Homemade FSG pros. . . a little help? - Page 5

flippacious · 03-18-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justdoingme

im really new to this fsg thing, i might try and go buy some seeds sometime but i need to clear some things up. right, so how long should you boil for, for the best results if you dont want too thick, or too thin? how many seeds do you put in and how much water? can you re use the seeds more than once, if so how many times? lastly, if you dont put oil in your fsg, how long will it last? please answer, thanks

I follow the recipe in the first post in this thread: No-fail flax seed gel - I finally did it...TWICE!

On my stove, I only boil the seeds for 2.5 minutes and it comes out perfect. If I boil for any longer, it won't go through my strainer at all. I think my stove might be really, really hot though. The trick for me is to stop boiling once it starts to look like the consistency of egg whites. It hardens a little after it cools down.

I reused the seeds last week. I boiled 1/4 cup of seeds once, extracted the gel, and then put the seeds and another cup of water back in the same pot and did it again to make a double batch. I ended up with more than enough for one week of use. If you want to reuse the seeds on a different day, you have to freeze them to keep them from turning.

I don't put any preservatives in my gel. I about a week's worth at once and store it in the fridge. I only take it out to put it in my hair in the morning.

You can experiment to see whether you like it thick or thin. I think it is a matter of preference.

flippacious · 03-19-2013, 07:35 AM

Ok guys... what type of strainer do you use for FSG? Can anyone recommend a certain brand/model? I think mine has very small holes in it and it is just being a pain in the behind. Since my stove is so hot and I can only boil my seeds for about 2.5 minutes, there is this incredibly narrow window of time for me to remove the gel from the heat and strain it before it's too thick and I have to do it all over again. (which is what happened last night

)

Jas76 · 03-19-2013, 09:22 AM

I use a screen strainer.

Julesonline · 03-19-2013, 09:45 AM

The last time (last week) I made FSG, I used a new technique I read about somewhere on this site and it came out so good! Not thin, but thick. When finished, it made about 1-1.5 c of gel.

Here is what I did:

Placed 1/4 c of flaxseeds in a knee-high panty hose and knotted the top closed.
Placed it in a pot containing 2 c of water.
Bring it to a boil and then turn it down to lo-medium and let it simmer for 10-11 minutes.
I would occasionally (using tongs) flip the hose around in the pan and squish it up against the side of the pan.
The cool thing about this method is that you can get it thicker than if you needed to strain the seeds afterwards. The water does boil down by about 1/2.
While the gel is still hot, I whisk in my essential oils, epsom salt, and my slurry of arrowroot (thickener- I put about 2 tsp to 1 tbsp of arrowroot with about two tbsp water and mixed until dissolved), and preservative.
The gel turns whitish and cloudy right after the arrowroot is added, but continue to stir over low heat (not letting it boil again) and let the arrowroot cook a bit. The gel will slowly turn clear again.

stefflg79 · 05-07-2013, 08:20 PM

Hi ladies, I just made my first batch tonight and have yet to try it out. The first time I did it, it wouldn't strain. So then I tried again and it seems too runny. I later saw this post on Pinterest that had several tips & recipes for FSG. One of the recipes is a no stir method in which you put the seeds in nylon and let them steep in the water. It looks like doing it this way you can let it cook longer and get thicker. Has anyone tried this? Does the thickness or the FSG make a big difference?
Pinterest post: Benefits Of Flaxseed Gel For Holding Curls, Waves & Kinks - HairBoutique.com Blog

Julesonline · 05-08-2013, 08:36 AM

I have done this method with success.

Julesonline · 05-08-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefflg79

Hi ladies, I just made my first batch tonight and have yet to try it out. The first time I did it, it wouldn't strain. So then I tried again and it seems too runny. I later saw this post on Pinterest that had several tips & recipes for FSG. One of the recipes is a no stir method in which you put the seeds in nylon and let them steep in the water. It looks like doing it this way you can let it cook longer and get thicker. Has anyone tried this? Does the thickness or the FSG make a big difference?
Pinterest post: Benefits Of Flaxseed Gel For Holding Curls, Waves & Kinks - HairBoutique.com Blog

In fact, if you read my post right above yours I describe that method!

Jas76 · 05-08-2013, 10:07 AM

If only there was a fool-proof "put this in the bottle an your FSG will be shelf ready" solution - FSG would be my HG.

kathymack · 05-08-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefflg79

Hi ladies, I just made my first batch tonight and have yet to try it out. The first time I did it, it wouldn't strain. So then I tried again and it seems too runny. I later saw this post on Pinterest that had several tips & recipes for FSG. One of the recipes is a no stir method in which you put the seeds in nylon and let them steep in the water. It looks like doing it this way you can let it cook longer and get thicker. Has anyone tried this? Does the thickness or the FSG make a big difference?
Pinterest post: Benefits Of Flaxseed Gel For Holding Curls, Waves & Kinks - HairBoutique.com Blog

Do you use "nylon" stockings or buy nylon bags some place. If you buy something to put the seeds in, where do you get it? I googled "nylon bag" and purses came up. TIA

chloe92us · 05-08-2013, 02:14 PM

I think she said she used a nylon stocking (knee high), but what about THIS? It's extra large (4") for big batches.

Amazon.com: NEW, Extra-Large Jumbo-Size, Twist-Lock Spice Ball Tea Infuser Herb Infuser, Stainless Steel, Extra Large Size (4" x 4"): Home & Kitchen

Julesonline · 05-08-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chloe92us

I think she said she used a nylon stocking (knee high), but what about THIS? It's extra large (4") for big batches.

Amazon.com: NEW, Extra-Large Jumbo-Size, Twist-Lock Spice Ball Tea Infuser Herb Infuser, Stainless Steel, Extra Large Size (4" x 4"): Home & Kitchen

I actually tried one of those but the seeds just got all clumped inside. For some reason it did not work out for me so well.

Julesonline · 05-08-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymack

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefflg79

Hi ladies, I just made my first batch tonight and have yet to try it out. The first time I did it, it wouldn't strain. So then I tried again and it seems too runny. I later saw this post on Pinterest that had several tips & recipes for FSG. One of the recipes is a no stir method in which you put the seeds in nylon and let them steep in the water. It looks like doing it this way you can let it cook longer and get thicker. Has anyone tried this? Does the thickness or the FSG make a big difference?
Pinterest post: Benefits Of Flaxseed Gel For Holding Curls, Waves & Kinks - HairBoutique.com Blog

Do you use "nylon" stockings or buy nylon bags some place. If you buy something to put the seeds in, where do you get it? I googled "nylon bag" and purses came up. TIA

I used plus size nylon knee-highs

kathymack · 05-08-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julesonline

Quote:

Originally Posted by chloe92us

I think she said she used a nylon stocking (knee high), but what about THIS? It's extra large (4") for big batches.

Amazon.com: NEW, Extra-Large Jumbo-Size, Twist-Lock Spice Ball Tea Infuser Herb Infuser, Stainless Steel, Extra Large Size (4" x 4"): Home & Kitchen

I actually tried one of those but the seeds just got all clumped inside. For some reason it did not work out for me so well.

I used something similar--it didn't work for me, either. I'll have to see if I have some "regular" nylon knee highs. I got rid of all that stuff when I retired YEARS ago!

chloe92us · 05-08-2013, 03:26 PM

Good to know the ball strainers don't work, I would have ordered one!

Lauraimes · 05-18-2013, 12:09 AM

I feel a bit silly now but I've read the entire thread and I'm still wondering... What does FSG exactly do for your hair in terms of hold, moisture, enhancing, clumping, defining?

Lauraimes · 05-18-2013, 05:47 AM

Update: I got some flaxseeds!

chloe92us · 05-18-2013, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauraimes

I feel a bit silly now but I've read the entire thread and I'm still wondering... What does FSG exactly do for your hair in terms of hold, moisture, enhancing, clumping, defining?

FSG and okra gel act the same way- I have more experience with okra gel. What I can say, is it DOES IT ALL!!!!!!!

Jusduit · 05-18-2013, 11:21 AM

Which type of flaxseed do you use and which one works best, the golden flaxseeds or dark flaxseeds?

Lauraimes · 05-19-2013, 06:21 AM

I'm going to make my first FSG batch tomorrow (or today, if I'm too impatient) and I have a few questions.

- I don't have tongs lying around now. It's Whitsun today and tomorrow so I can't get them at the moment. Are there any tips as to what I could use instead?
- I didn't get any oils yet, because I figured trying plain FSG first to see what happens and what my hair needs would make sense. Do you agree or should I get some oils etc first?

chloe92us · 05-19-2013, 06:33 AM

I don't use tongs, but you will need a very fine mesh strainer. Or were you going to use panty hose?