This fluffy slime recipe is easy to make at home with shaving cream and glue! Recipe by Maia.
Maia found a fluffy slime recipe on YouTube recently and our studio has been turned into a laboratory for making and experimenting with slimes. She and Daphne have made about a dozen batches between them in a rainbow of colors.
We’ve always been big fans of sensory materials such as:
But lately, it’s been about the homemade slimes and putties.
This post will show you how to make slime with shaving cream.
The resulting fluffy slime is stretchy, putty-like stuff that is fun to knead and play with it. The kids even make balloons and balls with it!
Our studio looks like a science laboratory and they’ve been taking an experimental approach to this.
Each batch is a little different with slightly different properties of stretchiness, fluffiness, and non-stickiness depending on the amounts of extra glue, shaving cream, eye contact solution, etc that they added.
And, of course, they’ve been working to get the perfect colors and tints by adding and mixing food coloring (and liquid watercolors in a couple of cases).
Now they have a rainbow of fluffy slime.
It’s pretty incredible!
Here’s the recipe and step-by-step instructions.
Fluffy Slime Recipe
Makes about 1 cup of slime. Adapted from the recipe in this YouTube video by Sarah Choxo.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of Elmer’s white glue*
- Shaving cream (the foam kind, not the gel or cream kind)
- Borax solution (1 cup warm water with 1 teaspoon borax, mixed until clear)
- Eye contact solution (optional but recommended)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Essential oils (optional)
*Or, if you’re going to be making lots of slime, you might want to consider buying your glue by the gallon.
Also, if you don’t want to track down all the ingredients for slime, you can buy slime kits now! Here’s a rainbow slime starter kit by Elmer’s that is well rated on Amazon. It would be interesting to see if you could adapt it for making fluffy slime. Perhaps just by adding a bottle of shaving cream?
Time needed: 30 minutes.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Start with glue
Squeeze one bottle of white glue into a medium bowl.
- Add shaving foam
Stir in 1/2 cup to 1 cup of shaving foam, depending on how fluffy you want your slime to be.
- Add color
Stir in food coloring until you reach your desired color.
- Mix in contact solution
Add a few squirts of contact solution (this makes it less sticky).
- Add borax solution
Make a borax solution of 1 cup warm water with 1 teaspoon borax, mixed until clear. Add this solution a teaspoon at a time until the mixture forms a clump in the bowl.
This is what it looks like when it first pulls together. - Knead
Use your hands to knead your fluffy slime!
If it’s too sticky, add more contact solution. If it seems to need more glue or shaving cream or color, you can knead that in, too.
And, if you want your fluffy slime to be scented, knead in a few drops of essential oil. - Have Fun!
Store in a covered container or plastic bag to keep your fluffy slime from drying out.
What to do with your slime
Fluffy slime is a great sensory material to hold, squeeze, stretch, and fiddle with.
Maia, my sensory girl, always (and I mean always) has some sort of slime, putty, dough, water beads, or kinetic sand in her hand. Even (or especially) when she’s doing other things such as homework, riding in the car, watching a movie, etc. Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty has been her number one requested gift at birthday’s and Christmas and whenever we walk into the toy store, but at 10-14 dollars a container, it’s nice to have a homemade sensory putty to play with and make.
This homemade fluffy slime is pretty good stuff, too. You can even blow big bubble balls with it. To pop or to toss (gently).
Pretty cool.
How about you? Have you made your own putty, slime, or gak? Maybe now is the time!
More Slime Recipes
- Maia’s Best Ever Butter Slime Recipe
- 5 FUN Fluffy Slime Recipes to Try
- How to Make Slime Creations for Kids (with Loose Parts)
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88 Comments
Caitlin
March 11, 2017 at 8:17 amThis looks so fun and I’d like to try some kind of slime soon. But on the same day I saw your post, another friend shared this on facebook:
https://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/59514a-eng.php
Apparently they are advising against using borax in kids crafts. I just thought I would let you know; maybe it is fine once in a while but some families do a lot of crafting and might not be aware.
Caitlin
liz
April 23, 2017 at 10:11 amits not fine once in awhile there are safer products one can use without using borax…and getting 3rd degree burns…..on childrens hands. try safer way to make SLIME..1/4 cup,,,shaving cream and 1–2 TLBS. clear TIDE detergent (sensitive skin).1 bottle Elmers craft school glue…about 725ml.a and about …mix each time you add an ingredient…lastly add a few drops food coloring (color of choice )…mix then place onto table top and knead together by pulling all four side up and in towards middle..(this is kneading method)..
Ali
May 4, 2017 at 10:11 pmBorax does not give third degree burns.
Sarah Matthews
May 12, 2017 at 7:29 amI have very sensitive skin & open cuts to my hands from my skin being very dry. However I tested borax using my bare hands to check it would be safe for my child to use. I was suprised but I had no reaction to it at all it seems perfectly safe & does not burn the skin.
luckycharmy
September 3, 2017 at 4:37 pmThank I had loads of fun with the slime!!
Allie
June 15, 2017 at 8:37 pmSometimes it can
AYYYEEEEE
November 28, 2017 at 10:24 amYes it do
Tillanea
May 4, 2018 at 2:19 pmlove it
Philip
May 12, 2017 at 10:37 amThe reason that child had burns, is because the child did not wash her hands.
NKat
February 11, 2018 at 6:22 pmIf you want to find out actual facts about Borax, check out Steve Spangler’s explanation of borax on YouTube. It is a naturally occurring compound originally found in lake beds in Tibet. I hate when people listen to everything they hear on the internet without doing their own research. Slime is a great sensory activity for kids. Let’s not ruin it without doing our homework. I have used slime with kindergarten and preschool students for over 10 years and NEVER once had any adverse reaction with any child.
Tiffini
October 7, 2018 at 2:58 pmI think you may have used boric acid
Instead of borax.
The recipe calls for borax which is a mineral mind out of California and is a cleansing agent that is 100% natural and safe.non toxic.
Boric acid will give you 3rd° burns and is toxic.
amy
October 23, 2019 at 11:12 pmhow much is the borax
Kevin
April 23, 2017 at 1:42 pmI’ve heard this too. I deal with chemicals at work, and looking at the MSDS for borax and the warnings on the box, I am not concerned. There is one story about some mother whose daughter got 2nd degree burns on her hands, but they do not mention what they used or how they used it. As far as I’ve researched, borax will not do that. Boric acid will…so maybe they confused them and used the wrong thing. But vague stories like this seem to confuse a lot of people in this age of the internet, where everyone thinks they’re an expert.
With that said, if you can get the same effect (I think it’s the binder) without it, then it’s moot.
Brooke
June 27, 2017 at 6:45 pmI have heard that too
Me
June 16, 2018 at 3:58 pmI think the girl who got the burns didnt use the proper borax to water ratio
Linda Smith
January 3, 2019 at 8:49 pmWhen you mix the borax with water, you are creating borate ions which chemically react with the polymers in the glue to create the slime. If you use the recipe of 1 tsp. of Borax to one cup of water, you create a very mild solution that shouldn’t irritate anyone. If you use contact lens solution instead; again you are using it for the borate ions. It does contain boric acid, but a very mild solution. It is mild enough to put in your eyes, for goodness sake! Neither solution should burn or irritate anyone! However, keep slime from children who put everything in their mouths. You are creating plastic, not something that should be eaten.
Rhyli
January 14, 2018 at 12:04 amI just read my box of 20 team Borax and it is sodium tetraborate, which is Not any of these, listed on the Recall-
boric acid
borax (disodium tetraborate pentahydrate)
borax (disodium tetraborate decahydrate)
disodium octaborate tetrahydrate
zinc borate –
PS- Boric acid can burn your skin…
Eloise
January 28, 2018 at 7:25 pmHi you i made fuffly slime
PoliteAsDucky
September 7, 2018 at 10:15 pmThis is our very first time making slime at home. It came out perfect. A great craft to mark with your child. Thanks. Great recipe. easy to follow! Highly recomended!
Hopeful
March 13, 2017 at 5:23 pmI don’t know if this works but thanks for the recipe. I hope it works!
Heavyn Taylor
April 8, 2017 at 6:23 pmIt doesn’t
FED UP
April 9, 2017 at 9:08 pmPlease, Heavyn Taylor. Maybe you just have a bad touch with slime or a really bad sense of humor, but don’t try to ruin the fun for people. It definitely works, so maybe you just need to START OVER. Ever heard of such a thing?
slime squad
May 22, 2017 at 5:06 pmbuurrrrrnnnnnn
Karen
March 13, 2017 at 7:22 pmHow large is your bottle of Elmer’s glue? I have different sized bottles so I don’t know which quantity to use. Trying to see how large it is in your pictures…..
Jean Van't Hul
March 14, 2017 at 6:12 amWe just use the regular size bottle of glue. I’ll go look for quantity… Okay, it’s the one that is 4 ounces or 118 milliliters. Hope that helps!
Mia
June 22, 2017 at 12:58 pmCan we use any other white glue? Other than Elmer’s?
poo head
November 16, 2018 at 2:59 amhi cool website
Jessie
April 1, 2017 at 3:16 pmJust the average bottle of school glue. Not the big huge ones but the regular. The bottle measures almost as big as the shaving cream can
Hailee Hildreth
March 27, 2017 at 7:21 pmthis slime recipe really works and you should try it with your kids or grandkids its fun and easy and does not make a mess how ever my only note would be that the firs few days the food coloring might show up on your hands still however it will stop eventually and also if you add glitter and food color it can get expensive if you don’t have this stuff at home like I would but cheap food color just to save money.
Kim
April 24, 2017 at 9:18 pmWe made this tonight, she had a lot of fun :) it seems a little wet and made sucky noises as she kneaded it. Should we add something else to it? It is drippy but isn’t really sticky. We are slime newbies.
Sarahecp
April 30, 2017 at 2:44 pmMaybe try another teaspoonful or two of the borax solution? It seems like adding more liquid to a wet situation, but for us, the borax *really* bound up the glue/foam batter and made it more like a bouncy, stretchy, resilient putty.
Mia
June 22, 2017 at 1:00 pmI tried that. Excess solution took me straight back to square one :(
Sarahecp
April 30, 2017 at 2:45 pmAlso, the more they stir then knead and play, the more stretchy and resilient it gets. It reminds me of pulling taffy.
Elle
June 19, 2017 at 5:25 amWhat is uuuuuuuppppppppppp with you go too bed
Carrie
April 26, 2017 at 5:03 pmOnly have liquid detergent….it doesn’t seem to work! Any suggestions
Natalie
May 1, 2017 at 11:45 pmIf you use 180ml of glue, about 20ml of liquid detergent and a bit of shaving foam, you should be able to make great fluffy slime. You can also add lotion to make it stretchier. I hope that helps! <3
casey
April 30, 2017 at 11:29 amcoolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Sarahecp
April 30, 2017 at 2:41 pmWe tried this today. My kids are *thrilled* with the results. We did make sure that that borax was dissolved and clear, not at all cloudy, in the warm water–it took a few minutes.
They each used a 4 oz bottle of Elmer’s school glue, 1/2 c. Barbasol shave cream, a few drops of food coloring, and then only 2-3 tsp. of the borax/water solution. We had a lot left over. We didn’t need the contact fluid at all. One child added medium-grade glitter to good effect.
It’s not too sticky. With our proportions it’s a bouncy, light, stretchy putty texture. They like the rubbery noises it makes when they poke it–it’s like that rude noise putty!
Vince
April 30, 2017 at 7:32 pmMine isnt that fluffy it is just sorta like regular slime idk what i did wrong
Natalie
May 1, 2017 at 11:46 pmJust add more shaving foam! <3
Jean Van't Hul
May 3, 2017 at 8:39 amMaia says to maybe add more shaving foam. But she also said that if you added too much shaving foam to begin with, it might have deflated.
Jimin
May 1, 2017 at 9:43 pmWow sounds cool
Snowcrystal132
May 2, 2017 at 2:03 pmOur slime was rlly hard idk what is wrong with it? How do we fix it?
Jean Van't Hul
May 3, 2017 at 8:38 amMaia says to try it again with less borax. Also, the more you stretch and knead the slime, the more flexible it becomes.
Paula
May 3, 2017 at 12:19 pmI tyred this and got 3 degree burns I was making it for my child in glad she did not make it herself so don’t use borax
Mia
June 22, 2017 at 1:03 pmI couldn’t find Borax so I used Boric Acid. It worked, and I wasn’t burnt.
Slime
May 5, 2018 at 3:15 pmUmm……… your supposed to wash your hands fryer making for three minutes
Graham
May 18, 2017 at 11:11 pmIt works the same if you split the recipe
Jean Van't Hul
May 19, 2017 at 7:06 amGood to know! Thanks!
Rachel
June 27, 2017 at 6:47 pmWhat should I look for when I buy contact lens solution? I went to the store and was totally overwhelmed by the options. What ingredient should it contain? Is it the cleaning kind or the storing kind or the rinsing kind?
Nadia
June 29, 2017 at 4:42 amGet glue , borax , and shaving cream :fluffy slime
Kiley
January 28, 2018 at 8:33 amno alls you need is glue shaving cream and contacts solution.
Kirtina
June 30, 2017 at 1:54 amIt should Contain Boric acid. Hope that helps!!
Slime
May 5, 2018 at 3:15 pmYou should look for boric acid in it
Linda Smith
January 5, 2019 at 12:44 amWhatever you use as activator must contain boron in some form whether you use contact lens solution, which contains very mild boric acid, Borax = sodium tetraborate or laundry detergent, because the borate ions react with the polymers in the glue. You only need a tiny bit of borate ions so add the activator very slowly. Too much activator will make a harder plastic and it won’t be slimy slime.
Stephell
June 30, 2017 at 9:20 pmDoes PVA work
ellie
August 11, 2017 at 3:02 pmI have done all the instructions but is still wet and not going into a clump also used all of borax solution doing this someone help please
ellie
August 11, 2017 at 3:11 pmShould i leave it in the fridge for a bit,…
Jean Van't Hul
August 12, 2017 at 5:31 amIf it did not go into a clump right away, I imagine one of the ingredients was “off” somehow.
Ellie
August 12, 2017 at 12:01 pmOk thanks but it is getting thicker by just adding borax im it’s own
KookieLookie
August 23, 2018 at 2:13 pmIt’s still wet and I put all the borax solution, and it’s messy… how do I fix it? I think I put too much shaving cream. Should I start over later? Or, if there’s a way to fix it, can you please help?
KELLS
August 27, 2017 at 12:40 amSuper simple and this one actually WORKED! It turned out okay without a huuuge mess! My daughter’s officially impressed! ??
Audrey
November 11, 2017 at 7:22 pmI tried this and it did NOT work! I was actually surprised that it didn’t work. But I suggest that you don’t give out recipes that don’t work!
Jean Van't Hul
November 12, 2017 at 6:00 amI’m sorry it didn’t work for you, Audrey. It’s worked the many, many times my kids have made it and it seems to work for others as well. Perhaps try again and watch ingredients and amounts carefully. Or try a different recipe.
Slime
May 5, 2018 at 3:16 pmIt does work I believe you did something wrong
ladashia
December 6, 2017 at 2:44 pmi need some
Ginger
January 21, 2018 at 12:47 amOne of the ingredients for contact solution is Boric acid.
Kate
January 21, 2018 at 7:08 pmGreat recipe! Going to try it right now.
Reid
February 3, 2018 at 6:07 pmWorked perfectly for us. Thank tou
makayla
March 14, 2018 at 2:03 pmthis recipe is amazing! thank you so much!
nicola
March 31, 2018 at 1:17 pmi love the resipy i’m doing it in a muinite and it is the first slime resipy i’m making i hope it works
nicola
April 1, 2018 at 5:13 ami did this exsact resipy and it worked brilliant
Jean Van't Hul
April 8, 2018 at 5:15 amGreat!
Priya
April 9, 2018 at 11:06 pmTried it at home with my 5 year old. Worked perfectly. Easiest recipe to follow. Thanks!
Dylan Ward
April 20, 2018 at 10:43 pmIt worked out good very great instructions and I like because it was messy. I really enjoyed it. THANK YOU!
Jean Van't Hul
April 21, 2018 at 6:07 amYou’re welcome, Dylan!
Slime
May 5, 2018 at 3:18 pmI had to put it in the fridge for a little bit after needing it because it got really warm and sticky
Barb
June 12, 2018 at 8:01 amThis recipe WORKED !!! Thank you and my 3 year old Granddaughter thanks you and by the way NO BURNS
S. Rakowsky
August 7, 2018 at 11:47 amOur slime came out fine. We had tried other recipes, but failed. This recipe actually worked. My granddaughter loves it and is very proud of herself.
Joan Warren
August 22, 2018 at 5:12 pmI looked up the ingredients of eye contact solution and that is where the boric acid is. I wonder what about the solution that improves the slime?
KookieLookie
August 23, 2018 at 2:19 pmMaking the slime is fun, but it didn’t work. I’m not saying the recipie is bad but, it didn’t work for me… it’s wet and messy, but I put all the solution in there, I added too much shaving cream. Can you help? Or is the only way to do it is to restart it? Please heeeeeeeeelp…
kate
September 3, 2018 at 12:54 pmmy slime came out rubbery! did i put in too much borax or too little shaving cream????????
Zee
October 2, 2018 at 2:14 pmIt was my very first time trying and the results was amazing. Thank you Soo much for this recipe xxx
Courtney Gugin
October 5, 2018 at 3:43 pmlove all the slime makeing
Dee Andersom
December 13, 2018 at 12:55 amThank you for slime recipe
Going to try it this weekend, she loves slime.
Landyn
December 23, 2018 at 7:16 pmI used this so cool thx for the page I luv it as a nine yr old it’s super fun to make !!!!
Beth
June 14, 2019 at 10:14 pmHi! I was suprised that your recipe uses borax and then saw in the comments regard it as safe and non toxic. Please be advised that the National Institute of Health has advised that borax is toxic and not safe.
It can cause skin irritation, hormone issues. toxicity, and death. https://www.healthline.com/health/is-borax-safe I am currently testing and researching recipes that do not use borax but use corn starch or baking soda instead. I will post a link when I find one that does. I urge you to not use borax in anything that touches your skin. The EU and Canada has outlawed the use of borax in topical products.
A person
February 1, 2020 at 4:01 pmBorax is not available in the UK. What other products could I use?