Wow, your curls look to be in such good condition!  Can’t wait till mine is as long as yours LOL!

Emma.

25th January 2012, Wednesday

Aww thank you Mich and Emma!

Tut, tut, it’s been 11 days since I posted here!  Getting a bit lax!

I’m still in love with my curls at this length - before, when I had my hair cut with layers, or really short, etc, I liked it for the first few days or so and then the novelty wore off and my hair seemed to go worse than before.  This time they’re really holding out brilliantly!  I think uniform layers are what I should have had years ago.

When my hairdresser came (we have a mobile one) and asked what I wanted doing, I said 6 inches off the overall length and uniform layers.  She said that uniform layers are very dated, but conceded that they just might work for my hair type.  (She tends to think curly hair can be cut the same as straight hair like my sister’s.)  Thankfully she still went ahead and cut my hair into uniform layers, though.  I would have been miffed if she hadn’t - I should be able to have what I want doing to my own hair!

As far as my CG routine goes, I’m still fully CG, and have just reduced the amount of product I use as I don’t need so much now, having a lot less length than I used to.  My hair has much more body thanks to the uniform layers, but doesn’t appear triangular (like what ordinary layers made it), nor 1-dimensional (like what all-one-length made it).

I’m currently soaking 2 tablespoons of golden linseeds in 1/2 pint of water for 24 hours.  I started to soak them at 3 this afternoon, so I can try making my next batch of FSG tomorrow afternoon.  I’m trying a different method to my last attempt.  I found it on this forum, by TallGirl.  This is it (modified to what I’m doing):

“Golden linseeds, 2 tablespoons soak in half a pint of water for 24 hours, stir as frequently as you can manage during this time.  The seeds swelled to about twice their size and the gel was starting to form.

Put in a pan on high heat, add some more water, totalling just under a pint at this stage.  Keep stirring until they boil, then turn down to medium heat.  Keep stirring and simmering, if any really sticky film or foam forms on top, poke it back under the water with a spoon.

When gel looks thick and lightly golden, remove from heat and strain through sieve into a big bowl.

Whipped it all up, put it into a little bottle for use.”

This is an easier recipe than I tried before, and seems like it gives better results, without having to re-use the seeds or freeze them for a later date.  Can’t wait to try it!

6th February 2012, Monday

Well, I tried the FSG recipe, but I’m still not getting gel, just a runny sort of thicker liquid.  Hmmm, think I might leave FSG until some other time.

I think I’ve found out what’s causing me to have build-up after about a week or so of co-washing.  I use the Asda Essentials conditioner as co-wash, and looking at the ingredients I see it has polyquaternium-37 and paraffinium liquidum, both of which I hear aren’t as bad as ‘cones but can still build up after a bit.  This would explain why I have to use a low-sulphate shampoo every week or so.

beautiful!