Slime without glue may not be the super stretchy slime that you’re used to, but it’s still a LOT of fun to play with! This dough-like slime is super squishy, a little stretchy, and incredibly easy to make.
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What kind of conditioner should I use?
We used Herbal Essence conditioner to make the slime you see in the photos. Most brands of conditioner should work, but if you’re using a different brand, the amount of corn starch you need will probably be different than listed in our recipe. Thicker conditioner will makes a thicker slime, while a thin conditioner with a higher water content will need more cornstarch – in some cases a LOT more cornstarch. Keep adding cornstarch to your slime a little at a time until you’re happy with the consistency.
What consistency does this slime have?
The consistency of your slime should be similar to play dough, but it will be shinier, softer, and a little more stretchy. You’ll have a bit of residue on your hands after playing with it, but it shouldn’t stick all over your hands. If it’s a sticky mess, keep adding corn starch and kneading it in until it’s more dough like.
Why is my slime so sticky?
If your slime is really sticky you need to add more cornstarch. Our recipe is a starting point, but you’ll need to add more (or less) corn starch depending on the water content in your conditioner. If your hands are completely covered in sticky goo, you’ll need to add cornstarch 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture thickens up. (It helps to have someone close by who can pour the cornstarch on for you!)
How long does this slime last?
If you store your slime in plastic wrap and keep it inside a plastic Ziploc bag it should last for a few weeks. Use your best judgement and if it smells or feels off, throw it away. The time it lasts will depend on how clean your surfaces and hands are when you play with it. After about 2 weeks our slime dried out a bit and turned more play dough like. To bring it back to the smoother slime consistency we added more conditioner to soften it up and it was good as new! Just make sure you add very small amounts of conditioner at a time and knead it in. We accidentally added too much conditioner to ours and ended up having to add more corn starch to make it less sticky.
Why do most slimes have glue in their recipes?
Most slime forms because of a reaction between glue and some form of borax. Glue contains flexible molecules called polymers. Polymers on their own act like a liquid, sliding and moving past each other. Borax contains borate ions, and when borax combines with glue, the borate ions and polymer molecules become linked. The borate ions stop the polymers from flowing as easily as they did by themselves and it forms the more rubbery consistency that we call slime.
Can I make regular stretchy slime without glue?
Not really. You typically need both glue and activator to create the chemical reaction that creates slime. Which is why most recipes contain both glue and borax (or a borax containing ingredient, like contact lens solution). Any recipe you try without a form of glue and activator is going to result in a slime that’s more dough-like instead of goopy and stretchy. If you’re looking for a stretchier slime without glue, try our metamucil slime recipe.
How else can I make slime without glue?
There are lots of ways to make slime without glue, and they all have different consistencies. Our two ingredient Metamucil slime is the closest we’ve come to a typical “slime” consistency without glue. Edible slime made with Starburst candy is a super fun and taste-safe option. Oobleck is a different type of “slime”, made with just cornstarch and water.
This conditioner slime without glue is really easy to make and so much fun to play with! With only 2 simple household ingredients it comes together really quickly – And the clean up is easy!
Here’s even more slime recipe ideas:
Mermaid Slime
Butter Slime
Clear Slime
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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