January 17th, 2006 - Frugal/natural experiment
This week, as I’m nearing the end of my last purchased bottle of hair gel, I’m trying homemade hair gel. A few months ago, I found the recipe online (1/2-1 tsp vegetable gelatin, 1 cup hot water, store in fridge). I use gel on a daily basis, but only a small amount about the size of a dime. It helps my hair be less-frizzy and, when it’s longer (like now), keep it’s curl throughout the day.
I’m not sure if homemade will save much money. I use so little gel, that my $8 fancy bottle has lasted at least 1.5 years, I believe it may be more than 3 (my hairdresser moved 1.5 years ago, so I know it’s older than that). The homemade version has cost me nothing so far. I bought a package of gelatin year(s?) ago at the discount food store for less than $1. So far, I’ve used at most 1/4 of a one packet (of 4) to make 1/4 cup of gel. I do use a bit more and it isn’t as solid as the store-bought gel.
The jury’s still out on whether it will hold as well. It’s a little more hassle to use, since I get my hair ready upstairs but can’t use the gel until I get downstairs and let the dogs out. On the other hand, it’s less of a mess and isn’t as icky-sticky on my hands (in fact, I haven’t bothered washing my hands the last two times). But that might mean it won’t hold my hair as well, either. On the other hand, there are no funny chemicals being used!!! I will put up with the hassle and with it not holding quite as well for the last one. It has to have a decent holding power, however. I do not like it when my hair is twice as big as usual.
I’ve resolved to use it for the entire week, to give a fair trial. So I’ll let you know next Monday what the verdict is!
January 17th, 2006 at 11:25 am EST
Hrm, my sub $2 bottle lasted more than 10 years. Extra plus: YOU actually bought it and left it at Mom & Dad’s, where I appropriated it.
I bought another sub- or cc. $2 bottle last year that might be used up this spring; I use more, lately. Less troublesome than greasy wax.
January 18th, 2006 at 8:43 am EST
I think the icky chemicals issue is important. I use soap bases and shampoo base to make my own of that kind of stuff. With cheap varieties of such things selling for $1 a bottle or less, I wondered whether it was actually a frugal choice.
Here are the advantages, though:
- instead of buying petroleum by-products and water (I don’t know what’s in gel, but I suppose it is a similar situation), I am using natural vegetable products.
- since I buy my stuff in bulk without an added water, I am using less packaging (also petroleum), and less is transported on my behalf — another environmental benefit
- mine may not always be the cheapest possible, but they are cheaper than a comparable-quality store-bought item
-Dweezy pointed out that the cost of cosmetics is almost all for the experience, not the chemistry. Since I choose my own colors, scents, etc — or lack thereof — I have exactly the experience I choose.
I expect that all those things are true of hair gel, too. I will watch for your results. I don’t use gel, but my husband does.