The　hydroxyl-substituted　gemini　surfactants,　2-hydroxyl-butanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethyl-dodecylammonium　bromide),　and　2,3-hydroxyl-butanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium　bromide)　that　are　referred　to　as　12-4(OH)-12　and　12-4(OH)2-12,　respectively,　were　synthesized　and　their　viscoelastic　properties　in　aqueous　solution　were　studied　using　steady-state　and　dynamic　frequency　sweep　rheological　measurements.　Compared　with　the　unsubstituted　butanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium　bromide)　(12-4-12),　the　hydroxyl-substituted　surfactants　obviously　promoted　the　micellar　growth,　especially　for　12-4(OH)2-12.　However,　the　solution　viscoelasticity　of　12-4(OH)2-12　was　always　far　poorer　than　that　of　12-3(OH)-12　(2-hydroxyl-propanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium　bromide)).　The　present　results　indicated　that　the　molecular　geometry　is　still　an　essential　and　indispensable　condition　and　the　hydrogen　bonding　interactions　may　be　only　a　supplementary　(reinforcing)　contribution　for　the　formation　of　long　wormlike　micelles.　The　addition　of　salts　can　adjust　the　molecular　geometry　but　weakened　the　contribution　of　the　electrostatic　energy　to　the　growth　of　wormlike　micelles.　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.