Easy DIY Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel

Jump to How-To

Learn how to make this super easy sensory bottle with hair gel, glitter, and water. This hair gel bottle can be used as calm down jars in your home or classroom!

Are you looking for a fun and easy DIY project that can provide hours of sensory play for your little ones?

Look no further than the sensory bottle with hair gel! This simple yet effective activity is perfect for little children of all ages and can provide a calming and soothing effect during times of stress or anxiety.

In this article, you’ll explore everything you need to know on how to make a calming bottle with hair gel, including materials, step-by-step instructions, and tips for making the most of this sensory playtime activity.

DIY Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel pin image

What is a Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel?

A sensory bottle with hair gel is a type of sensory toy that is made by filling a clear plastic bottle with hair gel and various small objects.

The bottle is then sealed and shaken to create a mesmerizing display of swirling colors and textures that can provide a calming and soothing effect for kids, especially toddlers.

It is a very easy DIY calm down bottle to make!

Want to join our FREE community and have more support to help you raise your toddler to be mindful, happy, and kind? Join HERE!

Benefits of Sensory Calming Bottles

Using hair gel in a sensory bottle can provide a variety of benefits for both kids and adults. Here are some of the main benefits of calm jars made with hair gel and water.

calming sensory bottle with stars, glitter, and hair gel

Soothing and calming: The thick and viscous texture of the hair gel creates a mesmerizing effect when shaken, which can be soothing and calming for individuals who are feeling anxious or stressed. We use our relaxation jars during our bedtime routines and when as a glitter stress bottle when our toddlers are upset.
Visual stimulation: By adding small objects to the hair gel mixture, you can create a visually stimulating toy that can help develop visual tracking skills and hand-eye coordination.
Portable and easy to use: A sensory bottle with hair gel is a portable and easy-to-use toy that can be used at home, in the car, or on-the-go. It requires no batteries or electricity and can be used for hours of entertainment.
Cost-effective: Making a sensory bottle with hair gel is a cost-effective DIY project that can be customized to your individual preferences. You can use materials you already have at home and can experiment with different objects to create a unique sensory experience. Many of the items you need can be purchased from the Dollar Store too!

Overall, using hair gel in a sensory bottle can provide a variety of benefits for individuals of all ages and can be a fun and engaging sensory experience perfect for child development.

Some of these links are affiliate links meaning if you purchase from these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything I share is my own opinions and things I personally use and love. You can learn more by reviewing my disclosure. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make a Calm Down Bottle with Hair Gel

Here is how to make your own calm down bottle with hair gel, glitter, and a few other ingredients!

sensory jar with hair gel and star sequins

Supplies

VOSS water bottle (or any type of plastic bottle)
Red, silver and blue star confetti
Glitter
Water (I used my tap water)
Clear hair gel
Super glue

ingredients for sensory bottle with hair gel

Instructions for this Glitter Sensory Bottle

Pour your desired amount of the red, silver and blue star confetti into the Voss water bottle.

Next add your glitter. I used the silver one and dumped the entire mini bottle into the water bottle.
Fill the bottle with about 2 inches of clear hair gel.

Adding the hair gel and water to sensory jar

Fill the rest of the water bottle with tap water.
Seal using either E6000 glue or crazy glue.

Notes

You can use any small items you want. I used these stars to make a 4th of July themed calm down jar but any will do. You can customize it to fit your needs and wants. Themed sensory bottles are so much fun!
Many people have success using warm water, but I just used regular water from my tap.
Other recipes use glitter glue, but for this sensory bottle with hair gel, I just used regular glitter and it worked out great!
If you do not want just clear colors, you can add some food coloring. Just make sure to add it to your water before mixing it in the jar.
Adding some water beads inside would be so much fun too!
If you are wondering how to make glitter float in a jar, the hair gel mixed with the water makes the glitter float. Make sure to use regular glitter, not glitter glue.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Calming Bottle

Now that you’ve made your very own sensory bottle with hair gel, it’s time to start playing! Here are a few tips to help you make the most of this sensory playtime activity:

Encourage your child to hold the sensory bottle and turn it over to see the contents move and swirl.
Use the sensory bottle as a calming tool during times of stress or anxiety.
Use the sensory bottle as a visual aid for teaching colors, shapes, and textures.
Make multiple sensory bottles with different colors and objects to create a whole collection of mesmerizing toys.
Experiment with different types of small objects, such as sequins, small shells, or foam shapes, to create different textures and movements.

FAQs

What kind of hair gel should I use for my sensory bottle?

You can use any type of clear hair gel that you can find at your local drugstore or online. Look for a gel that is not too thick and has a clear consistency.

Can I use water instead of hair gel?

While you can use water instead of hair gel, it will not have the same calming and soothing effect as a sensory bottle with hair gel. The hair gel creates a thicker, more viscous liquid that creates a mesmerizing effect when shaken.

How do I prevent the small objects from sticking to the sides of the bottle?

You can prevent small objects from sticking to the sides of the bottle by adding a small amount of clear glue to the hair gel mixture. This will create a thicker liquid that will hold the objects in suspension.

Can I reuse the same sensory bottle with hair gel?

Yes, you can reuse the same sensory bottle with hair gel multiple times. Simply shake the bottle to mix the contents again and enjoy! These calming bottles can last a very long time.

How can I make the sensory bottle more visually interesting?

You can make the sensory bottle more visually interesting by using a variety of different small objects with different colors, shapes, and textures. You can also experiment with adding glitter or food coloring to the hair gel mixture to create different effects.

Can you use hair gel in sensory bottles?

Yes! hair gel sensory bottles help make the contents slowly move around, making it the perfect ingredient for a calm down jar.

What works best in sensory bottles?

Glitter, baby oil, hair gel, water, food coloring, small sequins, water beads, and other items all work great in sensory bottles.

How do you make a sensory bottle without baby oil?

If you don’t want to use baby oil for a sensory bottle, simply use hair gel instead! It works great with glitter and water.

How do you slow down a sensory bottle?

If you find your sensory bottle moves too fast, you need to use less water and more glue, glitter glue, or hair gel.

Yield: 1 calm down jar

Calming Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel

Make this calm down glitter bottle with hair gel, glitter, and water! It is so easy to make and will create hours of fun for your little ones.

Materials

VOSS water bottle
Red, silver and blue star confetti
Glitter
Water
Super glue
Clear hair gel