I am ashamed to ask for this in a homesteading forum, but I need an alternative to chemical hair mousse/gel for my husband, who refuses to go without. Can anyone help me with a recipe for gel or mousse made with natural ingredients? Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), August 16, 2000

Answers

Use plain 100% pure aloe vera gel. It can be bought in tubes at any variety store

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), August 16, 2000.

Excellent question Mary! Between my daughter and her waist length wavy hair and my son and his short spiky curly bleached hair we go through a bottle of gel plus mousse and hairspray each week. My son has even used Elmer's glue! I will also be curious what others come up with! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 16, 2000.

I agree with "R", only I raise my own plants & break open the leaves & use the inside for gel or mousse. I'm an old cosmetologist who has used up my immune system & can't use any chemicals! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 16, 2000.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think the pure stuff right from the plant is stinky, though. I think he won't use it. Is the tube stuff the same thing? No additives? Have you used it, and it works? thanks, Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), August 17, 2000.

The tube gel doesn't seem to stick to the fingers as much as straight from the plant. I don't know exactly what his goal is, but one tube isn't so expensive that you can't give it a try. This was a suggestion I had read about on the longhairlovers.com discussion forum. I use the gel for lots of different things.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), August 17, 2000.

During World War II, my mother and her sisters learned to 'improvise' as cosmetics and the like were not generally available, even if they were-who could afford them? Anyway, they set their hair with stale beer! No smell afer it dries.

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), August 17, 2000.

Just remember after reading the stale beer post that many moons ago when everyone was wearing those "updo's" I had many bring with them (to my beauty shop) whipped egg whites--that will make your hair stand up alone & STAY THERE! And it did for a week back then---I'm telling how very old I am again/ aren't I?! ha Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 17, 2000.

I happened upon another recipe for hair gel. Dissolve one teaspoon of unflavored gelatin in warm water. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), August 21, 2000.

I'm trying the aloe gel this week - sure would be nice to use something that might be GOOD for my hair, for a change!

Hey Sonda!! Got any tricks of the trade to share on up-do's? Sis has stick-straight thick hair (just past her shoulders) that will barely take a curl and won't hold it for any length of time. Trying to get her an up-do for prom, etc...is an ordeal and a half! Also, her cheerleading coach wants the girls to all put their hair up in a high ponytail - then curl and pin the hair. NCA (nat'l ra-rah assoc) rules for competitions say their hair can't touch their shoulders. I've tried setting it wet - with and w/o gel; drying it and setting it w/gel; hot rollers, foam rollers and trying to stick it in place w/more gel and a ton of spray - YECHH! The only things I can think of that I haven't tried are perm rods or pincurls - WAY too much hair! Any help gratefully appreciated!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), August 21, 2000.

Sugar disolved in warm water, then poured on the hair, like a final rinse,makes the hair shaft thicker, same for the stale beer rinse noted above. Warning, if on rollers, the hair takes longer to dry (a lot longer!). Good Luck!

-- Sleepless (on@hairroller.com), August 21, 2000.

Polly---one cute way for long & heavy hair up---is pullup on top of head like in pony tail on top of head--do this damp so all the hair will go up and stay --then divide the hair into several sections-- then make small braids out of each of these sections--then roll these small braids into a roll starting at the end of the braid rolling to the top of where the hair comes out of the pony tail--in other words you are makeing a bun out of several small braids--if the braids are the same size and turned into make an EVEN bun out of these braids it is beautiful!!! Secure the braids you have turned under & rolled into a bun what ever size you want/ with bobbie pins & hair pins(hair pins turn one leg of one side of hair pin back half way & it will stay in hair)! this works really well with straight hair (also works better & easier to braid when WET/ or very damp)----These small braids comming out of the pony tail on top can be crisscrossed into a figure eight on the top & back of the head--but the pony tail will support the weight of the hair!!!! If the hair is too heavy for one pony tail make three/ close together--it helps hold the weight-- then make small braids comming out of each & create a bun type in to the center of the three pony tails(so the center will not show)! When this drys & the braids are undone it is in pretty wavys/ when worn down! Experiment-- or with the hair damp--to wet with the pony tails holding the weight--then loop the hair like in big ribbons--use egg whites beaten to smooth up all hair for a sleek look/ & also on strands that you want to make into sleek ribbon sections/ to secure into a bun type style. Did I paint a good enough picture for you???? When I use to do platform competition work I always won show with that updo! Wish I was there to just do it for you once so you could see. The more often you do it the neater it will look/ the more confident you will get! You will have people stop your daughter to see where she has her dair done! I hope that helps Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 21, 2000.