Tag Archives: flaxseed gel

Feb12

Not Much to See Here …

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So, yeah, we’ll keep it moving with a quick recap of wash day and today’s edition of unexciting hair. LOL!

Okay, here is the rundown of my wash day routine this past Sunday:

  • Finger detangled and pre-pooed with Vatika Oil. Applied a 50:50 mix of JBCO and jojoba oil to scalp.
  • Placed hair in 8 twists, covered with plastic cap and donned heat turban (1 hour).
  • Applied Aubrey GPB directly over Vatika Oil and donned plastic cap and heat turban again (30 min.).
  • Hopped in the shower and shampooed hair with Shea Moisture (SM) Raw Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo.
  • Didn’t feel like the SM shampoo removed the oil from my scalp sufficiently, so I shampooed again with iOn Curl Solutions Curl Defining Shampoo (I sometimes use this sulfate shampoo to clarify).
  • Conditioned/finger detangled with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration (HE HH) and rinsed with cool/cold water.
  • Deep conditioned with Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Conditioner (1 hour with heat).
  • Cooled and sealed with diluted HE HH.
  • Blotted/squeezed hair damp with a curl cloth.

And here is where I tried something a little different with the flaxseed cream gel (FSCG) I made a couple of weeks ago! In the comments on my braid and curl with FSCG post from last week, CeeJay wrote:

I’ve been using homemade FSG since November of last year. It’s great because it provides hold without any stick/flaky buildup. I also use Kimmaytube leave-in conditioner (2 tbsp Organix Shea Butter conditioner 2 tbsp. jojoba, 2 tbsp. JBCO, 2 tbsp. aloe vera juice). This week-end I ran out of my oils and had to go into the pantry for EVOO to make my latest batch. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the leave-in with EVOO provides really good moisture for these dry winters here in T.O. Then I decided to add some of the leave-in conditioner to my latest batch of FSG. MAGIC!!

Well, y’all know that I was “‘Bout it, bout it!!” Okay. Sorry. Anywho, I decided to mix a modified kimmaytube leave-in (1 tbsp KCKT, 1 tbsp AVJ, 1 tsp jojoba oil) with my FSCG (50:50 ratio) and apply that for a 12 twist TnC! Well, just like with the original cream gel formula, I think that my “moisture mix” is reducing the hold capacity of the gel. It still has some hold, but not a lot. When I woke up in the morning, my hair was dry, shiny, soft and springy!

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I liked the way that it looked and given that it was raining ice outside, decided to just leave my twists in and rock it to work.

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Ummm. Yeah. It looked better with the scarf and rollers!! Ah well, every one can’t be a winner ;). I do think it looked better in person. But, it still was nothing to write home about (I did get three compliments at work though!). Anywho, I think I’ll release it today, but it’ll probably end up in a bun for work. In fact, it needs to as I didn’t bun much last week. But, I promise to take a few pics of the twist-out before putting it up :).

And back to the FSCG/kimmaytube LI experiment, I can’t wait to try that again, but with more gel than leave-in! So, my next batch of FSG will probably be made this upcoming weekend! I really feel like I’m becoming a little mixtress … we’ll see how long that lasts … LOL!!

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Do you ever wear a “hair set” as a hairstyle? Which sets perform double duty for you?

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Jan29

WnG with FSG Cream Gel

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Hey all. Just a  quick post to tell you about wash day this weekend. I had a birthday party and a housewarming to attend on Saturday, so I didn’t have much time to style my hair. Therefore, I ended up doing a pretty quick WnG that turned out pretty well.

Wash Day Rundown

  • Pre-pooed with Vatika Oil (30-45 min. w/heat).
  • Shampooed with Aubrey Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo diluted with water and EVOO.
  • Shampooed some more with Shea Moisture (SM) Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo.
  • Conditioned/detangled with SM Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner.
  • Deep conditioned with Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Conditioner (30 min. w/heat).
  • Rinsed (no time for cooling and sealing).
  • Lightly and quickly squeezed excess water with a towel (yup, towel, not my Curl Cloths).
  • Applied Kinky Curly Knot Today as my leave-in (straight out the bottle; no time to mix w/AVJ).
  • Applied flaxseed cream gel to hair in sections by smoothing on first, then lightly finger combing.
  • Air dried.

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And, that was it. Let me tell, you, the coconut oil was all caked up in my hair when it was wet and it looked like I might end up with flakes. But, I had high hopes that, once my hair dried, I’d be able to smooth my hair to melt the coconut oil. Didn’t even need to do that though. The heat in the car that dried my hair, also melted the oil and all was well with the world.

So, I’m pretty excited about this FSG cream gel!! My hair feels moisturized, is shiny, has decent definition and the gel provided a light hold. And, I got decent day 2 hair too! I’ve been using a new bonnet that I’ll be sharing with you ladies soon and I think it will help me preserve down styles far better than a pineapple.

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I still want to try a braid out with this FSG cream gel. Maybe this upcoming weekend … but I might be busy, so we’ll see.

Lata Gatas!

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Have you tried anything new lately?

Jan25

Flaxseed Gel (FSG): The Remix – A Cream Gel Experiment

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About a year ago, I shared a post about the benefits of flaxseed oil and gel for hair (see it here). I tried making the gel in 2010 with disappointing results and last year, I tried Botticelli Botanicals pre-made Flax Gelee with very nice results (and boy did it smell amazing!!). But, being the PJ that I am, it was a passing fancy and I forgot about FSG for a while.

Well, this past weekend, I decided to revisit making my own flaxseed gel (FSG). But, this time, the plan was to make an flaxseed cream gel. “Cream Gel” you ask? Well see, I mentioned here that my last attempt at making FSG resulted in it being too thick. CrystalJ commented on the post and suggested that I whip the gel with a little oil to create a cream gel if that happens again! Well, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a creamy, moisturizing gel, so I decided I wanted to make one regardless of whether I “overcooked” my flaxseeds.

But first, I needed to be reminded of the ratio of seeds to water again, so I reviewed this well-known tutorial, which I’ve watched many times in the past:

via Naptural85

Okay, got it.

Basic Flaxseed (FSG) Gel Recipe

1/4 c. whole flaxseeds
2 c. distilled water

optional: Vitamin E oil (preservative), essential oils, carrier oils

As to what I decided to add to make my FSG cream gel, I decided to add a scoop of coconut oil that was mixed with Maychang oil and a scoop of shea butter.

The BAD (meaning, the mistakes I made):

  • I tried to whip the gel, solid coconut oil and solid shea butter together at once. Not a good idea. It was not working. If using solid oils/butters, whip those FIRST into a smooth consistency, THEN whip in the gel.
  • I probably used too much coconut oil and shea butter. I threw in about 1/4 of a cup each. CrystalJ suggested that I use a “dollop.” The reason I think I used too much is because, when I refrigerated the gel, the coconut turned solid and made little tiny chunks all through the gel.
  • Because the coconut oil solidifies, I am not able to squeeze the gel out of the bottle. It’s too thick, so I have to open the bottle to extract it!
  • As I used a decent amount of oil/butter, the gel doesn’t have as much hold as I think it would have with less oil.

Now the GOOD:

  • It’s very moisturizing!
  • Although the coconut oil made chunks in the gel, the coconut oil does melt from body heat when emulsified in my palms! (I have also placed it in a cup of heated water and that makes the coconut oil melt in the gel.)
  • It has not left any flakes in my hair.
  • I’ve been wearing a bun almost all week and it has provided my edges with a light hold.
  • I’ve been applying it to my edges every morning and it doesn’t seem like I’m getting product build-up.

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So, I plan to keep using this and may make some more gel with the leftover seeds to add to this bottle in order to give it a little more hold. Next time, I’ll definitely use less coconut oil, will add some Vitamin E oil to act as a preservative and will use liquid oils like grapeseed, jojobo and/or EVOO instead of shea butter. I also want to try the cream gel on a braid-out set!! So, I may do that this weekend!

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Have you tried/do you use FSG? What do you think of it? If you make it regularly, what’s your favorite recipe?

Mar20

Botticelli Botanicals Flax Gelee

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Yesterday, I told you guys that I used a new styler over my modified kimmaytube leave-in after doing a ZSC treatment on Saturday (see post here). Well, here it is, the *mystery* styler!! Botticelli Botanicals Flex Gelee!! See, I didn’t make you wait too long :)!!

If you remember, a few weeks ago I did a post about Flaxseed Gel (FSG) and shared a link to the Etsy shop, Botticelli Botanicals. At the time, I’d only read about Botticelli Botanicals via the forums on NaturallyCurly.com. After digging into the recesses of my memory to locate the thread in the forum so that I could include links in the post, I decided to reach out to the owner. I sent her a message about the impending post and asked if she had any interest in sponsoring a giveaway on Hairscapades.

I have to share portions of her response, because it was very cool and sweet:

Hello Shelli!

Wow, thanks so much for your interest in my products, and for the linking to my shop! I found the post already, it looks great! Let me start by saying that normally I decline doing giveaways on blogs, because either something doesn’t feel quite right, or it’s not my target market, and it seems like the blogger is just looking for free stuff. But yours feels right to me.

So tell me, what kind of thing did you have in mind? A Foolproof Formula Gelee or Mudd, maybe? I know the blog entry is about the FSG specifically, but it would be nearly blasphemous of me to omit the benefits of the okra in the Mudd for thirsting curls. I am indeed familiar with CurlyNikki, I remember when she was just a poster on the NC.com forums like me! Oh the good old days, it’s funny the places a true passion can take you, isn’t it?!

I also have to say that I love the fact that your fiancee writes for your blog as well – it’s so refreshing to see male perspectives on a hair blog, which is so often sequestered in the female population. I never understood that – I mean, guys have hair, too, and I see SO many guys with unruly frizz that could be awesome, healthy curls if they just half tried! But alas, I’ll get down from my soap box, I just think it’s neat that he interjects some testosterone into such an estrogen-soaked market.

Thanks so much for thinking of me, Shelli!

Erin

I was soooo psyched by Erin’s warm response, genuine interest in the site and enthusiasm!! I wrote her back immediately and we started to discuss what to giveaway and the entry guidelines. However, before announcing the giveaway, Erin insisted on sending me a sample of one of her products to try first. She really wanted to send the Mudd, because of its moisturizing properties. But, after my FSG article was published on CurlyNikki, she was all out of it!! LOL!! So, since she wanted to get something in the mail to me, she sent the Flax Gelee instead.

Customized Flax Gelee:
First, let me explain the selection process. When Erin decided on the Gelee, she asked me about my hair goals, what ingredients I know my hair likes and dislikes and what types of scents I prefer. This information would allow her to customize a blend for me! I think this is very smart as we all know many products aren’t one size fits all. So, this enables one to “build” a gelee or mudd to one’s own specifications. However, Botticelli Botanicals also offers a standard Foolproof Formula with agave and grapeseed oil and a scent of your choice.

Anyway, I told Erin that I like a gel that provides hold and moisture, that I avoid coconut oil in stylers and love fruity smells, especially berries. Other than that, I was relying on her expertise! Now, I don’t know what “extras” Erin added to the base formula of spring water and organic flaxseed extract. But the scent?!?!  She chose Blackberry Sage and, let me tell you, it is HEAVENLY!!

Application/Styling Process:
So, after doing a ZSC treatment followed by a DC on Sunday, I blotted my hair with a Hair Cloth until it was damp. I allowed it to air dry for a few minutes until it was just very barely damp. Then, I applied my modified Kimmaytube leave-in (2 tbsp KCKT, 2 tbsp Aloe Vera Juice – Whole Leaf, 1 tsp EVOO). I finger-combed/raked the leave-in through my hair in four sections. Next, I started applying the Flax Gelee in the same manner, finger-combing/raking it through my hair one section at a time. Now, the thing about FSG is that it is very viscous. Remember “Slime” from back in the day?

Okay, no!!! It’s not that bad!! LOL!! But it does have that type of viscosity, just not so thick!! Anyway, I applied about two quarter-sized squirts of gel for each section. This was enough to ensure coverage and hold, but light-handed enough to achieve maximum volume with definition. And that was it!

Well, that was it until it dried (mostly – there was a section in the crown that was still damp when I did this last step). After that, I used a little JBCO/EVOO to “fluff.” I won’t even say that I “scrunched out the crunch,” because my hair wasn’t hard. It was pretty soft, despite using a gel. However, it was more piecey than I like. This is to be expected when using a gel as firm hold helps ensure that the curls have “set.” So, my last step was smoothing and sealing with a little oil. This simply involved spreading a pea-size drop of oil on my palms and smoothing my hair back as if I was putting it in a ponytail. I then repeated with a little more oil, focusing on the ends the second time. And then, that REALLY was it:)!

I was pretty pleased with the result (ya think? ;)! So, on Sunday night, I loosely bunned my hair with a hair fork and donned my big, old lady bonnet. After showering on Monday morning, I released the bun and wore my hair down for the day. This is a shot I took with my iPhone at the end of the work day.

There was no flash and it’s not the best quality photo, but you get the idea. As my goal is always volume, I didn’t apply a lot of gel and I was loving how big my hair got!! But, I think I’ll experiment with using a little more next time to see if I can get more curl definition without sacrificing hugeness. In fact, I’ll probably be seeing how the Flax Gelee fares, sans a leave-in, after using the Terressentials Mud Wash!! Yup, my order arrived yesterday!!

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So, want to know more about that Botticelli Botanicals Giveaway? Then stay tuned for the announcement later this week!

“Because every day should be a good hair day.”