Flaxseed Hair Gel

This recipe is from Erica “(a very curly girl)” at The Happy Hunters, though it came to me somewhat altered through a friend who had mercy on my curls, and I have altered it further. My first batch lasted me about 3 months of use every other day or so before starting to both run out and get punky; disregard the warning in the original recipe about it only keeping for two weeks.

Use 1 dollop (or more) to coat wet curls.

Ingredients

• ¼ c. flaxseed (a.k.a. linseed), rinsed if necessary
• 2 c. water
• 8–10 drops grapefruit seed extract (optional)
• 5–6 drops essential oil (optional, for fragrance)

Equipment

• small stockpot
• mesh strainer
• squeeze bottle for dispensing (optional)

Directions

1. Bring water and flaxseed to a boil uncovered over medium heat.
2. Boil uncovered 8–10 minutes until the consistency of egg whites.
3. Strain.
4. Add any oil or extract.
5. Let cool.
6. Pour into squeeze bottle or a glass jar.
7. Refrigerate.

You can eat the strained-out flaxseeds if you like.

Variants

I omit the grapefruit seed extract and add lavender oil.