Curly girls can spend years searching for the perfect curl enhancing gel that gives the shine, bounce, and hold without crunch that they are looking for. For Product Junkies, the search for the perfect product is a fun one, and other curlies in the community prefer to take matters into their own hands with DIY.
Here is a 100% organic DIY gel that you can make at home that harnesses the benefits of Vitamin B5, and the reasons it is so nourishing for your hair. You can get the NOW Foods Vitamin B5 capsule brand at most drugstores, Whole Foods, or GNC.
DIY Vitamin B5 Curl Enhancer
Karine of the blog Water Roots uses this recipe of all organic ingredients as a curl enhancing gel.
- 1 Tbsp Aloe Vera gel to hydrate and nourish your hair
- 1 to 2 Drops Pro Vitamin B5/DL Panthenol to strengthen, repair weak curls, and boost shine.
- 1 to 2 Drop Silk Extract to retain moisture and protect the hair follicle
- 1 Drop Essential Oil–either lavender or rosemary to soothe your scalp
- Optional: Rice protein Liquid to hydrate and add volume and Argan Oil to nourish
Mix everything together in a bowl, and place in a glass jar to store away. Use this for 2 weeks maximum if used without preservatives.
We recommend applying this gel to wet or damp hair when styling freshly cleansed hair. When reviving 2nd or 3rd day hair, spray your hair with water to dampen it and then scrunch a small amount of gel from the ends up to the roots to reactivate your curls.
Why use Vitamin B5?
Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is a nutrient that you will find in most of your hair and skin care products these days.
It supports the production of protein-rich tissues like collagen and keratin. This water-soluble vitamin cannot be stored by your body although you still need to acquire it from a well-balanced diet and lifestyle.The benefits for your hair
For hair, vitamin B5 benefits the natural keratin found in our hair. It helps prevent hair loss, keeps hair from going grey and helps to retain natural color and luster. Most salon products and treatments contain B5 as part of nourishing treatments to clients who want to straighten or color their hair.
The collagen and keratin help to prevent hair breakage, makes hair stronger and keeps hair from getting too dry and brittle. Vitamin B5 is also used to treat hair loss and hair shedding too. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it an ideal ingredient for deeply cleansing the scalp after taking down a protective style.
How else can you get Vitamin B5?
Luckily, there are a lot of common foods that we consume that provide us with the pantothenic acid we need.
- tuna
- chicken
- milk
- yogurt
- cooked broccoli
- avocado
- lentils
- sweet potatoes
- mushrooms
- whole wheat bread
If you feel as though you still need more vitamin B5 in your diet you can take vitamin supplements as well.