery Elm or Marshmallow root.
If you are curious how toxic your current hair gel brand is, I highly recommend checking it out through EWG’s Skin Deep cosmetic database. Enter your product and it will rate how toxic it is and even break those toxins by individual ingredients.
Having so many options to making your own homemade hair gel means the possibilities are endless. Have you tried to make you own hair gel? How did it work out? Do you have any tips to share? If so, please leave a comment below.
Sources:
Xanthan gum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthan_gum