How to Make Edge Control Gel for Type Three and Four Hair
These days, many women seem obsessed with laying down their baby hairs, understandably so. Maybe we can thank Hollywood stars for that or maybe it's because our moms always used to do it for us. Who knows? But there are so many chemicals in many hair edge control gels that do damage to your strands, so, if you're looking for nourishing ingredients that help you look fabulous while also being wholesome, it might be time to start making your own edge control recipes for your beautiful curly hair.
HAIR CONDITIONER
You can use this product as an edge control recipe if you have type three hair. It will go on flawlessly and it is quite natural, especially if you get the paraben-free variety.
SHEA BUTTER AND ALOE VERA GEL
This super natural edge control recipe works wonderfully for people with type three and type four curls. Believe it or not, you can use just the aloe vera gel if you’d like, but the combination of these two wholesome ingredients is ideal if you want your baby hairs to stay under control for longer. Simply combine a tablespoon of Shea butter with a teaspoon of aloe vera gel and you're good to go!
GELATIN EDGE CONTROL
Gelatin is a great way to promote hair growth while controlling your edges. To make this recipe, pour one cup of hot water into an eight-ounce glass container, then add one and a half teaspoons of grass-fed gelatin. If you use animal products, grass-fed varieties lead to a healthier environment for all of us, so try to lean more towards these products. Stir the mixture together and refrigerate it for three hours. You'll want to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture for a lovely natural fragrance. Rose and lavender are popular choices. Remember to use a dilution that’s safe for your skin, and do a patch test with the new blend if you’ve never used these oils in your beauty regimen before.
SHEA BUTTER AND BEESWAX
Shea butter is a wonderful ingredient that is deeply moisturizing. This is an excellent mixture because it is highly nourishing for your hair and scalp.
To create this lovely homemade edge control recipe, you will want to combine an ounce of beeswax (or substitute with carnauba or olive wax if you’re sensitive to beeswax), an ounce of jojoba oil and an ounce of Shea butter. Just a few drops of your favorite essential oil bring a beautiful aroma to the mix. Put the beeswax into a double-boiler and allow it to melt. Then, add the Shea butter and jojoba oil. Afterward, pour the whole combination into a glass container and add the essential oil to it.
You have many excellent options when it comes to the scents you enjoy. Peppermint, rosemary, lavender and lemongrass, among others, are popular choices if you wish to promote hair growth. Be sure to dilute the oil based on the one you choose and what your skin needs. Let the mixture cool and apply to your beautiful locks of hair, enjoying the lovely fragrance.
MANGO BUTTER AND HONEY
This is a wonderful option for vegetarians. The mangos are filled with vitamins that are incredibly beneficial for your hair! Put the powder of three vitamin E capsules, half an ounce of mango butter and half a teaspoon of honey into a container. If you want something slightly thicker, you can also add moisturizing Shea butter to the mixture. Stir it all together and let it sit at room temperature for one night. In the morning, it will be ready to apply to your crown of curls!
These DIY hair care recipes are all wonderful substitutes to the conventional edge control hair gels ridden with chemicals and dry out your beautiful locks. If you are vegetarian, you'll want to opt for everything except the gelatin substitute. If you're vegan, the Shea butter and aloe vera gel is your best bet. For women with type three curls, conditioners are an excellent option. All the other recipes will work for women with type three and type four hair.
THIS IS THE NATURAL RECIPE WOMEN SWEAR BY
If you've tried all the above recipes and you're thinking about purchasing a regular edge control gel simply because it provides more effective results, don't throw in the towel just yet. This last option is the best edge control recipe because it’s extremely effective and contains only natural ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
- Half a cup of homemade flaxseed gel
- Two tablespoons of raw honey
- 2 tablespoons of Jamaican castor oil
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin
- 2 tablespoons of beeswax (sub carnauba or olive wax if you’re allergic)
- 15 drops of lavender oil (diluting further if necessary or preferred)
Items:
- A small pot
- A nonreactive bowl
- A heatproof glass bowl
- A glass jar
- A small whisk
You'll love this beeswax edge control recipe because it’s quick and easy to make and also super effective. Not to mention, all the ingredients are nourishing for your hair. The flaxseed gel is also super easy to make as another wonderful perk. Simply follow along with this awesome instructional video!
Directions:
- Make the flaxseed gel using the video guide above.
- Put the avocado oil, honey, vegetable glycerin, flaxseed gel and castor oil into a glass bowl.
- Use the whisk to mix it all together.
- Put the beeswax into a heatproof bowl.
- Boil approximately ¼ cup of water and pour it over the beeswax.
- Add the lavender oil to the beeswax.
- Add ascorbic acid, but only if you want it to last for five to six months. If you don’t, it will still last you about ten days.
- Pour the beeswax and lavender mixture over the other ingredients.
- Use your whisk to ensure that this homemade edge control gel is well-blended. You’ll want to do this for a good five minutes.
- Pour your lovely homemade edge control gel into a glass jar and then place a lid over it.
- Put it into the fridge for thirty to forty-five minutes.
- Be sure to store it in the fridge whenever you’re not using it.
This recipe is wonderful to keep your edges under control whenever you feel like it without compromising on ingredients you don’t care for, drying out your gorgeous hair in the process. It’s also important to note that ascorbic is a wonderful preservative for natural hair care products and is not linked to any major health risks such as cancer. However, some individuals may suffer from allergic reactions to it, which typically include itchiness, headaches and skin rashes.
Symptoms of Ascorbic Acid Allergies:
- Asthma
- Headaches
- Itching
- Fatigue
- Skin rash
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Wheezing
- Swelling in the face
- Tingling or burning in the mouth
- Swelling in your face, lips or throat
- Itchiness
- Eczema
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Most people don’t struggle with this particular allergy, and ascorbic acid is much safer than many ingredients found in conventional edge control gels that aren’t good for your hair. Whether you want to be more mindful of the ingredients in your products or you simply want to save yourself a few bucks, this is a great option.
This is a wonderful product to create for yourself and your girlfriends. You might even want to sell batches of this stuff to other women who are looking for a healthier alternative to your typical edge control gels. You might just have a best-selling product on your hands!
TIPS TO MAKE EDGE CONTROL AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE
Like many of the beauty tips you read about, you may be wondering how you can make these homemade gels work as effectively as possible. After all, it is nice to have your baby hairs under control all day so that you feel and look fabulous.
DAMPEN AND TIE DOWN YOUR HAIR
Spritzing your hair with a small amount of water before applying these homemade edge control recipes will help the gels stick better. You'll want to avoid applying it to super-wet hair because this could result in visible cakey-ness as the gel settles into your strands.
To be sure that your edges are totally under control, you might want to put a headband over them and leave it there for around five to ten minutes. This will help those baby hairs stay put for a longer period. A scarf will also do the trick!
USE A TOOTHBRUSH
So many women swear by this method. It helps you get the precise results that you are aiming for as a budget-friendly edge control brush. However, you'll always want to make sure that your hair is moisturized in one way or another before you start applying the homemade edge control gels. You could spritz it with some water, put a hair mask on it or simply apply some leave-in conditioner to your beautiful curls.
USE THE BLOW-DRYER COLD SHOT
If you want to dry your hair but you're worried about damage from the heat, this is an excellent option. You'll be able to get your desired results by using the cold shot on your blow-dryer and your hair will be quite happy in the long run on top of that. It's a great way to finalize the results of these good edge control recipes you've been using.
Whether you decide to use these homemade gels every day or only occasionally, it's important to avoid drying edge control gels laden with toxic chemicals and be kind to your hair. It is your crown, after all. Please contact us if we can help you on your hair care journey and check out our other tips for hair length and edge control.
