DIY: Flaxseed Gel

On the hunt to find the "perfect" styler, I decided to try flax seeds to make a hair gel...

Last month I started making homemade Flaxseed Gel to use as a styler.  It took me three attempts to get it to the consistency I wanted.  I watched a few YouTube videos and did some additional research before putting together a recipe I liked.  I had great results with the gel and found it to be extremely moisturizing.  The only thing I didn't like was the roasted smell which doesn't seem to go away no matter how much essential oil I use o_O but that smell doesn't linger in the hair.  Oh, I also store any remaining gel in the fridge. 

Overall, I love flaxseed gel!  Its inexpensive and have great benefits for the hair.  I got my bag of Flax Seeds from Trader's Joe for about $3.  I tried making a custard like styler by adding some of my shea butter mix but it didn't blend too well...maybe I'll revisit that another time :)  Urban Bush Babes pretty much sums it up below and I have to agree with everything stated.

-From Urban Bush Babes

{There are 2 types of Flax seed (linseed), a light golden yellow and brown. The brown Flax seeds are slightly higher in omega 3 fatty acids.

Benefits:

-Leaves hair soft, shiny, and moisturized

-Promotes hair growth

-You can reuse the flax seeds

-Cost effective (more for your money)

-Nourishing for the hair rich in omega 3

-Gives great curl definition

-Gives hold with no crunch/non flaking/not drying to the hair/doesn’t cause breakage/or shedding

-Fast drying

-Great for wng's /sleek styles/twists and twist outs and sets the twists once dry for a lovely twist out

-Mixes well with oils/conditioners/ many products

-All natural..organic.

-A lot of reviews compare it to Kinky Curly’s Knot Today, but say Flax seed Gel  is actually better (maybe they meant KCCC ?)

-Great for all hair types}

**Update- I didn't put the steps on how to make the gel (silly me).  It is very easy to make, you can watch Naptural85 video HERE.**

Here are some pics of my flaxseed gel and my daughter's hair after using it to style her twists...

Before adding additional ingredients

Two Strand Twists Using Flaxseed Gel

Have you tried Flaxseed Gel?  If so, how do you like it and if not, would you try it?

**HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY**

This beautiful video was made by Sdestra (one of my blogger buddies), you can find her HERE and HERE.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :D

Product Review: Luv Naturals

Luv Naturals "Wash Me Gently"Hair & Scalp Cleanser

Cost: $13.00 (www.luvnaturals.com) 

Size: 8 oz.

Scent: Peppermint/Tea Tree
Consistency: Rich & Creamy

What They Say:
Gently and effectively cleanses hair & scalp of mild to moderate build-up
pH balanced (5.0 - 6.0 pH) to encourage the hair's cuticles to close which:
Helps to minimize hair strands from swelling during wash
Helps to prevent hair from feeling "stripped" of surface oils.

Naturally derived and organic ingredients
No artificial fragrances
No artificial colors
Food grade preservatives
Shelf life is 1 year from purchase date

What I Say:
I was excited to try this shampoo after seeing her video tutorial.  I can't say that I was blown away, it was okay, I mean after all it is a shampoo.  It had good slip and the hair did feel clean without feeling stripped and moisturized but I need a shampoo that lathers and the lather I saw in the video I did not get on my daughter's hair.  Its not a bad shampoo but its not something I will re-purchase.

Ingredients: 
Aqua, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Organic Oil, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Glucono Delta Lactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Mentha piperita (Peppermint, Triple Distilled) Essential Oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil

**** I give this product a 4 out of 5 Baby Curls****

Luv Naturals "Don't Be So Clingy" Hair Detangler

Cost: $13.00 (www.luvnaturals.com)

Size: 8 oz.

Scent: Orange
Consistency: Rich & Creamy

What They Say:
Helps to release knots, tangles and shed hairs (which help to prevent hair breakage)
pH balanced to help reduce breakage caused by clingy hair (4.5 - 6.0 pH)

Naturally derived and organic ingredients
No artificial fragrances
No artificial colors
Food grade preservatives
Shelf life is 1 year from purchase date

What I Say:
I like this a lot!  The slip is crazy good.  I spritz the hair first and then applied this product and the knots literally melted away.  I was actually able to successfully finger detangle (I still used my trusty detangling comb though!).  The more water used, the less product you have to use.  This product can also be used as a pre-shampoo; the directions does call for it to be rinsed out, so it cannot be used after washing which is fine with me because I have always detangled before washing so this is right up my alley.  The question for some may be does this work better than regular cheap conditioner...I think it may be a little better because it releases the knots effortlessly. However, the product can get expensive when you include shipping.  I have always used a detangling cocktail to detangle the girls hair, so I have substituted this product in place of the usual conditioner and love it even more plus I get more use of the product and don't have to purchase as often.  I will definitely re-purchase.

Ingredients: 
Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus sinensis (Orange, Sweet) Essential Oil, Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm) Extract, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Mangifera indica (Mango) Butter, Corylus avellana (Hazelnut) Oil, Olea europaea (Organic Olive) Extra Virgin Oil, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Organic Oil, Brassica oleracea italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Acrylic Polymers, Glucono Delta Lactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Mica

**** I give this product a 5 out of 5 Baby Curls****

Back to the Basics: Keeping It Simple

Boy, what a journey!  I decided to begin this month on a "new" healthy hair journey with BG "S".  Why?  Well, it has been about 5 months since removing her locs.  Since then I have done trims/dustings throughout those months (altogether it can be classified as a mini-chop, lol).  I am finally at a place where I can wash and detangle her hair without having a matted mess on my hands and getting completely frustrated.  I also finally got rid of those nuisance ssk's and there were A LOT!  We have also tried tons of new products and have had our share of ups and downs with ingredients, so I pretty much know what works and what doesn't work for her hair.  She will also be 3 this month!!!

This brings us to the basics of keeping it simple!  I found myself getting off our regular hair regimen a little bit just to experiment but it wasn't yielding the results I wanted or had in the past.  I veered off trying new things and following the masses such a finger detangling and other methods of sealing, etc but I am back on course with following our regular hair regimen! Her hair flourishes with our regimen.  I love my Grapeseed Oil and will continue to us it during daily moisturizing but I will be going back to sealing with my shea butter mix on wash day (I have altered the recipe a bit to avoid refrigeration).

The only thing left for me to try is the Chicoro Leave-In and if that doesn't work I will be sticking to my faithful Kimmaytube Leave-In Recipe! I have also been trying out shampoo bars which I like so far. :)

This is the amount of hair I have trimmed after her 1st initial trim of 2 inches after loc removal.

This is a comparison of pics between Jul 12- Jan 13. July 2012 (before loc'ing), Dec 2012 (after removing loc's and cutting),  Jan 2012 (hair growth)

Current Pic (April 2013, I trimmed last in March) at a good place.

So here we go...healthy hair journey AGAIN! :)

The Science of Black Hair: Protein/Moisture Balance Basics

In my previous post, I spoke about proteins and briefly mentioned the importance of keeping a good protein/moisture balance. Well, good news...just in case you're a visual person like me :), here is a great video demonstration on Protein/Moisture Balance.  This video is by the author of The Science of Black Hair Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.  This is a great video which is very informative. Happy Watching...

Protein/Moisture Balance

Recognizing and Exploring Proteins

Here are some ingredients to look for if you want to know if a product has protein/s:

1. Anything that starts with the word Hydrolyzed 
2. Silk Amino Acids
3. Soybean or Soja (Oil or Seed Extract)
4. Milk Protein (Coconut Milk, etc.)  
5. Blue Green Algae
6. Keratin
7. Collagen
8. Rice Protein
9. Wheat Protein
10. Oat Protein
11. Corn Protein
12. Vegetable Protein
13. Elastin

To get more information on what each protein does, click HERE, HERE and HERE (Skip to 4:45 on video).

My Experience w/ Proteins

BG "S" hair has a love/hate relationship with proteins while BG "M" hair loves proteins.  I have learned which proteins BG "S" hair absolutely hates and which ones her hair can tolerate.

Tolerable Proteins to Date
Vegetable Protein (Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque)
Hydrolyzed Keratin (Nothing But Intense Healing Masque)
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch (Curls Coconut Sublime Conditioner)

Not So Tolerable Proteins to Date
Hydrolyzed / Soy Protein
Silk Protein
Silk Amino Acids
Soybean (Soja) Protein/ Oil

There was a time when I attempted to avoid anything with protein in it for BG "S" hair but I have learned that protein isn't a bad thing and is just as important as moisture.  This is where the Protein/Moisture Balance comes into play.  So, I am going to take a step out and try one of my old favorites on BG "S" again (SM Curl & Style Milk)...stay tuned. Update: The SM Curl & Curl Milk is a "NO-GO" for BG "S"!  I won't be re-visiting this product for BG "S" anytime soon.  It made her hair so crunchy and dry!

What is your relationship with protein?

INGREDIENT CHECK: Panthenol? What is It?

Panthenol is a very popular ingredient in skin and hair care products which is a derivative of vitamin B5 products.  It is a humectant, emollient, glossifier, detangler and moisturizing agent. It is highly water soluble and is also easily removable with mild plant-derived oils or via conditioner cleansing (co-washing).  Panthenol can be found in shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioners, leave-ins, hair lotions, etc.

Excerpt from Naturally Curly:

{...Panthenol is capable of penetrating the cuticle and entering the hair shaft as well, where it aids in moisture retention and provides volume.

It is important to note that sometimes penetration of the shaft by ingredients can create a rough cuticle surface and lead to frizz, due to swelling of the hair shaft. This may not occur for everyone and is dependent upon several factors, including porosity of the hair and the amount of the ingredient used in the product. It is a potential undesirable effect, so keep this in the back of your mind when using a product containing the ingredient.}

Ding, Ding, Ding...something hit me!  I have been currently battling with BG "S" hair being ridiculously frizzy and couldn't figure out why and then it all made sense.  I have been using a new leave-in with panthenol and although I love the product and it leaves the hair super soft and moisturized it would also be super frizzy, that's a big NO-NO!  And then I thought about past products that yielded frizzy hair and they all had one common ingredient...Panthenol.  This is obviously not something that will happen to everyone just like with other ingredients but just in case you may be experiencing a similar issue, check the ingredient list on your products!

So for now, I will discontinue using I will monitor "leave-in products" with panthenol and pay close attention to how the hair reacts since I can't completely avoid it as it is in most leave-ins (especially the good ones, lol).  Experimentation and listening to your hair is the best way to find out what works well on your own hair.  I'll keep you guys posted...

FYI..this is not to say panthenol is bad because it isn't, just for you to be educated on what may work or not work for your hair!

What have been your experience with Panthenol?