There are different ways to make your own Nuru gel to be used in a Nuru Massage session, and we will discuss some of those in this post.
Basically you have two types of Nuru gel you can make yourself: water-based and oil-based.
Water-based gel is easy to clean, very easy to make, body-safe, and very affordable because you don’t need expensive oils. Oil-based Nuru gel may be a bit more slippery while lasting longer on the skin, but then again it can stain and there are more risks on allergic reactions.
Moreover, Nuru gel can be unsafe if a latex condom will be used after the session and the condom would have gotten into contact with oil-based Nuru gel. That is, latex condoms can break because of oils.
Of course you can make sure to cleanup well before using a latex condom, but alternatively you can also use polyurethane condoms, which can handle oil-based lubricants.
Method A (Water-Based)
The most traditional way of making your own Nuru Gel is to buy fresh or dried seaweed which you soak in water overnight.
Afterwards you rinse it until the water is clear, then blend the seaweed until it’s smooth and slimy, while adding (warm) water to obtain your preferred consistency.
You can then keep it in the fridge to be used the day after or so. As this is a mix without conservatives, don’t keep it stored for more than a day or two.
Method B (Water-Based)
For this formula you’ll need food-grade sodium alginate (1 tea spoon). Sodium alginate is a product extracted from Kelp or Sargassum of brown algae.
In addition you need boiled water, which is cooled off a bit (230 to 240 ml, which is about 1 cup).
Then mix the two and blend until the mixture it’s smooth. You can add more or less (warm) water to reach the consistency you prefer.
Just as with Method A, you can then keep it in the fridge, but as this is a mix without conservatives, don’t keep it stored for more than a day or two.
Method C (Oil-Based)
For this formula you’ll need 100 grams of food-grade vegetable Glycerin, 85 grams of Coconut oil (or Almond oil or any other carrier oil), 100 ml of warm water, and Xanthan gum.
First mix the Glycerin and oil, and then start slowly adding warm water until you reach the desired consistency. If the mixture becomes too thin you can add some Xanthan gum to thicken it a bit.
You can store it in the fridge, but don’t keep it stored for more than a day or two because your gel is organic and doesn’t contain conservatives.
And Finally
You can always add essential oils to your mix or extracts of Aloe Vera or Chamomile, for instance, or whatever you like to add to make the gel scented and more nourishing for the skin.
Just remember that adding oil to pure water-based gels poses a risk for latex condoms if those come into contact with oil. So, before using a condom you should cleanup well, or alternatively use polyurethane condoms, which can handle oil-based lubricants.
Mind also that additional ingredients may not be handled well by your or your partner’s skin, so test your gel on the skin to check for possible allergic reactions. To test the gel, smear a bit on a small piece of skin, leave it in contact for about 5 minutes and check on possible reactions.