FAB FRIDAY FEATURE: Ackelia Williams

I had so much fun, I decided to do it all again.

I’ve been natural almost 6 years now and even though I cut my lovely tresses a few weeks ago I can still say that I have enjoyed the ride. 

What I love most about being natural (when I had hair) and what many will agree with is the versatility. I’m the kind of person that would get bored with hairstyles very quickly but what I really enjoyed was being able to experiment with loads of different styles and somehow manipulate the many textures I had on my head, from over-sized fro to cute & curly up-do, then getting the ooh’s and aah’s from friends and family.

To make the magic happen you need tools, and when it comes to products I’m what one might call a minimalist, definitely not a “product junkie”, so choosing my fave product is relatively easy: Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner, hands down. It is a great deep conditioner, completely natural and makes my hair feel utterly amazing! Then for styling it’s either Shea butter or maybe the Eco-Styler Gel. Simple.

My hair flourished like a well-watered plant and grew and grew. But having super long hair wasn’t the goal; I was simply content in the knowledge that my hair was healthy and that it looked nice. 

So when I cut my hair it was because I wanted a change as I’ve never had really short hair. I absolutely love the style and the “carefree-ness” of it all.  People say I’m brave, but really there's nothing scary about it. I know better than anyone that it’ll grow back in no time and I’m so excited to do the whole hair journey thing all over again.

Why? ‘Cause it was so much fun the first time round!

FAB FRIDAY FEATURE: Karlansia Mills (TCI/UK)

I’ve been natural for about 2 and a half years now and what I love about it is experimenting with products. Even though I don’t need to buy a whole lot of product (but sometimes I go a bit crazy and do it anyway), by being natural, I can use natural hair products and by experimenting I find new ways to get different results from my hair, not just regular straight hair that I had with perm and could only get it curled by using heat most of the time. Sometimes it sucks, but most of the time the results are pretty cool! My go to product is Knot Today! Sometimes I’m lazy and leave my hair out and sleep (big no no!) but when I wake up and apply know today, I go from nappy to amazing in little to no time!

FlaxSeed Gel (FSG) Benefits and Recipe

by Shelli of Hairscapades

Early in my discovery of this little online natural hair community, I came across the acronym FSG on a thread on naturallycurly.com. I think I was in search of something to enhance my curls. Anywho, it took a little digging, but I learned that FSG stands for flaxseed gel, a natural and nourishing alternative to commercial gels.

via LiveStrong.com

Flaxseed oil, derived from the seeds of the flax plant, is rich in essential fatty acids, which can be beneficial to your health in a number of ways. In addition to helping with skin disease, cholesterol and digestive problems, flaxseed oil may also assist with hair growth and the replenishment of brittle hair or dry scalp. While evidence supports the use of flaxseed oil to promote healthy hair, there is no solid proof of its effectiveness.
Why Flaxseed Oil Helps Hair
One of the reasons flaxseed oil can promote hair health is because it is rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are known to support scalp health, while a deficiency can result in dry scalp and dull hair, says Jim White, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, according to “Men’s Health.”
Flax seeds also contain lignans, disease-fighting compounds that may help fight hair loss. But because lignans are found in the shell, whole seeds are a better source than oil.

As an alternative to the oil discussed primarily in the article, you can also make a natural hair gel by boiling flaxseeds and straining them to use the resultant “goop.” To further enhance the beneficial effects of this little DIY gel, you can add essential and carrier oils and/or aloe vera gel and, if you want to enhance your curls, try adding a small amount of MSG/Magnesium Sulfate (i.e. Epsom salts). However, you’ll want to be careful with this last additive as it can be drying for some, especially if too much is used.
Want to see how it’s made? Naptural85 demonstrates her flaxseed gel recipe and techniques in this tutorial.

via Naptural85

Not much of a DIYer, but love the idea of a natural gel? Check out this naturallycurly.com thread that piqued my interest in 2010 and led me to the highly sought after FSG made by Botticelli Babe, which spawned her Esty shop, Botticelli Botanicals.
As to my experience with flaxseed gel? Well, I tried making it one time in the fall of 2010 with flaxseeds I already had in my fridge. I think that I boiled the seeds for too long as the gel was very thick and a little hard to distribute. I never revisited making it again … but out of sheer laziness. However, I’ve read so many good things about it that I’ve been thinking about trying it again in late spring/summer for my WnGs.

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Do you use or have you tried FSG? What is/was your experience with it? What’s your recipe?

Ki adds...

I AM ALL THE WAY ON THIS!!!

I've been in search of a replacement for Miss. Jessie's (not because I don't like it, but lets be honest, its expensive...so I'd rather save it for when I'm ready to be REALLY done up)... I'm definitely going to give this FLAX SEED GEL a shot... stay tuned for photos and review!