Flax seed gel questions!

Tripgirl3a · 07-31-2012, 02:29 PM

1. My flax seed gel smells bad, even right when I make it. Why is this? Even of I don't add anything! What can I add to make it smell good/not smell at all?

2. My gel ether comes out watery or really sticky and hard to separate so I can't use it. How do you get the perfect add ins?

Thanks!

Jas76 · 07-31-2012, 03:04 PM

As for the scent - it never bothered me much, really, since my condish scents always mask it, and my additives tend to help, as well. But you can add some fragrance oil. Lavender is always popular.

As for thickness - if it's too thin, put the strained stuff back in the pan and let it cook for a couple more minutes. If its too thick, same thing, but stir in some water over the heat. If that thins it out too much, leave it on the heat longer to thicken it up more.

HTH!

Tripgirl3a · 07-31-2012, 08:53 PM

Thanks so much! When did you add your conditioner? Before or after? I was thinking that the conditioner might not mix if I put it in after but would melt too much of I put it in with the boiling water and flax seeds

Jas76 · 08-01-2012, 08:02 AM

I'm sorry, what I meant was GE conditioner I use prior to applying the FSG. I'll put a good amount of LI in before the FSG, and that masks the smell in my hair.

I do add other additives at different times, tho.

Some people do add conditioner, tho, and they typically add it when they put the gel in the bottle, I think.

HTH!

Tripgirl3a · 08-01-2012, 06:24 PM

Oh ok thank you! You helped a lot!

Auntie Bubbs · 08-01-2012, 07:43 PM

To me, FSG smells like cooked oatmeal. Not one of my favorite smells, as I don't like oatmeal.

I have to put essential oils in it to cover that smell. I favor lavender and orange oil.

Tripgirl3a · 08-02-2012, 11:22 AM

Would extracts works as essential oils? I can't get my hands on any essentials but I have some extracts.

SpinningNickel · 08-03-2012, 07:10 AM

Most extracts have alcohol in, which can be very drying even in small amounts, so I wouldn't advise it personally.

I buy essential oils from the aromatherapy section of a chain health food store. I use a lemongrass one, which smells quite strong initially but fades quickly once it's in my hair and leaves it more or less odourless.

Maybe something else you could add would mask the smell, if not as strongly as essential oils? Maybe crush and boil down some actual lemongrass and add that. Some of the ingredients that get added to FSG as standard can help. Add a bit of coconut oil instead if your hair responds well to that, which will also add some extra moisturising properties and I find smells quite strongly of well... coconut. (Go figure.) Some people add honey, which I find leaves it with a very sweet smell, if you like that sort of scent.

Tripgirl3a · 08-03-2012, 08:05 PM

My hair does not seem to like honey or anything moisturizing:/ maybe I will just have to try a little bit of honey.
My gel reminds me of rotten eggs but a less harsh smell(sorry its hard to explain) . Is there something wrong with my seeds?

Auntie Bubbs · 08-03-2012, 08:48 PM

To me honey does not add any scent. And I personally have not had good luck adding coconut oil. When I've added it, it resolidifies in the gel, forming little chunks that are not ideal. So I never add coconut oil. Other people may not have that problem though, I've just moved on to other oils rather than try to solve it since other oils work just fine for me.

I personally would not add any extracts to my FSG for the same reason someone else stated, that extracts have alcohol, but if that doesn't bother you, I've heard that some people will add vanilla extract for scent purposes.

Essential oils are not that expensive and smell very nice, and do not linger in the hair. But if your gel smells that bad, then it is a possibility you have rancid seeds, I guess. That's a new one to me, but it is a natural product, so it's definitely possible.

Tripgirl3a · 08-04-2012, 06:35 AM

But how would it be possible if I just got them from the store? Sorry, I'm just mad. *sigh* it really helps my hair curl but because if the smell I don't want to use it! Oh well, I'll try and get a new bag of seeds and see if that helps. And maybe some oils too

Auntie Bubbs · 08-04-2012, 10:31 AM

Well, if I were you, I would take them back to the store and ask them that very question.

Check for an expiration date. I don't know if the bag has one, I've never looked on my bags. You've made me think though - I stocked up on seeds last time they were on sale, and bought like 15 bags. I make it all the time, but I still have alot left. I'd better check my bags! My gel doesn't smell rotten though, so it makes me think that if yours smells like rotten eggs, your seeds must be rancid.

adthomas · 08-04-2012, 10:50 AM

Some people hate the smell of FSG but it doesnt bother me. I do add lavender, cedarwood and sometimes other eo's. I got mine at health food store. Some people use vitamin E oil which is easy to find but no sure it would help much with smell.

sheilacurl · 08-05-2012, 06:08 AM

I used some seeds in the past that I kept in the fridge for quite a while before I made another batch and the gel smelled so bad I had to toss it all. The seeds didn't smell badly or look any different either. Definitely take what you bought back to the store! Bring your gel that you made as proof that the seeds are bad too.

Auntie Bubbs · 08-05-2012, 02:49 PM

I have made batches that smelled bad but not rotten - I could tell the batch was off because the flour sack towel I used to plop my hair with smelled bad after I plopped.
It took me awhile to figure out what smelled bad - it turned out to not be my seeds, but some of the oils had gone rancid.

I was not thrilled that I had already used the gel in my hair!

To be honest, if you got the seeds at the health food store, I would consider not buying them there again. If they're in a bin, the whole bin is probably rancid, so replacing them is not likely to solve the problem. If you can get a refund, that'd be best, then get your seeds elsewhere. I don't know how easy it is to get seeds. Here where I'm at, I can find commercially sealed bags of seeds at almost any grocery store and healthfood store, and the healthfood stores have open bins as well.
If getting a refund is not a possibility, and going to another store isn't going to work because you have more limited options, you might want to look into ordering them online.

Tripgirl3a · 08-14-2012, 06:32 PM

I can't take them back

I'll guess I'll try a different store even though they were packaged. Maybe they expired... I don't know but I'll try a new batch of seeds!