Hello Naturalista!
For years I have re-used my flaxseed-gel-flaxseeds, at least one extra time before throwing them out. Now that I preserve my recipes (mostly with optiphen or optiphen nd), I’m able to go longer between batches.
Which means plastic containers full of this in the refrigerator:
This picture is a bit blurry, but the greenery in the seeds is comfrey root and catnip. I was feeling really adventurous that flaxseed gel day!
These seeds had about another week before those suckers were in the trash!
Mold is never fly.
I wanted to do something with the seeds, and I’m always looking for a good homemade conditioner. I was drinking my daily green juice when I realized the solution was in my glass:
Mix some of what I’m drinking with the flaxseed leftovers, and hydrating aloe.
Sounds good right?
I had some extra pomegranate seeds that I ran through the juicer. Pomegranate has numerous health benefits, and it’s juice is just as powerful.
It’s a low glycemic fruit (low sugar) thats improves the overall quality of your skin, and adds luster and shine to your hair.
For more health benefits of pomegranates, click here.
I blended all of the ingredients and came up with this:
As with all Lavishly Natural Recipes, I couldn’t wait to put it in my hair! I made the mix slightly thick but the marshmallow root holds it together well and makes it easier to rinse out.
I worked it through each section and then got my ‘baggie on’ for a few hours…
It was also Laila’s Hair Wash Day, so after washing and conditioning with clay, we rinsed and deep conditioned with the pomegranate kale flaxseed conditioner.
Conditioning time: 45 minutes
I was afraid this conditioner would leak so she’s wearing 2 baggies, and a plastic cap. (It didn’t thank goodness)
We deep conditioned, ate delicious vegan carrot cake cupcakes, and rinsed.
I used flaxseed gel and shealoe buttercream to put chunky twists in to dry.
My gorgeous natural hair model is now asleep (mama goddess forgot to take hair photos yesterday:) so here are my results, although not as adorable:)
Soft and silky curls!
After I took my twists down, I pulled my hair back into a loose puff. I was concerned that the flaxseeds would be hard to wash out - but it was easy peesy!
My scalp feels good, my hair feels good, and after rinsing you may even notice a very nice sheeny shine.
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
You’ll need a high speed blender to grind the flaxseeds. I’ve made this a few times now and have used both an Oster Blender (from Walmart) and a Vitamix.
Both make a smooth conditioner…which for me means no picking flaxseeds out of my hair!
- 3/4 cup aloe vera juice
- 1/3 cup leftover flaxseeds
- 1 tablespoon horsetail powder (or horsetail extract)
- 2 tablespoons marshmallow root powder
- 2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
- 2 tablespoons green juice or smoothie pulp*
- 1/8 teaspoon optiphen**
- Add the ingredients in the order listed for better blending
- Blend on high until all of the ingredients are smooth
- If your mix is too thick, slowly add more aloe vera juice by the teaspoon
- Apply to hair
- Condition for 20 minutes
- Rinse out well, this mix is thick!
- *I'm drinking: pomegranate, collards, kale, spinach, apple, lemon; use your favorite green juice or smoothie pulp for this recipe.
- **The optiphen is optional. The recipe will keep in the fridge for 3 weeks without it.
- I still keep this recipe in the fridge WITH the optiphen, and it lasts for 2 months.
- Use 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice (which can be pricey, so shop around or juice your own:)
- 1/4 of a carrot (blend this with some aloe--1 tsp--in your blender and add to your conditioner)
- 2 tablespoons coconut water
- 2 tablespoons green tea
Hydrate Lavishly :-)
