A few weeks ago I had this random thought: "What if I could DIY some hair pomade using beeswax?" Almost too crunchy, I figured I'd give it a try for fun, with almost no expectations that a) it would work, or b) that Andrew would even like it...
I bought some beeswax at the market and attempted to google a recipe. I only found one with measurements and I decided it was too complicated really. So- I figured I'd wing it from other blog posts and reading I had done.
I can barely believe it, but it actually works! And quite fabulously if I do say so myself. Although it sounds pretty darn crunchy to make your own hair pomade, it's cheap, easy to make and has three ingredients. So why not? Ladies- you could totally use this as well, if you'd like less 'waxy-ness' and just a bit of a hold, just replace more of the beeswax for oil.
(The finished beeswax product in a small anchor glass container. It smells slightly like clove and coconut oil!)
DIY Beeswax Hair Pomade (makes about 1/4 cup ish).
(I apologize, but honestly I didn't write anything down, since I was sorta just going by feel. It's kinda how I role typically, but drives Andrew bonkers. It also demonstrates that you can totally adjust to what you feel would be best for what you want in the consistency).
Equipment:
Double boiler (or a fake-out double boiler using a pot with about 2 inches and a metal bowl. Just be aware that the beeswax is a little tricky-but not impossible- to clean out).
A shallow glass jar
A metal spoon
A digital scale (or... you could probably guesstimate in tablespoons)
Ingredients:
0.6 oz of beeswax
4 teaspoons of unrefined coconut oil
clove essential oil to scenting preference (or another essential oil that makes you happy)
(the beeswax melting away in our fake out double boiler! With the help of hot water, dish detergent and a hard scrubby the wax was gone without too much effort)
- First, since I had a fake out double boiler, I boiled the water and placed the metal bowl on top.
- I had purchased an ounce of beeswax (hard cube) at the farmer's market for 50 cents. Using the digital scale I cut away at it until it weighed 0.6 ounces. If I had to guess, I'd say about 4 tablespoons of shredded beeswax.
- Place the beeswax in the double boiler to start melting.
- Add 4 teaspoons of coconut oil.
- Using a metal spoon mix together until completely melted.
- Take off heat and pour into glass container.
- QUICKLY add about 5 drops of essential oil (or try 3, sniff and add more to your scenting pleasure).
- Allow to cool to room temperature.
Done! And it only took about 20min from start to cooling!
To Use:
This recipe makes quite a hard consistency (which actually perfectly matches Andrew's current pomade or clay preference). So- using your fingernail (or spoon) scrape off about pea-sized amount and work into your fingers.
(Andrew's hair at 8:20pm after a full day of wearing the beeswax pomade- perfect! And he notes that it demonstrates his need for a haircut lol)
Performance:
After a full day of having it in his hair, it looks fantastic and hasn't moved (without being stiff or weird looking). Even walking in the windy city that is Halifax hasn't had an effect. We don't expect that much difficulty with the shampooing, as most pomades have a wax as part of their recipe.
**Post shower update: Andrew had ZERO difficulties washing the pomade out of his hair- and is now a daily, under a 1$, delicious smelling, 3 ingredient beeswax pomade convert. Success!
**Post shower update: Andrew had ZERO difficulties washing the pomade out of his hair- and is now a daily, under a 1$, delicious smelling, 3 ingredient beeswax pomade convert. Success!
No more chemical-filled, pricey pomade/clays for us!
article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com
How cool! My husband uses Got2Be and Bed Head and something by Garnier Fructis. I don't have the time to make DIY hair products and he certainly doesn't have the motivation. But I will file this away on my aspire to-do list for when I emerge from the new mom fog.
ReplyDeleteOkay this is just TOO COOL !!! My daughter is 16 and obsessed with hair care products. I am going to try this - it would save so much money and much healthier for her.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, I might try it too!
Thanks for the recipe!!! I will definitely be making this ASAP! :)
ReplyDeleteYESSSSSSSSSS!!! This is an absolutely fantabulously awesome recipe. Bonus points for being able to use the beeswax from our own bees. Now, if only I could grow coconuts on my balcony...
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! I hope you all have an easy time making it- let me know if you have any changes or suggestions that you make :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool. I wish my 20 yo son would go for something like that but he won't. My 22 yo son is a Got2Be user as well but he no longer lives in my house and yeah, he wouldn't go for a DIY product either.
ReplyDeleteQuick question. I'm looking at giving this a go but alas the hair in my family is fine and tends to get oily easily. Did you find that the oils in the pomade translated to an oily hair look? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to make a ginger scented pomade for my ginger haired brother :-p
@Anonymous: Andrew doesn't have thin hair, but it gets oily- he's actually only starting to run out of this batch NOW, more than six months later :) You could always decrease the oil content, but as long as he doesn't put too much it should be fine. It's much more waxy than say a "clay" though.
ReplyDeletethe good thing about this pomade is that if your brother doesn't like it, it wasn't that expensive to make :)
Hi! I was wondering if it would be alright to mention this post about your pomade on my blog - I'd like to give you credit for making the original. Please let me know- I would have emailed, but couldn't find an address- feel free to skip posting this comment, if you wish- I'm not asking in order to advertise my own blog, just to respectfully ask your permission. Thanks!
ReplyDelete- Heather R.
Hey! Yes of course :D I'm gonna skip over there and see how it went for you!
DeleteI just made my own beeswax/EO oil hair pomade! I used this stuff for the oil:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Essential-Conditioning-Serum-Wild-Coconut/dp/B003FLTQ0G
It's just a blend of a bunch of oils, with nothing else (no alcohol or any chemicals).
Sure, I could have just used coconut and olive oil, and I might do that for the next batch, but I had the EO already, and wanted something thicker. It's AWESOME! I've been meaning to do this forever, as commercial hair pastes make my forehead break out if I sweat. And why not, for a LITTLE amount compared to $10-$20 per tin.
I used about 1oz of the oil, and a half ounce of beeswax. About $2.50, on just a tiny test batch. Of course, being able to blend it to your desired thickness is just a bonus.
This took all of 15 minutes, including trial and error. So stoked!
oh, and another question:
ReplyDeleteis this good for straightening out wavy hair?
Hm, I would have to say if you put in less beeswax (just a smidgeon of beeswax) it might be good for straightening hair, but the risk is that your hair would be pretty heavy and oily. Perhaps consider replacing the coconut oil with a lighter oil, like almond oil, or even grapeseed oil (or argan oil would be really great).
DeleteThat said, straight up oils may make your hair oily.... :S
is coconut oil necessary in step 4?
ReplyDeletefor the pomade to work and not to TOO stiff, you should put some sort of oil. coconut oil is pretty cheap and solid at room temperature (whereas many other oils aren't).
DeleteYou could put less coconut oil and more beeswax and you'll get a stiffer pommade.
I tried the recipe with 3 3/4 T shredded beeswax - but THAT wasn't it. It was completely hard. So I modified it slightly to this :
ReplyDelete3T + 2tsp shredded beeswax (smooshed into tablespoon)
3T + 1tsp unrefined coconut oil
1T shea butter
6 drops champaca essential oil
9 drops lemon essential oil
(makes it smell like lemon cake when combined with the coconut oil)
With the same basic instructions. It's still very solid with this recipe but rubbing it puts some on my fingers. More like a styling or finishing wax than a pomade. And it's perfect! I have very short hair and it holds well enough to keep everything in place without looking like I've used anything. Including holding tiny little curls without letting them frizz.
Thank you so much for posting this!