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Comments
It's been a long time since I added epsom salt to anything, but it doesn't sound like you are using too much.
I know there has been discussion in older threads about what ingredients in certain gels cause the "hold." Maybe some of the other curlies can chime in on that.
If you're interested in some of the additives, pm me.
SE PA
HGs: Anything Sevi; Curly Kinks Satin Roots, Curlycue ReNew and Coil Jam; homemade FSG and okra gel; soap bars; UFD Curly Magic; Botanical Spirits Jellies, CJ Repair Me, Aloe Fix
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Hi Cynthia,
I also had to "force" my DH to use tons of FSG on his curls. lol. He wanted to only use a small amount like he does with regular gels. But the FSG hass made the world of difference on his curls.
I also am highly allergic to mold but have had no problem with Seamollient. But I am not allergic to seaweed so maybe that is the difference. I do add preservatives and only use a small amount of Seamollient so maybe that is why I don't have a problem. Is there something I don't know about algae? Is it considered a mold? Please let me know. TIA.
Now, I will try to help with some of the other questions you asked on later posts.
For preservatives, you can try silver citrate combined with potassium sorbate. This combo is in a lot of natural hair products. There is also Optiphen ND, which is a water soluble preservative that is a broadband preservative. Both of these preservatives require that your concotion have an acidic ph (6 or less) so you may have to add citric acid to use these preservative. They are both paraben and formaldahye free. You can also use grapefruit seed extract which is also a broad band preservative. Many curlies use EOs that have antiseptic properties. Lavendar, Rose, Rosemary. Also vitamin e oil. I like to add the antiseptic EOs, vitamin e oil plus a preservative. (maybe a little paranoid :confused2: due to my mold allergies lol).
What makes commercial gels gel are polymers. You will see ingredients in gels like catomers which are polymers. Polymers can be both natural or synthetic. One type of polymer is plastics. Natural products try to use gelling agents like pectin, xanthum gum, guar gum to make the gel thicker which will give you some hold also. These gelling agents plus ingredients like agave or honey, some seaweed extracts that form gelatins provide the natural products with more hold.
IMHO, agave can provide a lot of hold. Play with the quantities you add until you get the hold you like. But just a warning, I think if you use too much agave it may cause some white flaking. This is what happened with me.
Edited:
Lately I've been getting lovely 2nd day hair with the FSG and I have never in my life had 2nd day hair. I just spitz a little water and FSG to revive it. The more I use it, the better my hair seems to feel and look. It's definitely my HG.
3a/b, very dry, fine/med-coarse, high porosity
CG since 7/27/09
Bella Curl Products
CW: protein free-cleansing creme
CO: protein free MRcondish
Styler: FSG + protein free LI Elixir, Gellie, Shine & Seal Serum
Lady of Elixir, Keeper of the Secret Blend, in the Order of the Curly Crusaders
I never had success with FSG until I started to use a lot of it.
SE PA
HGs: Anything Sevi; Curly Kinks Satin Roots, Curlycue ReNew and Coil Jam; homemade FSG and okra gel; soap bars; UFD Curly Magic; Botanical Spirits Jellies, CJ Repair Me, Aloe Fix
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COs: Yes to Cucumbers
Stylers: Miss Jessies Coily Custard, KCCC
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Live Simply. Use Soap
www.TheLatheredLamb.com
www.EweniqueEssentials.artfire.com
I'm sure you'll be fine, LOL! Just strain it while it's hot. Remember, it's cheap--you don't have to get every drop of gel. You can also reuse the flax seeds a few times.
SE PA
HGs: Anything Sevi; Curly Kinks Satin Roots, Curlycue ReNew and Coil Jam; homemade FSG and okra gel; soap bars; UFD Curly Magic; Botanical Spirits Jellies, CJ Repair Me, Aloe Fix
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Good luck!
edited:
just saw you figured it out. Well maybe this will help anyways.
3a/b, very dry, fine/med-coarse, high porosity
CG since 7/27/09
Bella Curl Products
CW: protein free-cleansing creme
CO: protein free MRcondish
Styler: FSG + protein free LI Elixir, Gellie, Shine & Seal Serum
Lady of Elixir, Keeper of the Secret Blend, in the Order of the Curly Crusaders
Thanks Bela. Hair twin, how fun
Tanya
Oh, I am so relieved, it sounds like great stuff. I just have to figure out where o get it now. I am going to try the new combo when I run out of what I made so far. I did add Aloe to my DH's (his was just flax, water, EO) very eggwhite consistancy, it wants to jump out of your hand and he complained (there are so many jokes right now I cant stop rotflmao)so I added the aloe. I didn't even read the label when I bought it, I thought it would be just Aloe (duh). I got Lilly of the Desert, inner fillet, it has carrageenan(thinkening agent),Citric Acid(ph stabilizer) and Potassium Sorbate (MOLD INHIBITOR) who knew? the gods must have been with me today! So I globed in about three tbs. and whisked it in, pew, Aloe smells, no problem, added more lavender and lemongrass EO, smells great and it made it less gelatenous and more like gel. I am going to try it on him tomorrow, men are such babies! I was just curious about the Agave nector and honey since they are sticky. They just dry like gel? I am taking your word for it. Thanks so much for all the help.
Cynthia
Cynthia
Tanya
Picasa: Link
Deva Low Poo
Suave Naturals Coconut for detangling
Renpure Organics conditioner/leave-in
Homemade FSG
KCCC
Curl Junkie Stuff
BRHG
Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. -wabi-sabi
I read somewhere that you should dissolve the xanthum gum in oil then add to your mixture. If you are not really putting oil into your mixture, just mix with a little vitamin e oil with the xanthum gum enough so you get a creamy liquid and whisk it into the still warm mix.
3a/b, very dry, fine/med-coarse, high porosity
CG since 7/27/09
Bella Curl Products
CW: protein free-cleansing creme
CO: protein free MRcondish
Styler: FSG + protein free LI Elixir, Gellie, Shine & Seal Serum
Lady of Elixir, Keeper of the Secret Blend, in the Order of the Curly Crusaders
Cynthia
Picture please! I'd love to see how great your hair looks now compared to your last pic....
Pacific Northwest girl, color-treated fine 3B, med-low porosity
Products: Suave Coconut condish, Giovanni Direct Leave-In, FSG or KCCC, AfroVeda Shea-Amla Cream
I LOVE HENNA!
Can anyone provide a link, or stores that carry them?
Note: I don't have a whole foods nor a trader joe's around me.
Also, my hair loves protein, so what ingredients can I add to the mix that are proteins?
TIA!
AKA hard to work with hair!
Low-Poo: Kenra Volumizing shampoo, AG Fast Food shampoo
CO: AG Ultramoist, AO GPB, Nature's Gate Aloe Vera
Gel: GFCC mousse, HETT, Aquage Megagel
Also: Aloe Vera juice or Alba Leave-in. Weekly ACV rinse.
Wishlist: YTC low-poo, Elucence poo, Bioterra Curl Creme, AGEbeautiful Strengthening trtment, SS Repairing Protein Trtment, LuxyHair ext's
I did a google search and there were tons of places. This place you have to buy in quantity, but there's free shipping:
http://www.stevensfarm.com/flax_seed_all_products.htm
I found them at my local farmers market. If you can't find them, the brown ones work. Golden ones are better. Whatever you do, don't use ground ones!
SE PA
HGs: Anything Sevi; Curly Kinks Satin Roots, Curlycue ReNew and Coil Jam; homemade FSG and okra gel; soap bars; UFD Curly Magic; Botanical Spirits Jellies, CJ Repair Me, Aloe Fix
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
You can also try Bob's Red Mill. This is the type I've been using. I got mine at Whole Paycheck (oops,,mean Whole Foods!) but you can order online even just one bag.
Here is a link:
http://www.bobsredmill.com/product.php?productid=4109&cat=105&page=1
I buy the organic ones but they have both organic and non and brown and golden.
It is WELL worth it to buy these. FSG is GREAT!
Done experimenting! Loving Spiral Solutions products!
Blog: http://thewavytales.blogspot.com/
And if I had the nerve I'd click my heels and return o the wonderland I knew before
Alana Davis "Crazy"
Cynthia
I read somewhere online that golden flax seeds give you more hold. Not sure about this, but I use golden because where I live they are actually easier to find than the brown. (But I live in Los Angeles.)
3a/b, very dry, fine/med-coarse, high porosity
CG since 7/27/09
Bella Curl Products
CW: protein free-cleansing creme
CO: protein free MRcondish
Styler: FSG + protein free LI Elixir, Gellie, Shine & Seal Serum
Lady of Elixir, Keeper of the Secret Blend, in the Order of the Curly Crusaders
Ha! I was just going to ask this very question! I found brown flaxseeds at a grocery store near me, so I'm going to be cooking up some gel tonight hopefully!
Are there other ingredients that will increase the hold? And I'll ask again in case some missed it...since my hair loveess protein, is there anything beneficial I can add for that?
AKA hard to work with hair!
Low-Poo: Kenra Volumizing shampoo, AG Fast Food shampoo
CO: AG Ultramoist, AO GPB, Nature's Gate Aloe Vera
Gel: GFCC mousse, HETT, Aquage Megagel
Also: Aloe Vera juice or Alba Leave-in. Weekly ACV rinse.
Wishlist: YTC low-poo, Elucence poo, Bioterra Curl Creme, AGEbeautiful Strengthening trtment, SS Repairing Protein Trtment, LuxyHair ext's
Cynthia
I don't think you want to add egg to the FSG for protein lol. So you can actually buy hydrolyzed proteins (silk, oat, wheat etc) and add them to your FSG. They are not that expensive, I think. Just do a google search. Also, I do believe (and no one has given me facts to cause me to think otherwise) jojoba oil actually has protein in it. Coconut milk has protein in it. You can use powdered milk to add protein. This will also thicken the mixture up a bit. Never tried these last two. Might be a good experiment.
3a/b, very dry, fine/med-coarse, high porosity
CG since 7/27/09
Bella Curl Products
CW: protein free-cleansing creme
CO: protein free MRcondish
Styler: FSG + protein free LI Elixir, Gellie, Shine & Seal Serum
Lady of Elixir, Keeper of the Secret Blend, in the Order of the Curly Crusaders
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?
AKA hard to work with hair!
Low-Poo: Kenra Volumizing shampoo, AG Fast Food shampoo
CO: AG Ultramoist, AO GPB, Nature's Gate Aloe Vera
Gel: GFCC mousse, HETT, Aquage Megagel
Also: Aloe Vera juice or Alba Leave-in. Weekly ACV rinse.
Wishlist: YTC low-poo, Elucence poo, Bioterra Curl Creme, AGEbeautiful Strengthening trtment, SS Repairing Protein Trtment, LuxyHair ext's