How to Laminate Your Hair with a Homemade or Store Bought Gloss
The clear gelatin in this homemade hair lamination mask makes a DIY gloss that leaves hair smooth and shiny for up to two weeks.
A DIY Hair Gloss Recipe
One of my favorite beauty hacks is this homemade hair lamination mask. It is a quick, inexpensive DIY hair gloss recipe that uses a natural product (gelatin) to seal and smooth hair. This DIY gloss costs only pennies and uses 2 ingredients (not including water).
What is hair lamination?
Hair lamination uses clear gelatin to coat hair with a clear finish that protects, adds shine, and makes hair easier to style. In theory, laminating hair is similar to laminating paper. The former uses gelatin to laminate; the latter uses a plastic coating.
Can you put gelatin on your hair?
Yes! Gelatin is perfectly safe for hair and is the key ingredient in hair lamination. Gelatin contains protein from the collagen extracted from domesticated animals.
Can gelatin make nails grow?
In addition to being used to treat hair, gelatin is used by many to help nail growth. My dermatologist, Dr. Jo Herzog, gave her opinion on this in this blog post~Gelatin For Long, Strong Nails: Fact or Fiction?.
Which oil works best in hair lamination?
I only use melted virgin coconut oil. It is clear and smells fabulous (like coconut of course). Avocado oil and grapeseed oil could also be used. Just make sure the oil is pure and free from salts or additives.
The photo below was taken after I did a homemade lamination mask treatment. My hair styled easily and was softer than before the treatment.
Apply the gelatin while it is warm.
The gelatin mixture should be applied to the hair while warm before it has time to cool, after which it won’t be usable. The photo (below) is what my leftover gelatin mask looked like after a few hours at room temp. Remember, the gelatin will gelatinize (become thick like Jell-O) as it cools.
Best store bought hair masks and glosses.
If you are too busy to make your own gloss or just prefer to buy products that are ready made, One of my FAVORITE hair glosses is at most drugstores or beauty supply stores. It only takes one step. You can watch me apply the gloss in the short video below.
I hope you find this information helpful in achieving shinier, healthier hair. As always, thanks so much for stopping by my site. Wishing you a joyful, blessed, and savvy day!!!
Homemade Hair Lamination Mask
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 TB (1 packet) Knox unflavored gelatin
- 1 TB extra virgin coconut oil, melted
Instructions
- Place 1/2 cup water in the microwave; heat 1 minute or until just boiling.
- Remove from microwave; add gelatin, stirring until dissolved.
- Add oil, stirring until dissolved.
- When cool enough to apply, comb or "wet brush" through hair (concentrating on dry areas and ends).
- Cover head with a wet, hot towel for at least 15 minutes (reheating towel as needed).
- Wash hair with regular shampoo and conditioner. Style as usual.
- Reapply every few weeks.
Hi Liz!!! Yes’m it can be messy for sure! My best results are when I lean over our free standing tub!!!
Love this, thank you!!
Any tips on how to lessen the mess when applying indoors? I feel like I get it all over my bathroom whenever I’ve applied! I’ve tried over the sink, in the tub, etc….but leaves a jelly residue everywhere. I’ve ruined a few rowels too but trying to line underneath me lol! Any help appreciated! Thanks for your great tips!
Hi!!!! I think you will get best results if you wait a couple of weeks for the kerigloss to start fading. Save the lamination for when you need a good refresh!!!!
I just had my keragloss treatment yesterday. I found your site just now. May I ask, when can I possibly try this DIY hair lamination? Thank you so much!
Hi Lynn, I would wait a few weeks just to make sure the color will permeate. You are so welcome!!!
Hello, Can I use a permanent color on the roots after glazing? Thsnks!
Yay; I am so happy it worked for you!!!
I just did the treatment and hair is soft and smooth and shiny. I will do it often!
Hi there! I have used a wet brush, a comb, and my hands to run it through! They all work!!!!!
I want to try this gelatin gloss. Question: do you dip the brush into the liquid and apply it that way?
HI Stephanie! It really is simple, and it makes hair look and feel so good after. Hope you are pleased with the results!!
I used avacado oil instead because that is what i had on hand. I also microwaved a wet turbietwist hair towel to wrap around the plastic wrap and now I’m waiting…. I really think this might be the simplest DIY hair trick ever!! Can’t wait to blow dry and see the results. Thanks for the recipe!!
Hi Linda, I use the lamination as an occasional treatment to make hair soft and shiny. I use the WOW as a styling product to make is style smoother and straighter. I use the WOW on humid days especially. I don’t use clarifying shampoo because my hair is DRY and rarely if ever gets oily. If yours is the latter, it would be a good idea:-)
1) Does the WOW Dreamcoat replace the gelatin lamination or do you do both?
2) Do the WOW or the lamination require using a clarifying shampoo at some point?
I would think so; I don’t know why this would be a problem. Let me know how it works for you!!!
Can you steam hair afterapplying the mask
Hi Emily! I’ve done it with clean dry hair and dirty hair…..not sure it makes a difference. I have to just do things when time allows. I think it works either way. Let me know what you think of it!!! XoXo
Looking forward to this diy treatment:)
should hair be Freshly washed and dried?
Yay! Can’t wait to hear.
I bought the stuff- and I am about to do the lamination- i’ll keep you posted.
Hi Andrea, that is a really good question. I’ve never let my hair air dry after a mask, so I can’t say. However, I would think that if you used a good styling treatment to add sheen, it would be fine. Maybe Its a 10 would work? Let me know if you try it and how it turns out. Thank you for stopping by! XoXo
I’m going to try this, would my hair look Dull if I let it air dry oppose to blow drying after treatment?
Hello Zusie, I am so happy to hear that the mask works for you! I wish there were a way for you to post pics, but I don’t know how to put them in the comments. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. XoXo
Hi everyone,
I tried the mask and I’m using it all the time (mostly when I have more free time). It works and I absolutely love it!
Hi Vero! I either cover with plastic wrap or put on a cheap plastic shower cap!
Do you cover your hair with plastic wrap before you put the hot wet towel on it?
Hi Clare! I think it depends on each person’s hair type. I am wavy/curly, and it mainly made my hair smoother and shinier, almost like a gloss. It didn’t straighten. Hope this helps!
Can I use this on curly hair? Will it straighten it? I am hoping to cut down the frizz without losing the curl. Thanks!
So anxious to try this!!! Thanks!!! I will post later with my results!!!
So glad it worked beautifully for you, Jackie!!!!!:-)
Fab Fab FAB
Hi Sylvie! I hope this helps your hair. Please let me know! I still use deep conditioners when I wash, and I also use non-sudsing cowash (conditioning shampoo). My hair is still dry, but it all helps!!
I just found your information for dry hair. I have really really dry hair. I am so anxious to use it. I sure hope it helps. I have tried everything and I have purchase so much product, probably amounts to hundreds of dollars. Thank You so much
Oh that sounds interesting! Did it work well for you?
I tried the gelatin mixed with a little coconut oil and a little coconut milk
So glad it worked for you!
Holy SH*T!!! I just did this i did 2 treatments back to back because I had nothing to loose as my hair was so bad that it was needing to be shaved off so much like straw. I used moroccan oil instead of the coconut/olive oil as that is what is causing the damage to my hair. But anyways the results are incredible I actually have hair and not straw!!!! I am in awe I wish I found this a few weeks ago before I had most of my hair cut off. Never the less!!! THNAK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Thanks!
Hi Sherrie, I didn’t really make that clear~sorry! You apply it to dry hair:-) Hope it works for you!
Did I miss if you apply to wet or dry hair? Thank you! Excited to try it and will share how it works for me!
Hi Cindy! Thanks so much for commenting. I like the DIY gloss also, and I love saving money!!! Blessings to you!
Also I couldn’t stand high prices. This DIY is my favorite!
Let me know how it works for you, Tracy! Thanks for your comment!
we’re going to give this a try…thanks for the great idea :)