Product Review: Flaxseed gel

Picture from LetMeLetYouKnow

So, I tried this out for the first time a few days ago. I made it using 1 part flaxseeds to 8 parts water followed by a bit of extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil after straining out the gel.

This product acts like a gel, yes, it did it's job. HOWEVER, it left my hair flaky and looking dirty. It was so bad that I had to cowash my hair TWICE (after covering it up to go for a mini party to celebrate my friend's court wedding). The flakes were crazy!

Despite the flaking, the gel left my hair feeling soft, moisturised and nice, actually. I liked what it did for my hair.

I'm sorry, I'm jumping around here.

Applying the gel was not really messy. It was an easy application. I do plan on retrying this product before I completely write it off. The next time I use it, I'll use less on each section and pray that that leads to no flakes and still defined curls and a good hold and set.

So, this was a short review. Shorter than even I expected.

Remember, products work differently for people and I know quite a number of ladies who did not experience flaking from using this gel (and I know others who got dry hair from it. Not sure how that happened, but hey! we all have different hair!) :)

My Considerations - Gel

Hey,

So, I've been considering hair gels for about a day now. Well....yesterday, I saw my curls (just a lil bit in front - the rest of my hair is still in crochet braids) in their natural form and frizz-free too which is not usual because my hair frizzes up so fast. Anyways, I was like, okay, okay, so this is mainly 3c/4a (more 4a, though). I actually thought my hair had become 4a/4b/4c, but it hadn't. Or, maybe I have a bit of the others at other parts of my head, dunno, but my curls looked so beautiful. My cousins were here and they thought it looked amazing. So, I was like, I would love to wear my hair like this - with it's natural pattern showing so well, but my hair frizzes up before I can say my full name. I began to consider using gels. 

Now, y'all know I've had some experiences with gels. I used the Organic Root Stimulating Twist and Lock gel. It wasn't as organic as I would've wanted and right now, I pretty much hate it. I've tried the Eco Styler gel and hated how my hair felt with it on till I had rinsed off about 50% of it from my hair (and I only used really little of it in my hair). I love my homemade Aloe Vera gel, but I couldn't bring any aloe leaves with me. Also, it gives just a really light hold. I don't think it'll be strong enough to keep my curl pattern intact and frizz-free. So, I've considered flax seed gel, but I don't think I've ever seen a flax seed in my life.

So, I just looked up flaxseeds on ASDAs website 'cause I have to go shopping in a few days (got back home on Friday and there's barely any food in the house). The flaxseed there was milled so, I can't use it (it's in like a Weetabix form). However, ASDA has golden linseeds. Did you know that flaxseed and linseed are exactly the same thing? I didn't know till today. Anyways! That's a win and it's just £1.28! :) So, I'm going to try getting my hands on that and giving it a try.

Now, now, I am a tad bit nervous about gels so, I'm going to end up following a recipe (most likely Whitney's (Naptural85's)) on getting the gel from the flax/linseeds and then I'll add some coconut oil and maybe some olive oil to it. Now, I am totally about pH values of things on my hair so, I had to do a little research on the pH value of flax seed gel and it's about 6.5 which is okay, but I would've preferred it a little lower, but as long as it's not above a pH value of 7, I'm not worried.

I might add some aloe vera juice or gel to the flaxseed if I can get my hands on a 100% organic and natural one to reduce the pH a bit and because I do love my aloe vera.

Oh! and I'll add some vitamin E oil (from capsules) to it. Vitamin E capsules are £4.00 in ASDA and about £3.29 in Boots, but I'll be going to ASDA. I am yet to find a Boots that's closer to my house and not in the city centre. The Vitamin E oil is going to be used to preserve the gel. Also, I need to find a container for the gel, but I think I'm just going to recycle one. I'll have to look around this house and ask family if they have containers first, though. Then wash and "sterilise" the container before I use it.

I'll let you know when I try it and I'll make a pictorial on it.

Can't wait to try it out!!

~Sammy

My next challenge

Hey there,

So, you must be wondering, what's Sammy's next challenge gonna be? Or, well, there still is a possibility that you're not thinking that, but you're still reading this, aye? So that means you're interested in knowing what it is (or sorta).

Anyways, here's my new challenge (you can tag along if you'd like to):

Making my very own curly pudding.

Gaaaaah! I've wanted to do this for quite some time now.

So, the thing is..... recipe...What recipe will I use?
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Okay! so I was writing the above a couple of days ago, but never got to finish so, I guess I will now:

I tried making my curly pudding today. I heard that a good way to use up products you had a long time ago, but stopped using for some reason was by using it to make other things. So, remember that OLTG (the lock and twist gel? I did a review of it on here? remember? does it ring a bell? even a tiny ding? Okay, I don't know where I'm going with this! Anyways.... :) )
So, here's my recipe:

• Shea Butter
• Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Rosemary (sieved out (the water while hot was poured over this and left for several minutes))
• Water
• Organics Lock&Twist Gel (shea butter, rosemary and water are more than this)
• Conditioner (Tresemme Naturals)
• John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Protectant (just about 2 spritz)

I mixed everything up manually (with a fork and in a cup). It's final consistency was like that of whipped shea butter, but a bit lighter. Mixed everything up thoroughly till it was so smooth you'd have thought that I bought it that way from some store in some place in some country in some continent in some earth, in some (okay! I have no point in this).

ANYWAYS, I've tried it out. Used it to hold up 2nd day hair (which I have got to wash lol). It held pretty well, didn't leave a white residue, didn't make my hair hard (well, it felt hard-ish for about 10-ish minutes then let up), my hair's shiny, not dry and well....no one can guess it's a second-day puff lol (slept with the puff in 'cause I got home pretty late from a formal dining with a bunch of the people in my grade. Our last formal dining while schooling together 'cause we're graduating this coming June! I remember when I took my braids down, combed my hair out into an afro (using a pick) then held it up (using an elastic head band), people were like "how'd you get your hair to hold up like that?" they thought it was pretty cool.).

So, I'm going to try another recipe when I run out of this (if I run out of it before November). Till then, so far, this has been pretty good. I'm going to wash out my hair before I sleep, maybe use a bit of this on it (but use my homemade secret moisturiser on my hair first) then I just might use a lil more of my curly pudding before I head out tomorrow.

I <3 being a mixtress!

I'm still thinking 'bout that "Sammy's Little Bowls" thing. I just might do it sometime. I'll see how my things do locally first. Also, I'm going to be making hair accessories, bow clips, hair bands, etc. Once I have everything set up, I'll let you guys know and maybe set up an online store (just incase you guys see something you like (and want), you better see something you want and buy it, I order you, I ORDER YOOOOOOUUUU! lol just joking, (bout the whole ordering you thing and that you must buy something)).

Anyways, gotta go,

Gotta study now.

"Love you, Curlies"

~SammyWithTheBigHair

Week 2: 2nd review (Organics Lock & Twist Gel)

Okay, so I've had mini twists in for about  a week now. I washed my hair (with the twists in, this morning - I'll talk about that in a different post) and then well...Anyways, to the point (I need to get to the point quickly nowadays), so far, the Organics Lock&Twist Gel, which I'll start calling OLTG now, has been pretty good. It has helped to keep my hair looking neat, the fly-aways down, frizz to a minimum and it does make my hair moist.
The stuff it's in says, "Combines Moisture & Hold  for Lock and Twists," in front and "Great Hold, Super Moist, and No Flakes," at the back. I must say, this product does what it says. Well, for me, that is.
Okay! So, how do I get it on my twists and how do I tame frizz and fly aways if I see them or get them or whatever:

1. I get some OLTG on my hand, rub my palms together and then in a scrunching motion, move down bits of my hair (random sections).

2. Once I've done that to majority of my hair, I repeat the scrunching thing without any product on my hands then I shake my hair out.

3. I hold my hair up with two banding hair bands (hair bands used for banding - which I haven't done yet). I hold my hair up in two. I section my twists in 2 unequal parts across my head '----' this way not '|' this way. I hold the top half with one band and the bottom half with the other making sure my ends are held under then I tie a scarf (a 100% polyester one) over my hair. I place the scarf round the frontal area of my head, hold the two ends and then criss-cross them behind my head and then tie them in front then tie them into a bow and tuck in the ends.

4. By morning, I usually leave the scarf on (if it's still on my head by morning which 90% of the time, it isn't, but if it isn't, I get a little water, oil or just olive oil and really little OLTG over the frontal half of my hair) and shower without getting the scarf or my hair wet. Then I go down, have some breakfast and remove the scarf just before I leave my house.

Results: Frizz-free, fly-away-free, neat looking, good-looking mini twists :) Works for me!


Okay! buildup. Depending on what else you put in your hair, you should get little to no buildup caused by this product.

Do you apply your OLTG to wet or dry hair?
Both, actually. When I got home on Friday, around 5pm, my hair was still wet from when I swam from 2:40pm till 3:40pm. I didn't really care, though. Plus, I had thoroughly rinsed out my hair even though the pool didn't have chlorine in it (had an alternative). Anyways, I got some OLTG to it because it looked a bit, un-neat after the swim.
Also, I have gotten wet hands on my hair several times (water = moisture) and then gotten the gel on.
I've just gotten the gel on on dry hair too.


Will you continue using this product?
Err....yeah!

By the way, how long are you keeping your mini twists in?
4 weeks in total. I have just 3 weeks left. Hopefully, by proper care and the help of my OLTG, my twists should last that long. I would've said and maybe longer, but by then, I'll be taking out these twists to avoid them locking and also because I have to redo them for a little something called bootcamp :)

Cheerio!
~Sam

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COMING SOON---->
WEEK 3: TRYING OUT THE ORGANICS LOCK&TWIST GEL ON A WEEK OLD MINI TWISTS! :)


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Week 1: Intro and 1st review (Organics Lock & Twist Gel)

Hi :)

I have been wanting to post on here, but well, I had a horrible 'h'experience (someone said something quite upsetting about my hair - I was going to vent on here, but changed my mind). Also, my laptop got seized 4 days ago (got it back yesterday - don't ask).
Okay! so, I've been doing a bit of research on the Organics Lock&Twist Gel. Today, I was out at a supermarket with my parents and I saw it at the hair section. I picked it up, found my parents and dropped it in the trolley. My dad was like, "all the things you're putting on your hair'll make it fall out someday," by the way, looking at my table right now (with my hair stuff on it), I have a John Frieda Heat Protections thingy that I bought last summer, but didn't use till last month, I also have my Organic Tea Tree Gro (leave-in conditioner. I should review this!), the Lock&Twist Gel I just got today and everything else is natural! (Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Homemade Rosemary Oil....) In the bathroom, I have my conditioner, but it's like basically finished (added a bit of water to the bottle), and in my walk-in closet (which is full of things that need to be unpacked), I have my shampoo (which I have been avoiding for a really long time now), Vitals Olive Oil Leave-In Conditioner (never buying it again, by the way), and the rest is natural, palm oil, honey (in a closed up jar).... I haven't used the Vitals thingy and shampoo in only God knows how long, so..yeah, I basically just use natural and organic things on my hair (I got the Lock&Twist Gel to have something to review and because I wanted to try it out and see if it'll work for me for like emergency/rush reasons).

OKAY! TO THE POINT, SAMMY!
This review is going to be like a stretchy thingy. It's going to last for about 4-5 weeks.

Week 1, starting today:
My hair has been suffering from the chlorine in a pool, I've tried so many things including baggying for a whole day, but my hair just won't feel as lovely as it did before I swam (and I did prep my hair before swimming so, I don't know what's going on, plus my dad complained that the chlorine was hurting his eyes). *sigh*
I bought a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil today. I haven't used it on my hair in MONTHS! We ran out and I knew my mum won't pay for a bottle of it for me if I'm going to use it on my hair (so, I went shopping with dad :) ). When I got home, I took my satin PJs and scarf off my hair (I found old satin PJ bottoms and I haven't found the time to cut it up into a scarf or bonnet so, I just tie it on and tie a scarf over it). So, I took the PJ and scarf off my hair and went to my bathroom where I ran water (from the shower) over my hair till I was pretty sure it was rinsed out well and finger detangled then I  went back to my room with a towel round my neck and shirt (but not my hair!), I shook off some of the water and then got some olive oil into my hair. Afterwards, I got a tad bit more than a 50p (coin) of the Organics Lock&Twist Gel into my hands, rubbed it together and tried getting it over my whole hair (yeah, yeah, it's gonna be kinda light on it and it didn't get 'everywhere'). 
Now, it's been quite a long time since I did all that and my hair feels good. Definitely not crunchy! Hearing of crunchy hair and touching crunchy and dry hair due to gels, put me off ever trying gels out on my hair esp. after I started my natural journey. The only gel that has ever touched my hair (that I remember) is aloe vera gel (straight from the leaf) and I've always been kinda scared when using it so I always have an oil or shea butter on my hair before using it.
For now, I'm loving the results, the semi-defined curls and kinks and so on...


Summary:
Curl definition: Semi = curls aren't very noticeably defined, but they do look defined, in a way. Just not that much.


Feel: SOOO NOT crunchy! My hair feels moist (or should I say moisturised?), good too and it doesn't really feel how some people's hair feels after they get gel on it (or how I'm used to their hair feeling) which is dry, crunchy, flakey... No. This gel makes my hair feel good.


Would I try it again?: I'm the kind of person who if I get negative results on the first day, that day is going to be the last day, but I got good results today, which is the first day, so, I'm going to try this product out again.


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COMING SOON---->
WEEK 2: TRYING OUT THE ORGANICS LOCK&TWIST GEL ON MINI TWISTS! :)


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p.s I am so hoping and praying I get good results during week 2, plus, I'm hoping my hair doesn't start to dread if I keep the mini twists in for over 2 weeks (or a week). I think dreadlocks and sisterlocks (or sistertwists) are pretty cool, but I just can't manage or handle my hair like that, plus, my parents hate it and well, my dad's Nigerian and you know Nigerian parents (well, most of them, esp. my grandmother), they think dreadlocks and sisterlocks are pretty unruly and make people look like they're crazy (*sigh*). I think it's cool, but well, I just love my hair out like this (braided or in twists too).


Talk to you later.

Help

I hope this helps somebody. Okay! So, I'm going to call the other person here, "Masuhr," instead of her real name, okay? Here we go:

Masuhr:

hey i wanted to ask you a few questions, you seem to really have this whole amazing natural thing working really good and i really admire you for it . im still working out different things with my hair and was wondering if you can help me? would be great  

Samantha:  

Sure, I can help you 
So, what exactly do you need my help with?

Masuhr: 

i was wondering how do you define your curls? i here lots of curlies saying stuff bout gel, i dont think i really want to use it, so i was wondering how you define em? second what do you do about fizz? i dont mind a bit, it comes with being curly but somtimes it does get rather bad, so how do you deal with that? thanx alot i really admire you 

(Aaawee, that made my day. Just reading the "I really admire you," bit because like, I admire so many people, including the person I'm calling 'Masuhr,' I think they've got this whole curly thing under control, but instead, they think they don't and I don't so...oh well, that comment still made my day :) ) 


Samantha:

Well...I use aloe vera gel for both. All I do is take out the gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf, put it in a bowl and add some oils to it. Also, to combat frizz, you can use some rosemary oil on your hair.Both aloe vera and rosemary oil work wonders for me.

(Yeah, yeah, I know she said she didn't want gels, but hey! at this point, only very few people I knew knew that you could put aloe vera gel straight from the plant onto your hair so... :) )


Samantha:

A little addition to my reply:
You might want to get some shea butter into your hair before using the aloe vera gel, just so you're sure it won't dry up your hair. Also, the oils I put in my aloe vera gel are olive oil, rosemary oil and canola oil (also, I put about a teaspoon of water in it too). All this prevents your hair from possibly getting dry or crunchy.I have never had my hair dry or crunchy from aloe vera gel because I've never used it without doing the above. Even the first time I used it, just because of the word gel, I did that because I didn't want the possible chance of dry and/or crunchy hair.

Masuhr:

well ive made my own rosemary oil, by infusing EVOO with it, i like in germany right now, (for the next two weeks!) and ive never seen shea butter here before, so i might have to use somthing else in place of that, thank for the tips  when im back in Australia, im going to try that out, we got tons of aleo plants 

Samantha: 

kk, hope it works for you like it did for me 
Oh! and have fun in Germany!

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Okay, so there's more, but it really doesn't have much to do with this, plus it's really short, so I took it out. I hope this helps someone and I hope my side comments between some of the posts didn't annoy anyone :) 

~Sam 


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