No-fail flax seed gel - I finally did it...TWICE! - Page 15

Poodlehead · 01-28-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbeckhhp

IMHO>>Sometimes the original is the best!. Ive noticed its a flop,or looser curls, with any oils added.I think honey/ agave,mag.sulfate.the fsg ,maybe seamollient(still experimenting) are the definite enhancers. I add pinch citric acid,antiseptic EO, and grapefruit seed extract. Lasts weeks in fridge.Cant decide if I like it better with aloe vera or not, it might actually elongate my curls, and Im looking for tighter!

I've been debating adding the aloe-- you've convinced me I need to try it. I want looser!

curlykey · 01-28-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbeckhhp

IMHO>>Sometimes the original is the best!. Ive noticed its a flop,or looser curls, with any oils added.I think honey/ agave,mag.sulfate.the fsg ,maybe seamollient(still experimenting) are the definite enhancers. I add pinch citric acid,antiseptic EO, and grapefruit seed extract. Lasts weeks in fridge.Cant decide if I like it better with aloe vera or not, it might actually elongate my curls, and Im looking for tighter!

I agree. I was thinking about my latest batch today...I've added more oils, etc...trying to make it all fancy..lol. I was not as pleased with the last batch. The more I've thought about it, the more I realize that I had much better results with FSG when I kept it simple. I'm going to make me some more and do just that. Since I always use a leave in and use a butter to sotc, I don't really need any oils. I do like aloe and honey in mine and a tad mag sulfate too. I'm also going to omit the glycerin this time....besides, the more I keep adding to it, the more expensive it gets..which defeats the purpose....so off to the kitchen I go....

girlysoxfan · 01-29-2010, 12:39 PM

I just got back from a natural food store....picked up the golden flax seeds ($2.09 a lb.), coconut oil (very low dewpoint here, 8, right now) thought the coconut oil would be good for that, have Epson salt at home...also picked up some little containers at Sally's beauty, so I'm good to go!

girlysoxfan · 02-01-2010, 11:35 AM

Well...1st batch was a disaster as my strainer was too tiny...tried the pantyhose method...but only had trouser socks and couldn't get much through them. Got enough on my hands at least to use on my hair & it worked great! Also just refreshed w/ a little water the next day & results were just as great!

Batch #2 w/ help from new strainer was easy-peasy! Got about 7 oz out of a 2C batch. Love, love, love the coconut oil! Didn't have epson salt like I thought, will try adding that next time.

Thanks again for the recipe!

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlysoxfan

I just got back from a natural food store....picked up the golden flax seeds ($2.09 a lb.), coconut oil (very low dewpoint here, 8, right now) thought the coconut oil would be good for that, have Epson salt at home...also picked up some little containers at Sally's beauty, so I'm good to go!

curlykey · 02-02-2010, 10:53 AM

Ok, so I made some fresh FSG and kept it simple....no xanthan gum, very little oil, etc....used it in my hair this morning and I'm more than pleased!!

I used a leave in, FSG, and some gel scrunched on top for extra hold (faves are BRHG, CHI, or KCCC). Great results!!
I boiled it longer for a thicker consistency and it's perfect. I added avg, glycerin, honey, mag sulfate, coconut oil, EO and preservatives...that's it. This combo works best for me. I had been adding more oils, xanthan gum, seamollient, honeyquat...etc...really for me, just too many things...this time, I just kept it simple. I love FSG!

mbeckhhp · 02-02-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlykey

Ok, so I made some fresh FSG and kept it simple....no xanthan gum, very little oil, etc....used it in my hair this morning and I'm more than pleased!!

I used a leave in, FSG, and some gel scrunched on top for extra hold (faves are BRHG, CHI, or KCCC). Great results!!
I boiled it longer for a thicker consistency and it's perfect. I added avg, glycerin, honey, mag sulfate, coconut oil, EO and preservatives...that's it. This combo works best for me. I had been adding more oils, xanthan gum, seamollient, honeyquat...etc...really for me, just too many things...this time, I just kept it simple. I love FSG!

Ive have some honeyquat ,that I haven't tried yet. any idea what that is suposed to do?

DEL2C · 02-03-2010, 01:31 PM

Anyone making their own FSG, you guys should check out this thread. I think it makes a big difference in how thick the gel comes out. If you like a thin consistency like BB's you may not care for this. But I like a thick gel with more hold

Soaking the flax...

sveetiepie · 02-04-2010, 02:07 PM

Has anyone added Magnesium oil instead of the salts?
If so, do you add before you boil or after?
How much would you add?
thanks!

mbeckhhp · 02-04-2010, 02:18 PM

there is another thread on that somewhere. I tried it , and added as I would mag sulfate, to boiling water. 1 tsp, i think to 4 cups of water, and 1 cup of seeds. Worst batch I ever made, I even made another giant batch to try to dilute the salts, my hair came out constricted tiny, hard stringsIt took so much to crunch out it wrecked the curls, made. I would use a verrrrrry small amount.I will never use again.unless of course, You say "hey it worked great!"My hair is fine, and porous. Kathymack likes it, though.

kathymack · 02-04-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sveetiepie

Has anyone added Magnesium oil instead of the salts?
If so, do you add before you boil or after?
How much would you add?
thanks!

I add 1/4 t to 4 oz of FSG. I make all my additions after I strain the gel. Magnesium oil is calcium chloride. Don't know what difference it makes--I never get dry from my FSG like I can from products with magnesium sulfate. Of course, I never use it more then every five days, or it doesn't work for me.

curlykey · 02-05-2010, 01:58 PM

I soaked my flax seeds overnight as suggested in another thread. Let me tell you, it made a big difference! It was sooooo easy to strain and the same recipe that I've been using, yielded twice as much gel with this technique. Definitely going to do this from now on.

curlykey · 02-08-2010, 02:53 PM

Fsg makers....do you find a difference when using honey or agave? I've only used honey and like it. I'm waiting on some agave and was wondering which is prefered and why? TIA.

flutricity · 02-08-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurlyCowgirly

Thanks curlpro and belasuna!
I'm going to try adding jojoba for now since I have that on hand.

Has anyone tried adding Tea Tree Oil, coconut oil or rose water?

I tried adding coconut oil to my FSG last time. It turned out fine when I used it (which was right after I made it so it was still warm) but when my hair dried I noticed these white flecks in it. I looked at the bottle after it had been in the fridge a while, and the coconut oil had solidified into little specks of white. >.> I guess because the refrigerator is below the melting point, and so was my hair after it dried. So I wouldn't use coconut oil, try something that's still liquid at a lower temperature.

CurlyHairedFarmer · 02-09-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlykey

Fsg makers....do you find a difference when using honey or agave? I've only used honey and like it. I'm waiting on some agave and was wondering which is prefered and why? TIA.

From what I understand, honey has a stronger hold. I myself couldn't use it, it made my hair frizzy and feel almost hard. The agave didn't do that to me.

eklecktika · 02-10-2010, 10:09 AM

I tried this with Chia seeds, a couple times. Either my booger mojo isn't working, or Chia seeds just don't have the right 'goo' inside to make a thick enough gel for my hair.

It feels like it might be great for drier hair than what I have-it's quite loose and has minimal hold. It feels really nice going in-slick and smooth, but my hair doesn't like it nearly like it likes FSG.

Anyhow-just in case anyone is wondering about chia.

kathymack · 02-10-2010, 12:17 PM

There was a thread about chia seeds last Spring, you could probably search it. Biggest issue I found was trying to strain it. Only took me one try to figure out it would be better to add it to my morning yogurt, then my hair!

dandy · 02-23-2010, 09:58 AM

Hi there! Thanks BB for this thread i read the whole thing and all your others on FSG, a huge marathon last night, copying and pasting over and then promptly went out bought the ingredients and made it !!!

I really like it too! But I live in florida orlando and it gets humid here, i am a bit lost as to what is best to add to my fsg or layer with it, that will make my hair less poofy, my hair is thick enough as it is. The recipe i made first time around works quite well but there seems to be a lot of poof and frizz, though a lot of curls too.. i added epson salts this time around.. i am going to make it again today and want to know from any FL people if they use this and how to combat the high due point, humidity here.. is honey or that agave nector the best way to go as the add on in the fsg? or maybe shea or oils? or glycerine? if i want to keep my hair frizzfree i need to add an anti - humectant? i am really new to this game so any advice is great, as i only just learned about what a humectant is last night and looked at threads for best gels in FL.. like Biosilk Rock Hard Gel, but it would be great to go all natural and just use the FSG with a few added things.. i didn't add any aloe vera gel this time just plain old flax seed gel with a 1/8th tspoon of epson salts.
thanks so much for any help or links, very very appreciated.

dandy · 02-23-2010, 10:43 AM

And here is a pic of my hair this morn after putting FSG in it last night and plopping then going to sleep with damp/wet hair. Not bad, but a bit on the frizzy / big poofy side which is my main prob with my hair as it is very very thick

ewenique · 02-24-2010, 11:58 AM

Pretty hair! I would suggest that you use at least 3 oz of the FSG for your length hair. Your hair should feel squishy like seaweed. Then gently scrunch out any excess with a flour sack towel or t-shirt. I usually diffuse 5-10 minutes to set the gel while my hair starts to get crunchy. Some like to put a dab of BRHG on top of the FSG for added hold in high humidity.

As for add-ins, you will just have to experiment. Have fun!

dandy · 02-24-2010, 12:09 PM

thanks so much! Today i used it again and added a bit of the la sports gel, seems to have a better hold. I am going to make more today and add honey this time. It is a lot of fun! I have to get some of that biosilks gel too and some agave nectar.