No-fail flax seed gel - I finally did it...TWICE!
BotticelliBabe
Posts: 1,574Registered Users Curl Neophyte
The recipe I used is a little different than the 2Tbsp seeds to 1 cup water that I saw everywhere, but since I managed to make it work PERFECTLY twice in a row, I decided I should post it here for you guys. I got the recipe and directions from a youtube video (sorry - I don't have the link right now, but I think I can find it if you need it) that gave great visuals to go by, even if it was all still shots with text. It really helped me to see someone else do it so I knew at what point I should stop, and just how to do everything.
What I found I needed:
~ large saucepan - you need room for the seeds to move around in the water
~ wire or nylon mesh strainer - as fine as you can find, but mine is pretty loose, so I passed the strained gel through a smaller one I have - the small wire mesh type you'd use for OJ pulp
~ large bowl - deep enough so that the gel can get through without the strainer touching the surface
~ small wire whisk - not the springy kind you jam up and down like a plunger, but the classic teardrop shaped kind
~ 4-5 oz bottle - for storing your finished gel
I poured 1 cup of water (not warm or hot - just cool from the tap) into my saucepan, then 1/4 cup of flax seeds (linseeds in the UK), and then turned the heat on high. Stir every so often to keep the seeds moving and keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan (I think this also helps the gelatinous stuff slough off of the seeds as you stir, as it seemed to help my consistency in the finished product). Once your water comes to a boil, stir gently, but almost constantly. When you start getting a thin, foamy jelly, turn the heat down a little, but keep stirring, watching for the point when you let the seeds settle for a second and they suspend in the clear jelly instead of sinking to the bottom.
Once you hit that point, shut off the heat, give one last stir, and immediately pour the liquid and seeds into the strainer over your bowl. I let the gel strain out of the seeds while I rinse my pan (don't let the gel dry in there or you'll have a mess to clean up later!), and then I lift the strainer and check for stray seeds in my gel. If there are any, I pour the gel back into the pan for a second while I swap strainers for my finer mesh, then pour the gel through again. If you want to add any AVG, EO, or FO, this is the time to do it (never add EOs or FOs to your water before boiling, because boiling breaks them down and destroys their scent and other properties). Then, I take my whisk and give the gel a good, quick beating (10 seconds or so), just to break up any really gelatinous strands there might be, or to mix in whatever I might have added in, and pour it into the bottle.
Sounds complicated, but the whole process takes me only about 6-8 minutes, and I have FSG the consistency of egg whites, which is perfect for me. If you want it thicker, you could always return it to the pan for a few minutes after it's been strained, but I think you would lose the FSG's ability to really get into your wet hair and give you great slip and clumping, because it would get too gloppy. Plus, the color of the finished product isn't green or yellow - it doesn't look like boogers at all. *lol* It's almost clear, but with just a touch of milkiness to it, and a little bit of a golden hue. Nothing obtrusive or offensive at all. In fact, if you didn't know what it was, you could easily mistake it for egg whites - color and consistency are almost identical.
Also, you can save the seeds and make at least one more batch of FSG from it - sometimes more, depending on the quality of your seeds. By watching your gel and knowing what point to strain, timing doesn't matter - I tried ten minutes once, and my gel was so gross, it was completely unusable. It was like jell-o that had been all broken up, but couldn't be liquified, you know? Or, now that I think about it, it was almost EXACTLY like the drippings from a chicken or a turkey that had been left to cool, and got all jelly like. Color and all. *shivers* I was scared to try again, but I'm really glad I did.
Anyway, you can keep using the same seeds to make batch after batch of gel just by watching your consistency as it boils, until it finally just won't give you that jelly-ish consistency anymore. I put my used seeds in a ziplock bag in the fridge, and I'll use them again next week or the week after. Hmmm...I wonder if I can freeze the used seeds - do you think they would still work after that? :dontknow:
What I found I needed:
~ large saucepan - you need room for the seeds to move around in the water
~ wire or nylon mesh strainer - as fine as you can find, but mine is pretty loose, so I passed the strained gel through a smaller one I have - the small wire mesh type you'd use for OJ pulp
~ large bowl - deep enough so that the gel can get through without the strainer touching the surface
~ small wire whisk - not the springy kind you jam up and down like a plunger, but the classic teardrop shaped kind
~ 4-5 oz bottle - for storing your finished gel
I poured 1 cup of water (not warm or hot - just cool from the tap) into my saucepan, then 1/4 cup of flax seeds (linseeds in the UK), and then turned the heat on high. Stir every so often to keep the seeds moving and keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan (I think this also helps the gelatinous stuff slough off of the seeds as you stir, as it seemed to help my consistency in the finished product). Once your water comes to a boil, stir gently, but almost constantly. When you start getting a thin, foamy jelly, turn the heat down a little, but keep stirring, watching for the point when you let the seeds settle for a second and they suspend in the clear jelly instead of sinking to the bottom.
Once you hit that point, shut off the heat, give one last stir, and immediately pour the liquid and seeds into the strainer over your bowl. I let the gel strain out of the seeds while I rinse my pan (don't let the gel dry in there or you'll have a mess to clean up later!), and then I lift the strainer and check for stray seeds in my gel. If there are any, I pour the gel back into the pan for a second while I swap strainers for my finer mesh, then pour the gel through again. If you want to add any AVG, EO, or FO, this is the time to do it (never add EOs or FOs to your water before boiling, because boiling breaks them down and destroys their scent and other properties). Then, I take my whisk and give the gel a good, quick beating (10 seconds or so), just to break up any really gelatinous strands there might be, or to mix in whatever I might have added in, and pour it into the bottle.
Sounds complicated, but the whole process takes me only about 6-8 minutes, and I have FSG the consistency of egg whites, which is perfect for me. If you want it thicker, you could always return it to the pan for a few minutes after it's been strained, but I think you would lose the FSG's ability to really get into your wet hair and give you great slip and clumping, because it would get too gloppy. Plus, the color of the finished product isn't green or yellow - it doesn't look like boogers at all. *lol* It's almost clear, but with just a touch of milkiness to it, and a little bit of a golden hue. Nothing obtrusive or offensive at all. In fact, if you didn't know what it was, you could easily mistake it for egg whites - color and consistency are almost identical.
Also, you can save the seeds and make at least one more batch of FSG from it - sometimes more, depending on the quality of your seeds. By watching your gel and knowing what point to strain, timing doesn't matter - I tried ten minutes once, and my gel was so gross, it was completely unusable. It was like jell-o that had been all broken up, but couldn't be liquified, you know? Or, now that I think about it, it was almost EXACTLY like the drippings from a chicken or a turkey that had been left to cool, and got all jelly like. Color and all. *shivers* I was scared to try again, but I'm really glad I did.
Anyway, you can keep using the same seeds to make batch after batch of gel just by watching your consistency as it boils, until it finally just won't give you that jelly-ish consistency anymore. I put my used seeds in a ziplock bag in the fridge, and I'll use them again next week or the week after. Hmmm...I wonder if I can freeze the used seeds - do you think they would still work after that? :dontknow:
BB
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
0
Comments
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!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIPVOBVG_tE
COs: Yes to Cucumbers
Stylers: Miss Jessies Coily Custard, KCCC
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Live Simply. Use Soap
www.TheLatheredLamb.com
www.EweniqueEssentials.artfire.com
-2 cups filtered water
-1/2 cup flaxseeds
Brought to a boil till a froth appeared. Poured contents into a strainer over a bowl. I stirred the seeds while in the strainer to really get everything out. Honestly, I gagged a LOT while making this. I don't even want to explain what it reminded me of...:puker:
Instead of Aloe, I added 1 Tsp of Apricot Kernel Oil, plus a few dashes of Tangerine and Grapefruit EO's. I also added a glug of regular old vanilla extract for scent purposes. Getting it in my little bottle was a bit annoying/nauseating, but once it's in there - the gross factor goes away. I tried it today and all I can say is that I'm really excited to continue playing with it this week!!! :blob7: Very good results so far!
My Routine Involves: Soaps/DW, ACV, Dr. Bronner's Shikakai Rinse, V05 Vanilla Mint Co, AOHR, AOWC, AOGPB, KBB Nectars, KBB SS, JWhip MOUSSE, HETT mousse, KCCC, BRHG, KBB LL, AK Oil, Plopping w/ T-shirts, Pixie curl diffusing
*denotes HG status*
"You see the saints? They all had curly hair!" - Great Grandma Filomena, who never wore hats - even in the dead of winter.
Thanks, that with BB's instructions make it clear as can be.
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]
Now what kind of hold does it have? Can you compare it to any of the more commonly used gels on here?
Apologies if you've already posted that somewhere else.
Current Experiment: S&C by D
Curl Fix and Daily Fix are my HGs :love4:
Sulphate and cone free since July 2007
wavy/curly fine texture/medium porosity/medium-low density
http://public.fotki.com/whatsercurl/
PW: wavycurly
Seek not to change the world. Rather seek to change your mind about the world.
I tend to make the 'booger' variety as the hold is great (I do comb it through - it also satisfies the hairdressers' suggestion that I comb at least once every other day) but I'd love to hear what hold BB gets from her thinner mix.
I never thought about freezing and using again - knowing my luck someone will defrost and try to eat the seeds.
DT: AOHR
Wash: Anita Grant babassu bar
Leave-in: Body Shop cotton seed curl boost with manuka honey mixed in
Gel: Umberto Giannini Curl Friends scrunching gel
Odds & ends Lime juice, honey, Anita Grant cafe latte
I brush with a Tangle Teezer & love Flexi-8's
www.public.fotki.com/janeyliz
www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk
I didn't gag, but it does look a lot like runny boogers or egg whites. And we put this stuff in our HAIR? *lol* I had thought about the vanilla extract, too, but there's alcohol in that, so I held back. Instead, I used some sweet orange EO, because it's naturally a little humectant, and my hair loves humectants.
I hadn't yet, actually - I've only used it on multiple day hair that's been slathered in oils, so it's hard to say for sure. My hair is odd though - it doesn't need much real hold (straight FOTE usually has too much crunch in my hair!). My hair needs more direction than hold, and the FSG seems to be good at making the clumps stay together and not allowing any strays to jump out, causing frizz when they dry.
My whipped-outta-my-butt theory is that the weird boogery/egg white-y consistency has this strange tendency to pull back together no matter how many times you separate it (even with a whisk or beaters!), so that when you put it in your hair, is sort of pulls everything together and keeps it there until it's dry. It's sort of attracted to itself - almost like a magnet. Whatever the science behind it, it seems to work well. Maybe the next batch I make, I'll try returning the gel to a boil for just a minute at a time and see if I can still use it. Who knows - maybe stronger really is better!
Oh! And so far, I'd compare the hold to either Melting Gel or LOOB (but without the texturizing effect LOOB has), but like I said, that's on oiled hair, and all of my gels tend to lose hold when they come in contact with oils. I'll try it tonight by itself and let you know tomorrow if that changes when applied to "virgin" hair. :toothy3:
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
Current Experiment: S&C by D
Curl Fix and Daily Fix are my HGs :love4:
Sulphate and cone free since July 2007
wavy/curly fine texture/medium porosity/medium-low density
http://public.fotki.com/whatsercurl/
PW: wavycurly
Seek not to change the world. Rather seek to change your mind about the world.
Ha ha! We're funny folk - us curlies...:laughing1:
My Routine Involves: Soaps/DW, ACV, Dr. Bronner's Shikakai Rinse, V05 Vanilla Mint Co, AOHR, AOWC, AOGPB, KBB Nectars, KBB SS, JWhip MOUSSE, HETT mousse, KCCC, BRHG, KBB LL, AK Oil, Plopping w/ T-shirts, Pixie curl diffusing
*denotes HG status*
"You see the saints? They all had curly hair!" - Great Grandma Filomena, who never wore hats - even in the dead of winter.
Oh I know it. First my DH makes fun of me for putting personal lubricant in my hair, now he sees me smoothing in something that looks like I took it out of a Kleenex...will the madness ever stop? *rofl*
For the record though, the lube works miracles. *lol*
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
Also, is there anything that we shouldn't put in it, something that will mess up the consistency? I'm assuming AVG, oils, and EO's are okay.
Thanks!
Coarse to medium textured, porous, dry, and lots of it.
Shampoo--HSH Pumpkin, Abba Pure Moisture
LVPNG, HSH Pumpkin, Walgreen's Knockoffs--Condish/Cowash
AOHR, Nexxus, EO--LI
CK & ReCoil--Activator
Suave Max Hold, Alagio Curl-Gel
For inquiring minds who want to know:
http://www.public.fotki.com/TillyErnissee
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]
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
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]
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 have [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Rockin-Ringlets-Styling-Potion-p-100.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-rockin-ringlets]Rockin' Ringlets[/buylink], but it doesn't give me enough hold on it's own. FSG is fun and I can get away with it as my only styler.
BTW, I used your method the other night, BB, and it worked great! I'm really liking this batch, I didn't even need to add any oil or AVG.
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!
Also, [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Rockin-Ringlets-Styling-Potion-p-100.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-rockin-ringlets]Rockin' Ringlets[/buylink] has mag sulfate which some peoples hair does not tolerate well.
One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim. ~George Carlin~
In regards to Vagazzling: They just want to get into the goods without worrying about getting scratched up by fake crystals. ~spring1onu~
Yay!! Glad I posted this, then!
Yeah - I've had JCRR, but that was actually how I found out my hair didn't like magsulfate...not in that amount, anyway. Besides - doesn't RR have glycerin, too? I can't remember anymore. Anyway, I can't use the JC stylers, so this is a much better (and CHEAPER!) option for me.
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
A long time ago, I used a L'oreal product that came in a red pump bottle. I liked the slime factor of it. This sounds similar.
I've added flax seeds to my shopping list.
Thanks for the directions
wash CV, Soap and Sundries bars
Braggs vinegar rinse
style Watered down FOTE
DT Honey/olive oil, coconut oil, unrefined shea
*lol* Sorry - I think! You might want to check out this post I just put up, too - I added some magnesium sulfate to my last batch, and this post details the results. Just another option! :happy3:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=62384
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
I follow your directions and it was easy.
I had no problem straining it.....the problem was pouring it. Mine was a little thicker than egg whites.
All was going well as I poured it into a 4oz bottle, then the "stream" grew bigger and slimed over the opening and plopped down the side of the bottle.....and there was NOTHING I could do to stop it! I think I lost about an ounce....funnel next time.
I LOVE the slime consistency, and I think it defrizzed even better than my watered down FOTE.
GOOD STUFF
I bought the seeds bulk at a local store. I saw they also have "golden" flax seeds. Don't know if there's a difference. I'll try them too.
wash CV, Soap and Sundries bars
Braggs vinegar rinse
style Watered down FOTE
DT Honey/olive oil, coconut oil, unrefined shea
Cool!!! So glad it worked for you!! I don't use a funnel when I pour, but I do whisk well when it's still hot, and my bowl is the thick plastic kind with the pour spout. When I pour it, I go REALLY slow, and I can sort of watch it swirl in the bowl and see which way the globs are going to go, so maybe that's why I can pour without a funnel. :dontknow:
And just to let you know, all I can get is golden flax seeds, so I can vouch for the fact that they work great for this.
Now, my next experiment is going to be getting ahold of marshmallow root and boiling that in the water, too. Of course, I will update if I can find some locally and have a chance to try it out!
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
Actually, for marshmallow root, the best way to decoct it is cold over several hours. When I make marshmallow/flax gel, I let the marshmallow sit in the water overnight, then strain the liquid and use that to boil my flax seeds. It works great.
Modified CG
Low-Poo: L'Oreal EverCurl Shampoo
RO: L'Oreal EverCurl Conditioner
LOC: KCKT, Nightblooming Triple Moon Hair Anointing Oil, & Nightblooming Panacea or Freya Hair Salve
Styling: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Gel, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Finishing Paste
Oh good - I'm glad you told me that, because I've never used marshmallow before. Do you use it to provide slip in your FSG, or for something else? My hope was that it would provide slip, so if it doesn't, please save me money now and let me know! *lol*
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
Oh, it definitely provides slip. It also helps my hair feel more moisturized.
Modified CG
Low-Poo: L'Oreal EverCurl Shampoo
RO: L'Oreal EverCurl Conditioner
LOC: KCKT, Nightblooming Triple Moon Hair Anointing Oil, & Nightblooming Panacea or Freya Hair Salve
Styling: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Gel, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Finishing Paste
Yay!! Perfect - thank you!
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
Ok, I was doing some searching at MRH on marshmallow today, and if I'm right, it looks like you can use either the roots or the leaves for this purpose. They also sell a powder, but I'd be afraid that would leave a whitish residue, so it looks like it's either the roots or the leaves. Which works better for this if you want to get as much slip as possible?
http://www.BotticelliBotanicals.etsy.com
BSL/Mid Back, thick 3a/b
Botticelli Botanicals Meringue
Botticelli Botanicals Smoothie
Botticelli Botanicals Styling Mudd w/ double avocado oil and double agave
Botticelli Botanicals Lime in the Coconut Butter
I've only ever used the root, so I can't say which is better. The root definitely gives slip, though. I'm currently soaking some in aloe juice to see if it will extract decently that way. I'll let you know how it turns out. :toothy4:
Modified CG
Low-Poo: L'Oreal EverCurl Shampoo
RO: L'Oreal EverCurl Conditioner
LOC: KCKT, Nightblooming Triple Moon Hair Anointing Oil, & Nightblooming Panacea or Freya Hair Salve
Styling: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Gel, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Finishing Paste