Protein FSG!

IAgirl

A while ago, somebody posted about adding protein to FSG.

I seriously needed to make a new batch, so I thought -- why not try it?

My hair is loving protein right now. I have it in my conditioner and it makes a big difference for both my 2a/b hair and my husband's 2c (with kinky curls thrown in) hair!

I usually like soy protein, but I used (liquid) silk protein, a scant 1/2 teaspoon's worth in a 1-cup FSG recipe. I also added epson salt and agave nectar, citric acid and hydroxyethylcellulose (which thickens and adds hold), a couple drops of vitamin E oil. I thought of using more protein, but for a first try, I was being conservative. One could use 3/4 teaspoon.

Wow! Enhanced waves, more substantial look to fine hair, good hold and clumping. I love how this stuff makes my hair go extra-wavy immediately! My FSG is super thick and grabby.


One note -- Fresh FSG really is best. I put half in the refrigerator and froze the rest. It loses it's awesomeness well before it's maximum shelf life is reached.:pale:

So, gang, protein is a super add-in if your hair likes it.

swaves

This is great news! I've also thought about adding protein to some of my products but haven't been sure how to do it. Where do you get liquid silk protein? Your FSG sounds wonderful and with the cold weather, my curls are really sagging & in desperate need of some serious enhancing! :thumbright:

wavynwild16

Ha ha! Isn't it typical that you of all people would come up with a protein FSG recipe, IAgirl! My hair is no where near as fine as yours (on the opposite end of the spectrum, actually), but it likes some protein. This is interesting -- I will have to try this sometime in the future!

IAgirl

Just Google "Hydrolyzed (silk, soy etc.) protein" and you'll find a number of places to buy some. Watch out for shipping costs! In fact, if you're going to shell out $ for shipping and buying some hydrolyzed protein, get some hydroxyethylcellulose too and use 1/2 tsp in a batch of FSG and you'll never look back.

Protein works great on my husband's hair too which is gray and mostly 2c, but some hairs are very wiry and kinky/curly, some are silky. So I wouldn't rule it out for thicker hair for improving elasticity and helping hair (as Pedaheh says) "support itself." Adds a bit 'o shine too.
Good luck!

swaves

Thanks A1Girl. I'm just in the process of googling & finding the shipping to cost more than the silk protein! Do you think I could also add the silk protein to my LI condish?

nikske

Hmmm, I wonder if it would work with gelatin... Must try this, my hair really needs protein even though it's not fine at all.

IAgirl

nikske wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder if it would work with gelatin... Must try this, my hair really needs protein even though it's not fine at all.

That sounds interesting. The gelatin would provide some extra hold and thickness for the gel, I imagine.

Probably less than a teaspoon of gelatin would be enough, dissolved very well in hot water and then added to the container into which the gel is being strained.

Any sort of protein-added FSG is going to be especially vulnerable to spoilage, so it should definitely be refrigerated, even if you add citric acid.

Let us know how it works if you try it, Nikske!

IAgirl

swaves wrote: »

Thanks A1Girl. I'm just in the process of googling & finding the shipping to cost more than the silk protein! Do you think I could also add the silk protein to my LI condish?

You probably could do that, but you wouldn't want to add it to the bottle because that might have enough preservative or it might ruin the texture of the product.
I use about 1.5 to 2% protein when I make conditioner. That's equivalent to about 3/4 teaspoon in a cup of liquid.
But to add to your leave-in, it would be merely drops of hydrolyzed protein per use.
I hope it works for you. Let us know.

plunkybug

Wow...I'm tempted to try making FSG again.

wavynwild16

Go for it, Plunky!

swaves

A1Girl, Do you make your own conditioner too? Maybe there's a thread for this somewhere, sorry for all the questions but so much to learn! Since I'm in the process of ordering ingredients, just want to know what else I need to add to my order! Thanks so much for your help! :toothy4:

IAgirl

Yes, I do make my own conditioner and I've settled on what is a pretty good recipe (for me and husband -- actually there are 2 that he likes). It's not too hard to make, but it does take some time and clean-up.
You can PM me if you'd like to know my recipes so you can try your own if you're so inclined.

pedaheh

Glad to hear adding protein works. The site I ended up ordering from didn't have any good protein options. If I end up ordering more stuff some time, I'll add protein to my wish list.
I ended up going with the vitamin E/potassium sorbate/vitamin C combo. I thought it was the most likely to be able to survive being frozen solid during shipping. It is cold here and things often arrive frozen solid. I also got xanthum gum. So far so good.

IAgirl

pedaheh wrote: »

I ended up going with the vitamin E/pot It is cold here and things often arrive frozen solid. I also got xanthum gum. So far so good.

We get that too (frozen packages).

It's like an all-day PT and lately my hair is getting tighter curls and wavier waves because of it. :toothy4:
I do switch off between the "fully loaded" FSG and a combination of KMFUM and a medium hold, fragrance-free gel. Too much of a good thing, you know.

If I could e-mail you a squirt of hydrolyzed protein, I would! That's a little too "Star Trek" isn't it?

gecko

nevermind