Are you looking for a lightweight hair serum that hydrates without leaving behind a greasy feeling? This simple recipe features rice water, aloe vera, and other hair-loving ingredients to keep your locks smooth and nourished. Read on for all the details, plus an optional twist using PQ-7 (Polyquaternium-7) in the cool-down phase for extra conditioning!

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Why Make Your Own Hair Serum?

Creating hair care products at home lets you:

• Control the ingredients going into your hair care
• Customize the formula for your hair type or specific needs
• Experiment with actives (like niacinamide and protein) at your preferred percentages

Plus, DIY projects are a fun and rewarding way to better understand your hair’s unique requirements.

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Key Ingredients & Benefits

1. Rice Water
   • Forms the base of the water phase
   • Traditionally used for its hair-softening and strengthening properties
2. Aloe Vera Juice
   • Adds moisture and soothes the scalp
   • Perfect for dry or damaged hair
3. Glycerin
   • A humectant that helps draw moisture into the hair shaft
4. Xanthan Gum
   • Gently thickens and stabilizes the water phase
   • Helps prevent separation
5. Shea Butter (in the oil phase)
   • Provides extra nourishment and softness
   • Avoids a heavy, greasy feel
6. BTMS-50
   • Emulsifies oil and water
   • Conditions hair, leaving it softer and smoother
7. Cetearyl Alcohol
   • Adds extra thickness and stability
8. PQ-7 (Polyquaternium-7)
   • A cationic polymer used in the cool-down phase
   • Boosts detangling and softening properties, making hair easier to manage
9. Niacinamide, Allantoin, Rice Protein, Vitamin E, Preservative
   • Added in the cool-down phase for scalp and hair health, extra strength, antioxidant benefits, and product safety

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Tools You’ll Need

• Small kitchen scale
• Heatproof beakers or bowls
• Double boiler (or a pot of gently simmering water)
• Immersion blender or milk frother (for small batches)
• Fine sieve (for straining rice)
• Clean, sanitized dropper bottle or pump bottle for storage

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Rice Water

1. Measure about two teaspoons of rice.
2. Rinse it well under running water to remove dust.
3. Place the rinsed rice in a bowl with enough fresh water to cover it.
4. Let it soak for about 30 minutes.
5. Strain out the rice using a fine sieve. The leftover liquid is your rice water, which will be the main component of the water phase.

2. Set Up the Water Phase

1. Measure out the rice water required for your recipe.
2. Add aloe vera juice for hydration.
3. In a separate small container, pre-mix xanthan gum with a little glycerin (this forms a slurry and prevents clumps).
4. Stir the xanthan gum slurry into your aloe–rice water mixture until smooth.

Set this container aside for now.

3. Prepare the Oil Phase

1. Choose a light emollient (like isopropyl myristate or a similar ester).
2. Add a small amount of shea butter if desired for extra nourishment.
3. Measure out BTMS-50 to emulsify and condition the hair.
4. (Optional) Add up to 1% cetearyl alcohol for extra thickness.

4. Heat Both Phases

1. Place both the water phase and oil phase in separate heatproof containers.
2. Warm them in a double boiler (or gently simmering water bath) until they reach 70–75 °C (158–167 °F).
3. Note the weight of your water phase before heating, so you can top it up if any water evaporates.

5. Re-Weigh the Water Phase (Important!)

• Once heated, reweigh the water phase. If it’s lower than the original weight (due to evaporation), add fresh distilled water until it matches the starting amount. This helps keep the formula balanced and ensures the final texture is correct.

6. Emulsify (Mixing Oil & Water)

1. Remove both phases from heat once they’re at about 70–75 °C and have melted properly.
2. Pour the water phase into the oil phase and begin blending.
3. If you’re making a large batch, use an immersion blender. For a smaller batch, a milk frother can work.
4. Blend for about 1–2 minutes, until you see a smooth, uniform mixture. It might appear thin now, but it will thicken as it cools.

7. Cool-Down Phase & Adding Actives

1. Cover your container and let the emulsion cool to room temperature.
2. In a small separate container, pre-mix your cool-down ingredients:
   • Vitamin E
   • Germal Plus (or your chosen preservative)
   • Rice protein
   • Niacinamide and allantoin
   • PQ-7 (Polyquaternium-7) (for extra detangling and softness)
3. Add the powdered ingredients last so they have time to dissolve. Allantoin, in particular, can take a while.
4. Once the emulsion is cool, stir in the actives gently with a spoon or spatula. If it appears lumpy, let it rest—most lumps dissolve with time. If it still feels grainy, leave it overnight to fully settle.

8. Final Texture & pH Check

1. By the next day, your serum should be creamy and stable.
2. Check the pH—if you’re using niacinamide, aim for above 5 (around 5.0–5.5 is often ideal). Adjust if necessary with tiny amounts of lactic acid or sodium hydroxide solution.
3. If the pH suits your supplier’s guidelines, you’re all set!

9. Packaging & Tips

1. Transfer your serum into a clean, sterilized container—like a dropper bottle, pump bottle, or squeeze tube.
2. Thanks to the preservative, it should last for a few months. Keep an eye on any changes in color or scent.
3. For an even richer formula, try adding a bit more butter or cetearyl alcohol next time. If you prefer it lighter, reduce the oils or skip thickening agents.

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10. Recipe for 30g

• Water phase
  • 19,05g rice water
  • 3g aloe juice
  • 1.8g glycerin
  • .06g xanthan gum
• OIL PHASE
  • .9g dimethicone
  • 1.2g isopropyl myristate
  • .9g BTMS 50
  • .3g shea butter
  • .3g Cetearyl alcohol
• COOLDOWN PHASE
  • .9g PQ-7
  • .15g HA
  • .6g niacinamide
  • .15g allantoin
  • .48g rice protein
  • .15g vitamin e
  • .06g germal plus

Conclusion

Congratulations—you’ve made a lightweight, creamy hair serum using rice water and other nourishing ingredients. By including PQ-7 in the cool-down phase, you add an extra touch of conditioning and detangling power. Weighing out your phases carefully and adjusting the pH for niacinamide ensures a stable, effective product that’s gentle on your hair.

Feel free to experiment with different oils, butters, or active ingredients to tailor the serum to your hair’s needs. If you have any questions or want more tips, let me know in the comments.