DIY Natural Spray Gel
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.
Hair mousse lovers, rejoice, because you now have a natural product to keep your hair curly all day! I always get excited about creating a new product. This time around, I’m even more excited! This is super easy to whip together and works great for curly hair. I have been trying to figure out a good replacement for mousse. Naturally, my hair is wavy curly, and the only thing that would work to hold the curls together without making it crunchy was mousse. Problem was, making a natural version seemed impossible. I’ve been marinating on the idea for 3 years now… seriously, 3 year. One day, I saw my aloe vera gel on the counter and thought “why not make a spray gel?” And, voilà! That’s how ideas are made.
DIY Natural Spray Gel
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Aloe Vera Gel
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 tbs of sugar
- 10 drops Essential oils (if you are afraid you might attract bugs, use a bug repellant scent like mint or lavender)
- 1/2 tsp Vitamin E Oil (you can probably substitute another liquid oil)
- Fine mist glass spray bottle or plastic spray bottle
or 
Directions:
Dissolve sugar in warm water and allow to cool (place in the fridge for a few minutes to speed up the process). Once cooled, combine aloe vera gel, sugar water, vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Place in a fine mist spray bottle.
To use: After washing your hair or wetting it down, comb it through. Then, apply spray gel, rubbing it through your hair. I usually like to allow my hair to air dry for a few minutes before applying the spray gel. Then, I let my hair air dry until it is almost completely dry, finishing it by using a blow dryer and scrunching it. But, everybody’s hair is a little different, so do what you know works for your curly hair.
Save This Recipe
We'll get it sent to your inbox! Plus, get new recipes from us every week.
On the second day after I’ve worn my hair curly, I refresh the curls by lightly wetting my hair and spraying it with a little more spray gel, working it through with my hands, and blow drying it on low while scrunching.
Side note: This is powerful stuff, so you don’t need to go crazy spraying a ton on. Once you use it a few times, you will get the hang on how much to use for your hair.
The best part about this spray gel is you know all the ingredients that are going into this product and don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals. Even if it’s just your hair, your skin still absorbs around 80% of what you put on it, so if you’re using harmful chemicals in your hair and they get on your skin, then your skin will absorb some of those chemicals.
Are you a hair mousse lover? Ready to give a natural product a shot?
This post contains affiliate links to help support my blogging efforts.
The vitamin e oil is likely important because it has natural preserving properties. This will help your product have a longer lifespan.
Once you make this, does it need to be refrigerated? Thanks!
Hello, can I use Coconut palm sugar?. I don’t use refined white or brown sugar.
Thanks
I’m not sure. I’ve never tried it. Sorry
I used it and work well as far as hold but it made my hair look very dull…..I have curly hair so again, worked great for my curls I just did’t like that there was no shine at all.
I, too, wondered why we need sugar? I would think it would foster yeast/bacteria growth? Would salt be a better choice or acceptable substitute?
Also I thought Vitamin E was an anti-oxidant or some other bacteria repeller, therefore substituting with just “any other oil” might not produce same results or shelf life? I would not be using product in my hair every single day and would not want to make up the recipe and then not use it quickly enough.
I’m excited to see how it does!
Question: so I was trying to try something added to this product since I am still frizzy. Read a lot about water holding bacteria. I haven’t been refrigerating my gel but should I??? Can someone please respond?
Distilled water has a longer shelf life, but you probably know this by now.
I made this about a month ago and it works like a charm! Same hold, longevity and look of the $30 hair product I was using from the salon.
Thanks for posting!
This hairspray is awesome!!!! i made it yesterday and used it today… i usually like a strong hold and i sprayed enough on my hair that it felt like the strong hold aerosol stuff..
is this good for kinkier curly hair?
Worked for mine!
out of curiosity, why add sugar? i’ve been experimenting with different diy leave in moisturizers and gels. right now i’m using a moisturizer that’s 80/20 water to aloe and then using just a bit of a diy shea butter and coconut oil balm. some days i need more hold though, so i’m also experimenting with a diy gelatin gel. love finding homemade products that work just as well as pricey curly girl products!
Sounds great! How long is the shelf life, especially if I don’t have any essential oils?
I have all these ingredients and am making this DIY hair gel this afternoon! I bet it would work great on my little girl’s hair!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Ashley, did you try this? Just would love to see if it works for others!
I have super curly but very fine hair. If I don’t use dry volume powder I look like s drowned rat. You can literally see my scalp. I have to use very light products that won’t weigh down my hair. Was this product heavy at all?